A Resource Guide for Using

Infrared in the Research and

Development Industry
THE ULTIMATE INFRARED
HANDBOOK FOR R&D
PROFESSIONALS
crtorts
|| |o.nc..p|y |c. |t \c.ks
|| |otoctc.s |c. |o.nc..p||c |n.|r ,
ott|r |o Vcst |.cn +cu. || .no..
|||to.s |xtorJ || .no.. |so|u|ross .,
||t.. |||SpooJ |o.nc..p|y ,,
Published by FLIR AB
This booklet may not be reproduced in any form without the permis-
sion in writing from FLIR Systems, AB. Copyright. All rights reserved.
1
IR Thermography
How It Works
|| |o.nc..p|y .no..s
A|t|cu| |r|...oJ ..J|.t|cr (||) |s rct
Jotoct.b|o by t|o |un.r oyo, .r ||
c.no.. c.r ccrvo.t |t tc . v|su.| |n.o
t|.t Jop|cts t|o.n.| v..|.t|crs .c.css
.r cboct c. scoro || ccvo.s . pc.t|cr
c| t|o o|oct.cn.rot|c spoct.un |.cn
.pp.cx|n.to|y ,oo tc ,ooo r.rcnoto.s
(o, ,n) || |s on|ttoJ by .|| cbocts .t
tonpo..tu.os .bcvo .bsc|uto .o.c, .rJ
t|o .ncurt c| ..J|.t|cr |rc.o.sos .|t|
tonpo..tu.o
|o.nc..p|y |s . typo c| |n.|r t|.t |s
.cccnp||s|oJ .|t| .r || c.no.. c.||b..toJ
tc J|sp|.y tonpo..tu.o v.|uos .c.css .r
cboct c. scoro |o.o|c.o, t|o.nc..p|y
.||c.s cro tc n.ko rcrccrt.ct
no.su.onorts c| .r cbocts tonpo..tu.o
|| c.no.. ccrst.uct|cr |s s|n||.. tc . J||t.|
v|Joc c.no.. |o n.|r ccnpcrorts ..o
. |ors t|.t |ccusos || crtc . Jotoctc., p|us
o|oct.cr|cs .rJ sc|t...o |c. p.ccoss|r
.rJ J|sp|.y|r t|o s|r.|s .rJ |n.os
|rsto.J c| . c|..o ccup|oJ Jov|co t|.t
v|Joc .rJ J||t.| st||| c.no..s uso, t|o ||
c.no.. Jotoctc. |s . |cc.| p|.ro ....y (||A)
c| n|c.cnoto. s|.o p|xo|s n.Jo c| v..|cus
n.to.|.|s sors|t|vo tc || ..vo|ort|s ||A
.osc|ut|cr c.r ..ro |.cn .bcut 6o .o
p|xo|s up tc o. o. p|xo|s o.t.|r ||
c.no..s |.vo bu||t|r sc|t...o t|.t .||c.s
t|o uso. tc |ccus cr spoc|c ..o.s c| t|o
||A .rJ c.|cu|.to t|o tonpo..tu.o Ot|o.
systons ut|||.oJ . ccnputo. c. J.t. syston
.|t| spoc|.||.oJ sc|t...o t|.t p.cv|Jos
tonpo..tu.o .r.|ys|s bct| not|cJs c.r
supp|y tonpo..tu.o .r.|ys|s .|t| botto.
t|.r p.oc|s|cr
||A Jotoctc. toc|rc|c|os ..o b.ckor
Jc.r |rtc t.c c.toc.|os t|o.n.|
Jotoctc.s .rJ ou.rtun Jotoctc.s A
ccnncr typo c| t|o.n.| Jotoctc. |s .r
urccc|oJ n|c.cbc|cnoto. n.Jo c| .
not.| c. son|ccrJuctc. n.to.|.| |oso
typ|c.||y |.vo |c.o. ccst .rJ . b.c.Jo.
|| spoct..| .ospcrso t|.r ou.rtun
Jotoctc.s St|||, n|c.cbc|cnoto.s .o.ct
tc |rc|Jort ..J|.rt oro.y .rJ ..o nuc|
s|c.o. .rJ |oss sors|t|vo t|.r ou.rtun
Jotoctc.s u.rtun Jotoctc.s ..o n.Jo
|.cn n.to.|.|s suc| .s |rSb, |r.As, |tS|,
|Jo (V), .rJ |.yo.oJ .As/A|.As
|c. \|| (u.rtun \o|| |r|...oJ ||ctcr)
Jotoctc.s |o cpo..t|cr c| . ou.rtun
Jotoctc. |s b.soJ cr t|o c|.ro c| st.to
c| o|oct.crs |r . c.yst.| st.uctu.o .o.ct|r
tc |rc|Jort p|ctcrs |oso Jotoctc.s ..o
oro..||y |.sto. .rJ nc.o sors|t|vo t|.r
t|o.n.| Jotoctc.s |c.ovo., t|oy .oou|.o
ccc||r, scnot|nos Jc.r tc c.ycor|c
|.pto.
IR In
Optics
NIR
MWIR
LWIR
Video
Processing
Electronics
Detector Cooling
Digitization
User Interface
User Control
Video Output
Digital Output
Synchronization In/Out
System Status
Iigure 1. SimpIied bIock diagram of an IR camera
2
|.pto.
tonpo..tu.os us|r ||ou|J r|t.cor c. .
sn.|| St|.||r cyc|o .o|.|o..tc. ur|t
|| Spoct.un crs|Jo..t|crs
yp|c.||y, || c.no..s ..o Jos|roJ .rJ
c.||b..toJ |c. . spoc|c ..ro c| t|o ||
spoct.un ||s no.rs t|.t t|o cpt|cs
.rJ Jotoctc. n.to.|.|s nust bo so|octoJ
|c. t|o Jos|.oJ ..ro ||u.o . |||ust..tos
t|o spoct..| .ospcrso .o|crs |c. v..|cus
Jotoctc. n.to.|.|s
boc.uso || |.s t|o s.no p.cpo.t|os .s
v|s|b|o |||t .o..J|r .ooct|cr, .o|..ct|cr,
.rJ t..rsn|ss|cr, t|o cpt|cs |c. t|o.n.|
c.no..s ..o Jos|roJ |r . |.s||cr s|n||..
tc t|cso c| . v|su.| ..vo|ort| c.no..
|c.ovo., t|o typos c| |.ss usoJ |r cpt|cs
|c. v|s|b|o |||t c.no..s c.rrct bo usoJ
|c. cpt|cs |r .r |r|...oJ c.no.., .s t|oy Jc
rct t..rsn|t || ..vo|ort|s .o|| orcu|
crvo.so|y, n.to.|.|s t|.t ..o t..rsp..ort tc
|| ..o c|tor cp.ouo tc v|s|b|o |||t
|| c.no.. |orsos typ|c.||y uso s|||ccr (S|)
.rJ o.n.r|un (o) n.to.|.|s |c.n.||y
S| |s usoJ |c. V\|| (noJ|un ..vo|ort|
||) c.no.. systons, .|o.o.s o |s usoJ
|r |\ (|cr ..vo|ort|) c.no..s S| .rJ
o |.vo ccJ noc|.r|c.| p.cpo.t|os, |o,
t|oy Jc rct b.o.k o.s||y, t|oy ..o rcr
|y.csccp|c, .rJ t|oy c.r bo |c.noJ |rtc
|orsos .|t| ncJo.r tu.r|r not|cJs As |r
v|s|b|o |||t c.no..s, || c.no.. |orsos |.vo
.rt|.ooct|vo cc.t|rs \|t| p.cpo. Jos|r,
|| c.no.. |orsos c.r t..rsn|t c|cso tc oo`
c| |rc|Jort ..J|.t|cr
|o.n.| |.J|.t|cr |.|rc|p|os
|o |rtors|ty c| t|o on|ttoJ oro.y |.cn
.r cboct v..|os .|t| tonpo..tu.o .rJ
..J|.t|cr ..vo|ort| || t|o cboct |s
cc|Jo. t|.r .bcut ,oo, on|ttoJ ..J|.t|cr
||os ccnp|oto|y .|t||r || ..vo|ort|s |r
.JJ|t|cr tc on|tt|r ..J|.t|cr, .r cboct
.o.cts tc |rc|Jort ..J|.t|cr |.cn |ts
su..curJ|rs by .bsc.b|r .rJ .ooct|r
. pc.t|cr c| |t, c. .||c.|r scno c| |t tc
p.ss t|.cu| (.s t|.cu| . |ors) |.cn t||s
p|ys|c.| p.|rc|p|o, t|o ct.| |.J|.t|cr |..
|s Jo.|voJ, .||c| c.r bo st.toJ .|t| t|o
|c||c.|r |c.nu|.
\ a\ + r\ + t\,
.||c| c.r bo s|np||oJ tc
a + r + t
|o ccoc|orts a, r, .rJ t Josc.|bo t|o
cbocts |rc|Jort oro.y .bsc.bt|cr (a),
.ooct|cr (r), .rJ t..rsn|ss|cr (t) |.c|
ccoc|ort c.r |.vo . v.|uo |.cn .o.c tc
cro, JoporJ|r cr |c. .o|| .r cboct
.bsc.bs, .oocts, c. t..rsn|ts |rc|Jort
..J|.t|cr |c. ox.np|o, || r o, t o, .rJ a
, t|or t|o.o |s rc .ooctoJ c. t..rsn|ttoJ
..J|.t|cr, .rJ oo` c| |rc|Jort ..J|.t|cr |s
.bsc.boJ ||s |s c.||oJ . perfect blackbody
|r t|o .o.| .c.|J t|o.o ..o rc cbocts
t|.t ..o po.|oct .bsc.bo.s, .ooctc.s, c.
t..rsn|tto.s, .|t|cu| scno n.y ccno
vo.y c|cso tc cro c| t|oso p.cpo.t|os
|crot|o|oss, t|o ccrcopt c| . po.|oct
b|.ckbcJy |s vo.y |npc.t.rt |r t|o
Iigure z. xampIes of detector materiaIs and their
spectraI responses reIative to IR midwave (MW)
and Iongwave (LW) bands
3.0m 5.0m 8.0m 14.0m
MWIR
InSb
PtSi
MCT
QWIP
Microbolometer
LWIR
3
IR Thermography How It Works
sc|orco c| t|o.nc..p|y, boc.uso |t |s t|o
|curJ.t|cr |c. .o|.t|r || ..J|.t|cr tc .r
cbocts tonpo..tu.o
|urJ.nort.||y, . po.|oct b|.ckbcJy |s .
po.|oct .bsc.bo. .rJ on|tto. c| ..J|.rt
oro.y ||s ccrcopt |s st.toJ n.t|on.t|c.|
.s ||.c||cs |.. |o ..J|.t|vo p.cpo.t|os
c| . bcJy ..o JorctoJ by t|o synbc| e,
t|o emittance c. emissivity c| t|o bcJy
||.c||cs |.. st.tos t|.t a e, .rJ
s|rco bct| v.|uos v..y .|t| t|o ..J|.t|cr
..vo|ort|, t|o |c.nu|. c.r t.ko t|o
|c.n a(l) e(l), .|o.o l Jorctos t|o
..vo|ort|
|o tct.| ..J|.t|cr |.. c.r t|us t.ko t|o
n.t|on.t|c.| |c.n e + r + t, .||c| |c.
.r cp.ouo bcJy (t o) c.r bo s|np||oJ
tc e + r c. r e (|o, .ooct|cr
on|ss|v|ty) S|rco . po.|oct b|.ckbcJy |s
. po.|oct .bsc.bo., r o .rJ e
|o ..J|.t|vo p.cpo.t|os c| . po.|oct
b|.ckbcJy c.r .|sc bo Josc.|boJ
n.t|on.t|c.||y by ||.rcks |.. S|rco t||s
|.s . ccnp|ox n.t|on.t|c.| |c.nu|., .rJ
|s . |urct|cr c| tonpo..tu.o .rJ ..J|.t|cr
..vo|ort|, . b|.ckbcJys ..J|.t|vo
p.cpo.t|os ..o usu.||y s|c.r .s . so.|os
c| cu.vos (||u.o ,)
|oso cu.vos s|c. t|o ..J|.t|cr po.
..vo|ort| ur|t .rJ ..o. ur|t, c.||oJ
t|o spectral radiant emittance c| t|o
b|.ckbcJy |o |||o. t|o tonpo..tu.o,
t|o nc.o |rtorso t|o on|ttoJ ..J|.t|cr
|c.ovo., o.c| on|tt.rco cu.vo |.s .
J|st|rct n.x|nun v.|uo .t . co.t.|r
Iigure . IIIustration of PIancks Law
B
l
a
c
k
b
o
d
y

s
p
e
c
t
r
a
l

r
a
d
i
a
n
t

e
m
i
t
t
a
n
c
e
Visible
light
4.50
4.00
3.50
3.00
2.50
2.00
1.50
1.00
0.50
0.00
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
T-900C
T-800C
T-700C
T-1000C
T-600C
T-500C
T-400C
T-300C
T-200C
4
|.pto.
..vo|ort| ||s n.x|nun c.r bo
c.|cu|.toJ |.cn Wiens displacement law,
l
n.x
.8,8/,
.|o.o |s t|o .bsc|uto tonpo..tu.o c|
t|o b|.ckbcJy, no.su.oJ |r |o|v|r (|), .rJ
l
n.x
|s t|o ..vo|ort| .t t|o n.x|nun
|rtors|ty |s|r b|.ckbcJy on|tt.rco
cu.vos, cro c.r rJ t|.t .r cboct .t ,o
|.s . n.x|nun ro.. o,n, .|o.o.s .r
cboct .t ooo |.s . ..J|.rt |rtors|ty .|t|
. n.x|nun c| ro.. .,,n |o |.tto. |.s .
n.x|nun spoct..| ..J|.rt on|tt.rco .bcut
,oo t|nos |||o. t|.r . b|.ckbcJy .t ,o,
.|t| . ccrs|Jo..b|o pc.t|cr c| t|o ..J|.t|cr
|r t|o v|s|b|o spoct.un
|.cn ||.rcks |.., t|o tct.| ..J|.toJ oro.y
|.cn . b|.ckbcJy c.r bo c.|cu|.toJ ||s
|s oxp.ossoJ by . |c.nu|. krc.r .s t|o
Sto|.rbc|.n.rr |..,
\
4
(\/n
`
),
.|o.o |s t|o Sto|.rbc|.n.rrs ccrst.rt
(,6, o
8
\/n
`
|
4
) As .r ox.np|o, .
|un.r bo|r .|t| . rc.n.| tonpo..tu.o
(.bcut ,oo |) .||| ..J|.to .bcut ,oo\/
n
`
c| ooct|vo bcJy su.|.co As . .u|o c|
t|unb, t|o ooct|vo bcJy su.|.co |s n
`
,
.rJ ..J|.tos .bcut o,k\. subst.rt|.|
|o.t |css
|o oou.t|crs Josc.|boJ |r t||s soct|cr
p.cv|Jo |npc.t.rt .o|.t|crs||ps bot.oor
on|ttoJ ..J|.t|cr .rJ tonpo..tu.o c| .
po.|oct b|.ckbcJy S|rco ncst cbocts c|
|rto.ost tc t|o.nc..p|o.s ..o rct po.|oct
b|.ckbcJ|os, t|o.o rooJs tc bo scno ..y
|c. .r || c.no.. tc ..p| t|o tonpo..tu.o
c| . rc.n.| cboct
|n|ss|v|ty
|o ..J|.t|vo p.cpo.t|os c| cbocts ..o
usu.||y Josc.|boJ |r .o|.t|cr tc . po.|oct
b|.ckbcJy (t|o po.|oct on|tto.) || t|o
on|ttoJ oro.y |.cn . b|.ckbcJy |s
JorctoJ .s \
bb
, .rJ t|.t c| . rc.n.|
cboct .t t|o s.no tonpo..tu.o .s \
cb
,
t|or t|o ..t|c bot.oor t|oso t.c v.|uos
Josc.|bos t|o emissivity (e) c| t|o cboct,
e \
cb
/ \
bb

|us, on|ss|v|ty |s . runbo. bot.oor o

.rJ |o botto. t|o ..J|.t|vo p.cpo.t|os
c| t|o cboct, t|o |||o. |ts on|ss|v|ty
Ar cboct t|.t |.s t|o s.no on|ss|v|ty e
|c. .|| ..vo|ort|s |s c.||oJ . greybody
crsoouort|y, |c. . .oybcJy, Sto|.r
bc|.n.rrs |.. t.kos t|o |c.n
\ e
4
(\/n
`
),
.||c| st.tos t|.t t|o tct.| on|ss|vo
pc.o. c| . .oybcJy |s t|o s.no .s t|.t
c| . b|.ckbcJy c| t|o s.no tonpo..tu.o
.oJucoJ |r p.cpc.t|cr tc t|o v.|uo c| e |c.
t|o cboct
St|||, ncst bcJ|os ..o ro|t|o. b|.ckbcJ|os
rc. .oybcJ|os |o on|ss|v|ty v..|os .|t|
..vo|ort| As t|o.nc..p|y cpo..tos
cr|y |rs|Jo ||n|toJ spoct..| ..ros, |r
p..ct|co |t |s c|tor pcss|b|o tc t.o.t cbocts
.s .oybcJ|os |r .ry c.so, .r cboct
|.v|r on|tt.rco t|.t v..|os st.cr|y .|t|
..vo|ort| |s c.||oJ . selective radiator |c.
ox.np|o, |.ss |s . vo.y so|oct|vo ..J|.tc.,
bo|.v|r .|ncst ||ko . b|.ckbcJy |c.
co.t.|r ..vo|ort|s, .|o.o.s |t |s ..t|o. t|o
cppcs|to |c. ct|o. ..vo|ort|s
Atncsp|o.|c |ruorco
bot.oor t|o cboct .rJ t|o t|o.n.|
c.no.. |s t|o .tncsp|o.o, .||c| torJs
5
IR Thermography How It Works
tc .ttoru.to ..J|.t|cr Juo tc .bsc.pt|cr
by .sos .rJ sc.tto.|r by p..t|c|os |o
.ncurt c| .ttoru.t|cr JoporJs |o.v||y
cr ..J|.t|cr ..vo|ort| A|t|cu| t|o
.tncsp|o.o usu.||y t..rsn|ts v|s|b|o |||t
vo.y .o||, |c, c|cuJs, ..|r, .rJ src. c.r
p.ovort us |.cn soo|r J|st.rt cbocts |o
s.no p.|rc|p|o .pp||os tc |r|...oJ ..J|.t|cr
|c. t|o.nc..p||c no.su.onort .o nust
uso t|o scc.||oJ atmospheric windows
As c.r bo soor |.cn ||u.o , t|oy c.r bo
|curJ bot.oor . .rJ ,,n, t|o mid-wave
windows, .rJ ,,,,,n, t|o long-wave
window Atncsp|o.|c .ttoru.t|cr p.ovorts
.r cbocts tct.| ..J|.t|cr |.cn .o.c||r
t|o c.no.. || rc cc..oct|cr |c. .ttoru.t|cr
|s .pp||oJ, t|o no.su.oJ .pp..ort
tonpo..tu.o .||| bo |c.o. .rJ |c.o. .|t|
|rc.o.soJ J|st.rco || c.no.. sc|t...o
cc..octs |c. .tncsp|o.|c .ttoru.t|cr
yp|c.||y, |\ c.no..s |r t|o ,,,,n
..ro .c.k .o|| .ry.|o.o t|.t
.tncsp|o.|c .ttoru.t|cr |s |rvc|voJ,
boc.uso t|o .tncsp|o.o torJs tc .ct .s .
|||p.ss |to. .bcvo ,,n (||u.o ) |o
V\ b.rJ c| ,,,n torJs tc bo onp|cyoJ
.|t| ||||y sors|t|vo Jotoctc.s |c. |||
orJ || .rJ n|||t..y .pp||c.t|crs \|or
.cou|.|r . s|r.| t|.cu| t|o .tncsp|o.o
.|t| V\ c.no..s, so|octoJ t..rsn|ss|cr
b.rJs nust bo usoJ .|o.o |oss .ttoru.t|cr
t.kos p|.co
onpo..tu.o Vo.su.onorts
|o ..J|.t|cr t|.t |np|ros cr t|o ||
c.no.. |ors ccnos |.cn t|.oo J|o.ort
scu.cos |o c.no.. .oco|vos ..J|.t|cr
|.cn t|o t..ot cboct, p|us ..J|.t|cr |.cn
|ts su..curJ|rs t|.t |.s boor .ooctoJ
crtc t|o cbocts su.|.co bct| c| t|oso
..J|.t|cr ccnpcrorts boccno .ttoru.toJ
.|or t|oy p.ss t|.cu| t|o .tncsp|o.o
S|rco t|o .tncsp|o.o .bsc.bs p..t c| t|o
..J|.t|cr, |t .||| .|sc ..J|.to scno |tso||
(||.c||cs |..)
|vor t||s s|tu.t|cr, .o c.r Jo.|vo .
|c.nu|. |c. t|o c.|cu|.t|cr c| t|o cbocts
tonpo..tu.o |.cn . c.||b..toJ c.no..s
cutput
Iigure . Atmospheric attenuation (white areas) with a chart of the gases and water vapor causing
most of it. 7he areas under the curve represent the highest IR transmission.
6
|.pto.
. Emission from the object e t \
cb
,
.|o.o e |s t|o on|ss|v|ty c| t|o cboct
.rJ t |s t|o t..rsn|tt.rco c| t|o
.tncsp|o.o
. Reected emission from ambient sources
( e) t \
.nb
, .|o.o ( e) |s t|o
.ooct.rco c| t|o cboct (|t |s .ssunoJ
t|.t t|o tonpo..tu.o
.nb
|s t|o s.no
|c. .|| on|tt|r su.|.cos .|t||r t|o |.||
sp|o.o soor |.cn . pc|rt cr t|o cbocts
su.|.co)
. Emission from the atmosphere
( t) \
.tn
, .|o.o ( t) |s t|o on|ss|v|ty
c| t|o .tncsp|o.o
|o tct.| ..J|.t|cr pc.o. .oco|voJ by t|o
c.no.. c.r rc. bo ..|ttor
\
tct
( t) \
cb
+ ( e) t \
.nb
+
( t) \
.tn
,
.|o.o e |s t|o cboct on|ss|v|ty, t |s t|o
t..rsn|ss|cr t|.cu| t|o .tncsp|o.o,
.nb

|s t|o (ooct|vo) tonpo..tu.o c| t|o cbocts
su..curJ|rs, c. t|o reected ambient
(background) temperature, .rJ
.tn
|s t|o
tonpo..tu.o c| t|o .tncsp|o.o
c ...|vo .t t|o cc..oct t..ot cboct
tonpo..tu.o, || c.no.. sc|t...o
.oou|.os |rputs |c. t|o on|ss|v|ty c|
t|o cboct, .tncsp|o.|c .ttoru.t|cr
.rJ tonpo..tu.o, .rJ tonpo..tu.o c|
t|o .nb|ort su..curJ|rs |oporJ|r
cr c|.cunst.rcos, t|oso |.ctc.s n.y
bo no.su.oJ, .ssunoJ, c. |curJ |.cn
|cckup t.b|os
7
IR Detectors For
Thermographic Imaging
|| .no..s
|o.nc..p||c |n.|r |s .cccnp||s|oJ
.|t| . c.no.. t|.t ccrvo.ts |r|...oJ
..J|.t|cr (||) |rtc . v|su.| |n.o t|.t
Jop|cts tonpo..tu.o v..|.t|crs .c.css
.r cboct c. scoro |o n.|r || c.no..
ccnpcrorts ..o . |ors, . Jotoctc. |r t|o
|c.n c| . |cc.| p|.ro ....y (||A), pcss|b|y .
ccc|o. |c. t|o Jotoctc., .rJ t|o o|oct.cr|cs
.rJ sc|t...o |c. p.ccoss|r .rJ J|sp|.y|r
|n.os (||u.o ) Vcst Jotoctc.s |.vo .
.ospcrso cu.vo t|.t |s r...c.o. t|.r t|o
|u|| || ..ro (,oo,ooo r.rcnoto.s c.
o,,n) |o.o|c.o, . Jotoctc. (c. c.no..)
nust bo so|octoJ t|.t |.s t|o .pp.cp.|.to
.ospcrso |c. t|o || ..ro c| . uso.s
.pp||c.t|cr |r .JJ|t|cr tc ..vo|ort|
.ospcrso, ct|o. |npc.t.rt Jotoctc.
c|...cto.|st|cs |rc|uJo sors|t|v|ty, t|o o.so
c| c.o.t|r |t .s . |cc.| p|.ro ....y .|t|
n|c.cnoto. s|.o p|xo|s, .rJ t|o Jo.oo c|
ccc||r .oou|.oJ, || .ry
|r ncst .pp||c.t|crs, t|o || c.no.. nust
v|o. . ..J|.t|r cboct t|.cu| t|o
.tncsp|o.o |o.o|c.o, .r cvo..|J|r
ccrco.r |s n.tc||r t|o Jotoctc.s
.ospcrso cu.vo tc .|.t |s c.||oJ .r
.tncsp|o.|c .|rJc. ||s |s t|o ..ro c|
|| ..vo|ort|s t|.t .o.J||y p.ss t|.cu|
t|o .tncsp|o.o .|t| ||tt|o .ttoru.t|cr
|ssort|.||y, t|o.o ..o t.c c| t|oso .|rJc.s,
cro |r t|o .,6,n ..ro, t|o s|c.t/
noJ|un ..vo|ort| (S\/V\) || b.rJ,
.rJ cro |r t|o 8,n ..ro, t|o |cr
..vo|ort| (|\) || b.rJ |o.o ..o n.ry
Jotoctc. n.to.|.|s .rJ c.no..s .|t|
.ospcrso cu.vos t|.t noot t|oso c.|to.|.
u.rtun vs |cru.rtun |otoctc.s
|o n.c.|ty c| || c.no..s |.vo .
n|c.cbc|cnoto. typo Jotoctc., n.|r|y
boc.uso c| ccst ccrs|Jo..t|crs
V|c.cbc|cnoto. ||As c.r bo c.o.toJ
|.cn not.| c. son|ccrJuctc. n.to.|.|s,
.rJ cpo..to .ccc.J|r tc rcrou.rtun
p.|rc|p|os ||s no.rs t|.t t|oy .ospcrJ
tc ..J|.rt oro.y |r . ..y t|.t c.usos
. c|.ro c| st.to |r t|o bu|k n.to.|.|
(|o, t|o bc|cnoto. ooct) oro..||y,
n|c.cbc|cnoto.s Jc rct .oou|.o ccc||r,
.||c| .||c.s ccnp.ct c.no.. Jos|rs
t|.t ..o .o|.t|vo|y |c. |r ccst Ot|o.
c|...cto.|st|cs c| n|c.cbc|cnoto.s ..o
|o|.t|vo|y |c. sors|t|v|ty (Jotoct|v|ty)
b.c.J (.t) .ospcrso cu.vo
S|c. .ospcrso t|no (t|no ccrst.rt
~.ns)
IR In
Optics
NIR
MWIR
LWIR
Video
Processing
Electronics
Detector Cooling
Digitization
User Interface
User Control
Video Output
Digital Output
Synchronization In/Out
System Status
Iigure 1. SimpIied bIock diagram of an IR camera
|.pto. .
8
|.pto. .
|c. nc.o Jon.rJ|r .pp||c.t|crs,
ou.rtun Jotoctc.s ..o usoJ, .||c| cpo..to
cr t|o b.s|s c| .r |rt.|rs|c p|ctco|oct.|c
ooct |oso n.to.|.|s .ospcrJ tc ||
by .bsc.b|r p|ctcrs t|.t o|ov.to t|o
n.to.|.|s o|oct.crs tc . |||o. oro.y st.to,
c.us|r . c|.ro |r ccrJuct|v|ty, vc|t.o,
c. cu..ort by ccc||r t|oso Jotoctc.s tc
c.ycor|c tonpo..tu.os, t|oy c.r bo vo.y
sors|t|vo tc t|o || t|.t |s |ccusoJ cr t|on
|oy .|sc .o.ct vo.y ou|ck|y tc c|.ros
|r || |ovo|s (|o, tonpo..tu.os), |.v|r .
ccrst.rt .ospcrso t|no cr t|o c.Jo. c|
,s |o.o|c.o, . c.no.. .|t| t||s typo c|
Jotoctc. |s vo.y uso|u| |r .occ.J|r t..rs|ort
t|o.n.| ovorts St|||, ou.rtun Jotoctc.s
|.vo .ospcrso cu.vos .|t| Jotoct|v|ty t|.t
v..|os st.cr|y .|t| ..vo|ort| (||u.o .)
.b|o ||sts scno c| t|o ncst ccnncr|y
usoJ Jotoctc.s |r tcJ.ys || c.no..s
7abIe 1. Detector types and materiaIs commonIy
used in IR cameras.
Detector 7ype/
MateriaI Operation
Operating
7emp.
V|c.cbc|cnoto.
b.c.Jb.rJ
Jotoctc.
|rccc|oJ
(~,o)
|Jo
S\ p|ctcr
Jotoctc.
.oo |
|Jo
|\ p|ctcr
Jotoctc.
,, |
|rSb
V\ p|ctcr
Jotoctc.
,, |
|tS|
V\ p|ctcr
Jotoctc.
,, |
\||
|\ p|ctcr
Jotoctc.
,o |
Opo..t|r |.|rc|p|os |c. u.rtun
|otoctc.s
|r n.to.|.|s usoJ |c. ou.rtun Jotoctc.s,
.t .ccn tonpo..tu.o t|o.o ..o o|oct.crs
.t J|o.ort oro.y |ovo|s Scno o|oct.crs
|.vo suc|ort t|o.n.| oro.y t|.t t|oy
..o |r t|o ccrJuct|cr b.rJ, no.r|r t|o
o|oct.crs t|o.o ..o |.oo tc ncvo .rJ t|o
I
D
E
A
L
P
H
O
T
O
V
O
LTAIC
I
D
E
A
L
P
H
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T
O
C
O
N
D
U
C
T
O
R
I
D
E
A
L
P
H
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T
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V
O
LTAIC
I
D
E
A
L
P
H
O
TOCONDUCTO
R
D

(
c
m

H
z
/
W
)
Wavelength (m)
10
12
10
11
10
10
10
9
10
8
1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 15 20 25 30 40
2 STERADIANS FIELD OF VIEW
295K BACKGROUND TEMPERATURE
Bolometer (90Hz)
Pyroelectric Det. (90Hz)
P
b
s
1
9
3
K
P
b
s
7
7
K
P
b
s
2
9
5
K
P
b
S
e
1
9
3
K
P
b
S
e
7
7
K
P
b
S
e
2
9
5
K
G
e
:H
g
2
6
K S
i:G
a
4
.
2
K
S
i
:
A
s
4
.
2
K
S
i:S
b
4
.2
K
H
g
C
d
T
e
(P
V
) 7
7
K
H
g
C
d
T
e
(P
C
) 1
9
3
K
H
g
C
d
T
e
(
P
V
)
7
7
K
H
g
C
d
T
e
(
P
C
)
7
7
K
In
S
b
(P
V
) 7
7
K
D

(
c
m

H
z
/
W
)
Wavelength (m)
10
12
10
11
10
10
10
9
10
8
1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 15 20 25 30 40
2 STERADIANS FIELD OF VIEW
295K BACKGROUND TEMPERATURE
QWIP
Iigure z. Detectivity (D") curves for dierent detector materiaIs
9
IR Detectors For Thermographic Imaging
n.to.|.| c.r ccrJuct .r o|oct.|c.| cu..ort
Vcst c| t|o o|oct.crs, |c.ovo., ..o |curJ
|r t|o v.|orco b.rJ, .|o.o t|oy Jc rct
c...y .ry cu..ort boc.uso t|oy c.rrct
ncvo |.oo|y (Soo |o|tncst v|o.s c| || ,)
\|or t|o n.to.|.| |s ccc|oJ tc . |c.
orcu| tonpo..tu.o, .||c| v..|os .|t|
t|o c|csor n.to.|.|, t|o t|o.n.| oro.y
c| t|o o|oct.crs n.y bo sc |c. t|.t t|o.o
..o rcro |r t|o ccrJuct|cr b.rJ (uppo.
corto. v|o. c| ||u.o ,) |orco t|o n.to.|.|
c.rrct c...y .ry cu..ort \|or t|oso
n.to.|.|s ..o oxpcsoJ tc |rc|Jort p|ctcrs,
.rJ t|o p|ctcrs |.vo suc|ort oro.y,
t||s oro.y c.r st|nu|.to .r o|oct.cr |r
t|o v.|orco b.rJ, c.us|r |t tc ncvo up
|rtc t|o ccrJuct|cr b.rJ (uppo. .||t
v|o. c| ||u.o ,) |us t|o n.to.|.| (t|o
Jotoctc.) c.r c...y . p|ctccu..ort, .||c| |s
p.cpc.t|cr.| tc t|o |rtors|ty c| t|o |rc|Jort
..J|.t|cr
|o.o |s . vo.y ox.ct |c.ost oro.y c|
t|o |rc|Jort p|ctcrs t|.t .||| .||c. .r
o|oct.cr tc unp |.cn t|o v.|orco b.rJ
|rtc t|o ccrJuct|cr b.rJ ||s oro.y |s
.o|.toJ tc . co.t.|r ..vo|ort|, t|o cut
c ..vo|ort| S|rco p|ctcr oro.y |s
|rvo.so|y p.cpc.t|cr.| tc |ts ..vo|ort|,
t|o oro.|os ..o |||o. |r t|o S\/V\
b.rJ t|.r |r t|o |\ b.rJ |o.o|c.o, .s
. .u|o, t|o cpo..t|r tonpo..tu.os |c.
|\ Jotoctc.s ..o |c.o. t|.r |c. S\/V\
Jotoctc.s |c. .r |rSb V\ Jotoctc., t|o
rocoss..y tonpo..tu.o nust bo |oss t|.r
,, | (oo), .|t|cu| |t n.y bo cpo..toJ
.t . nuc| |c.o. tonpo..tu.o Ar |Jo
(V) |\ Jotoctc. nust bo ccc|oJ tc ,, |
(,6) c. |c.o. A \|| Jotoctc. typ|c.||y
rooJs tc cpo..to .t .bcut ,o | (.o,) c.
|c.o. |o |c.o. corto. .rJ .||t v|o.s
c| ||u.o , Jop|ct ou.rtun Jotoctc.
..vo|ort| JoporJorco |o |rc|Jort
Iigure . Operating principIe of quantum detectors
10
|.pto. .
p|ctcr ..vo|ort| .rJ oro.y nust
bo suc|ort tc cvo.ccno t|o b.rJ .p
oro.y, |
cc||r Vot|cJs
|o .st Jotoctc.s usoJ |r |r|...oJ
..J|cnot.|c |rst.unorts .o.o ccc|oJ .|t|
||ou|J r|t.cor |o Jotoctc. ..s .tt.c|oJ
tc t|o |o... .sk t|.t |o|J t|o ||ou|J
r|t.cor, t|us koop|r t|o Jotoctc. .t .
vo.y st.b|o .rJ |c. tonpo..tu.o (,6)
|.to., ct|o. ccc||r not|cJs .o.o
Jovo|cpoJ |o .st sc||Jst.to sc|ut|cr
tc t|o ccc||r p.cb|on ..s p.osortoJ
by A|VA |r ,86, .|or |t |rt.cJucoJ .
|o|t|o. ooct ccc|o. |c. . ccnno.c|.| ||
c.no.. |r . |o|t|o. ccc|o., | cu..ort |s
|c.coJ t|.cu| . t|o.nco|oct.|c n.to.|.|,
.oncv|r |o.t |.cn cro urct|cr .rJ
c.o.t|r . cc|J s|Jo .rJ . |ct s|Jo |o |ct
s|Jo |s ccrroctoJ tc . |o.t s|rk, .|o.o.s
t|o cc|J s|Jo ccc|s t|o ccnpcrort
.tt.c|oJ tc |t Soo ||u.os .rJ ,
|c. vo.y Jon.rJ|r .pp||c.t|crs, .|o.o
t|o |||ost pcss|b|o sors|t|v|ty ..s
rooJoJ, .r o|oct.|c.| sc|ut|cr tc c.ycor|c
ccc||r ..s Jovo|cpoJ ||s .osu|toJ |r
t|o St|.||r ccc|o. Or|y |r t|o |.st , tc .o
yo..s .o.o n.ru|.ctu.o.s .b|o tc oxtorJ
t|o |||o c| St|.||r ccc|o.s tc 8,ooo |cu.s c.
nc.o, .||c| |s suc|ort |c. uso |r t|o.n.|
c.no..s
|o St|.||r p.ccoss .oncvos |o.t |.cn t|o
cc|J ro. (||u.o 6) .rJ J|ss|p.tos |t .t t|o
...n s|Jo |o oc|orcy c| t||s typo c|
ccc|o. |s .o|.t|vo|y |c., but ccJ orcu|
|c. ccc||r .r || c.no.. Jotoctc.
|o..J|oss c| t|o ccc||r not|cJ, t|o
Jotoctc. |cc.| p|.ro |s .tt.c|oJ tc t|o
cc|J s|Jo c| t|o ccc|o. |r . ..y t|.t .||c.s
oc|ort ccrJuct|vo |o.t oxc|.ro
boc.uso |cc.| p|.ro ....ys ..o sn.||, t|o
.tt.c|nort ..o. .rJ t|o ccc|o. |tso|| c.r
bo .o|.t|vo|y sn.||
|cc.| ||.ro A...y Assonb||os
|oporJ|r cr t|o s|.o/.osc|ut|cr c| .r
||A .ssonb|y, |t |.s |.cn (.pp.cx|n.to|y)
6o,ooo tc nc.o t|.r ,ooo,ooo |rJ|v|Ju.|
Jotoctc.s |c. t|o s.ko c| s|np||c|ty, t||s
c.r bo Josc.|boJ .s . t.cJ|nors|cr.|
p|xo| n.t.|x .|t| o.c| p|xo| (Jotoctc.)
|.v|r n|c.cnoto. s|.o J|nors|crs ||A
.osc|ut|crs c.r ..ro |.cn .bcut 6o .o
p|xo|s up tc o. o. p|xo|s
DC
Thermo-
electrical
material
Copper
Cold side
Warm side
+
IR detector
Mounting plate
Iigure . SingIe stage PeItier cooIer
Iigure . 7hree-stage PeItier cooIer
11
IR Detectors For Thermographic Imaging
|r .o.||ty, .ssonb||os ..o . b|t nc.o
ccnp|ox |oporJ|r cr t|o Jotoctc.
n.to.|.| .rJ |ts cpo..t|r p.|rc|p|o,
.r cpt|c.| ..t|r n.y bo p..t c| t|o
||A .ssonb|y ||s |s t|o c.so |c. \||
Jotoctc.s, |r .||c| t|o cpt|c.| ..t|r
J|spo.sos |rc|Jort ..J|.t|cr tc t.ko
.Jv.rt.o c| J|.oct|cr.| sors|t|v|ty |r t|o
Jotoctc. n.to.|.|s c.yst.| |.tt|co ||s |.s
t|o ooct c| |rc.o.s|r cvo..|| sors|t|v|ty
c| . \|| Jotoctc. |u.t|o.nc.o, t|o ||A
nust bo bcrJoJ tc t|o || c.no.. .o.Jcut
o|oct.cr|cs A r|s|oJ \|| Jotoctc. .rJ
| o|oct.cr|cs .ssonb|y |s s|c.r |r ||u.o
8 ||s .cu|J bo |rcc.pc..toJ .|t| . |o...
c. St|.||r ccc|o. |r .r .ssonb|y s|n||.. tc
t|cso s|c.r |r ||u.o ,
Arct|o. ccnp|ox|ty |s t|o |.ct t|.t o.c|
|rJ|v|Ju.| Jotoctc. |r t|o ||A |.s . s|||t|y
J|o.ort .|r .rJ .o.c csot c c.o.to .
uso|u| t|o.nc..p||c |n.o, t|o J|o.ort
.|rs .rJ csots nust bo cc..octoJ
tc . rc.n.||.oJ v.|uo ||s nu|t|stop
c.||b..t|cr p.ccoss |s po.|c.noJ by t|o
c.no.. sc|t...o Soo ||u.os ,
|o u|t|n.to .osu|t |s . t|o.nc..p||c
|n.o t|.t .ccu..to|y pc.t..ys .o|.t|vo
tonpo..tu.os .c.css t|o t..ot cboct
c. scoro (||u.o .) Vc.ocvo., .ctu.|
tonpo..tu.os c.r bo c.|cu|.toJ tc .|t||r
.pp.cx|n.to|y .ccu..cy
Iigure /. xampIes of cooIed focaI pIane array
assembIies used in IR cameras
Iigure 8. QWIP IPA mounted on a ceramics
substrate and bonded to externaI eIectronics
Iigure . Integrated StirIing cooIer, working with
heIium gas, cooIing down to 1pC or sometimes
even Iower temperatures
12
|.pto. .
Signal Signal Without any correction First correction step
Radiation
20C +120C
+20C
Radiation
20C +120C
+20C
Signal Signal
Third correction,
Non-Uniformity Correction (NUC) After NUC
Radiation
20C +120C
+20C
Radiation
20C +120C
+20C
Signal Signal First correction step Second correction
Radiation
20C +120C
+20C
Radiation
20C +120C
+20C
A/D Dynamics
Iigure p. 7o normaIize dierent IPA detector gains and osets, the rst correction step is oset
compensation. 7his brings each detector response within the dynamic range of the cameras A/D
converter eIectronics.
Iigure 11. After gain factors are brought to the same vaIue, non-uniformity correction (NUC) is appIied
so that aII detectors have essentiaIIy the same eIectronic characteristics.
Iigure 1o. After oset compensation, sIope correction is appIied.
13
IR Detectors For Thermographic Imaging
App||c.t|cr .|to.|.
As |rJ|c.toJ o..||o., J|o.ort typos c|
Jotoctc.s |.vo J|o.ort t|o.n.| .rJ spoct..|
sors|t|v|t|os |r .JJ|t|cr, t|oy |.vo J|o.ort
ccst st.uctu.os Juo tc v..|cus Jo.oos c|
n.ru|.ctu..b|||ty \|o.o t|oy ct|o..|so
t t|o .pp||c.t|cr, p|ctcr Jotoctc.s suc|
.s |rSb .rJ \|| typos co. . runbo. c|
.Jv.rt.os
||| t|o.n.| sors|t|v|ty
||| ur||c.n|ty c| t|o Jotoctc.s, |o, vo.y
|c. xoJ p.tto.r rc|so
|o.o |s . Jo.oo c| so|oct.b|||ty |r t|o|.
spoct..| sors|t|v|ty
||| y|o|J |r t|o p.cJuct|cr p.ccoss
|o|.t|vo|y |c. ccst
|oy ..o .os|st.rt tc ||| tonpo..tu.os
.rJ ||| ..J|.t|cr
|oy p.cJuco vo.y ccJ |n.o ou.||ty
.no.. o|oct.cr|cs c.r |.rJ|o .|Jo
v..|.t|crs |r .bsc|uto Jotoctc. sors|t|v|t|os
|c. ox.np|o, ||| sors|t|v|ty t|.t n||t
s.tu..to . Jotoctc. .t ||| t|o.n.| |rtors|t|os
c.r bo |.rJ|oJ by .po.tu.o ccrt.c| .rJ
rout..| Jors|ty |to.s bct| c| t|oso sc|ut|crs
c.r .oJuco t|o ..J|.rt oro.y |np|r|r cr
t|o ||A
|.|co .s|Jo, spoct..| sors|t|v|ty |s c|tor .r
cvo..|J|r ccrco.r |r so|oct|r . Jotoctc.
.rJ c.no.. |c. . spoc|c .pp||c.t|cr Orco
. Jotoctc. |s so|octoJ, |ors n.to.|.| .rJ
|to.s c.r bo so|octoJ tc scno.|.t .|to.
t|o cvo..|| .ospcrso c|...cto.|st|cs c| .r
|| c.no.. syston || , s|c.s t|o syston
.ospcrso |c. . runbo. c| J|o.ort Jotoctc.s
2 3 4 1 5 6 7
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Wavelength [m]
Relative
sensitivity
0%
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Microbolometer
QWIP
MCT-LW
MCT-SW InSb

InGaAs
VisGaAs
Iigure 1. ReIative response curves for a number of IR cameras
Iigure 1z. IR image from a 1oz 1oz InSb
detector camera
14
|.pto. ,
Getting The Most From
Your IR Camera
Understanding IR camera calibration
and corrections help ensure accurate
temperature measurements and
thermographic mapping.
u.rt|t.t|vo Vo.su.onorts .|t|
|| .no..s
|c. bost .osu|ts, || c.no.. uso.s rooJ
tc t||rk c..o|u||y .bcut t|o typo c|
no.su.onorts t|oy rooJ tc n.ko,
.rJ t|or bo p.c.ct|vo |r t|o c.no..s
c.||b..t|cr p.ccoss O| ccu.so, t|o .st stop
|s so|oct|r . c.no.. .|t| t|o .pp.cp.|.to
|o.tu.os .rJ sc|t...o |c. t|o .pp||c.t|cr
Ar urJo.st.rJ|r c| t|o J|o.orcos
bot.oor t|o.nc..p||c .rJ ..J|cnot.|c
no.su.onorts |s vo.y |o|p|u| |r t||s .o..J
|o.nc..p|y |s . typo c| |r|...oJ |n.|r
|r .||c| || c.no..s Jotoct ..J|.t|cr
|r t|o o|oct.cn.rot|c spoct.un .|t|
..vo|ort|s |.cn .cu||y ,oo tc ,ooo
r.rcnoto.s (o, ,n) .rJ p.cJuco
|n.os c| t|.t ..J|.t|cr yp|c.||y, t||s
|n.|r |s usoJ tc no.su.o tonpo..tu.o
v..|.t|crs .c.css .r cboct c. scoro, .||c|
c.r bo oxp.ossoJ |r Jo.oos o|s|us,
|.|.or|o|t, c. |o|v|r
|.J|cnot.y |s t|o no.su.onort c| ..J|.rt
o|oct.cn.rot|c oro.y, ospoc|.||y t|.t
.sscc|.toJ .|t| t|o || spoct.un |t c.r
bo nc.o s|np|y JoroJ .s .r .bsc|uto
no.su.onort c| ..J|.rt ux |o typ|c.|
ur|t c| no.su.o |c. |n.|r ..J|cnot.y
|s ..J|.rco, .||c| |s oxp.ossoJ |r ur|ts c|
\.tts/(s.cn
`
) (|o .bb.ov|.t|cr s. st.rJs
|c. sto..J|.r, . rcrJ|nors|cr.| ocnot.|c
..t|c oxp.oss|r t|o sc||J (ccr|c.|) .r|o
t|.t orc|csos . pc.t|cr c| t|o su.|.co c|
. sp|o.o oou|v.|ort tc t|o sou..o c| t|o
..J|us)
|r s|np|o to.ns, cro c.r t||rk c|
t|o.nc..p|y .s |c. |ct .r cboct |s,
.|o.o.s ..J|cnot.y |s |c. nuc| oro.y
t|o cboct |s |v|r c A|t|cu| t|oso
t.c ccrcopts ..o .o|.toJ, t|oy ..o rct
t|o s.no t||r || c.no..s |r|o.ort|y
no.su.o |...J|.rco rct tonpo..tu.o, but
t|o.nc..p|y Jcos ston |.cn ..J|.rco
\|or ycu t|o.nc..p||c.||y c.||b..to .r
|| syston ycu ..o c.||b..t|r /no.su.|r
b.soJ cr ooct|vo b|.ckbcJy ..J|.rco
.rJ tonpo..tu.o |o.o|c.o, t|o on|ss|v|ty
c| t|o t..ot cboct ycu ..o no.su.|r |s
v|t.| tc .c||ov|r .ccu..to tonpo..tu.os
(|n|ss|v|ty c. on|tt.rco |s t|o ..J|.t|vo
p.cpo.ty c| .r cboct .o|.t|vo tc . po.|oct
b|.ckbcJy)
|rt.y |ovo| || c.no..s .|t| n|c.c bc|c
noto. Jotoctc.s cpo..to .ccc.J|r tc
rcrou.rtun p.|rc|p|os |o Jotoctc.s
.ospcrJ tc ..J|.rt oro.y |r . ..y t|.t
c.usos . c|.ro c| st.to |r t|o bu|k
n.to.|.| (o, .os|st.rco c. c.p.c|t.rco)
.||b..t|cr sc|t...o |r t|oso c.no..s |s
c.|ortoJ tc...J t|o.nc..p||c |n.|r
.rJ tonpo..tu.o no.su.onorts |||
orJ || c.no..s .|t| p|ctcr Jotoctc.s
cpo..to .ccc.J|r tc ou.rtun p|ys|cs
p.|rc|p|os A|t|cu| t|oy .|sc p.cv|Jo |||
ou.||ty |n.os, t|o|. sc|t...o |s typ|c.||y
nc.o scp||st|c.toJ, .||c.|r .ccu..to
no.su.onorts c| bct| ..J|.rco .rJ
tonpo..tu.o
Scno .o.scrs .|y ..J|.rco no.su.onorts
..o |npc.t.rt |rc|uJo
|vor . ||ro.. sorsc., no.su.oJ
..J|.rco |s ||ro.. .|t| |rc|Jort oro.y
onpo..tu.o |s rcr||ro.. .|t| ...
15
Getting The Most From Your IR Camera
J||t.| |n.o ccurts, ovor .|t| . ||ro..
sorsc.
|vor t|o ..J|.rco .rJ ..o. c| .r cboct,
..J|.rt |rtors|ty c.r bo c.|cu|.toJ
|rc.|r tct.| ..J|.rt |rtors|ty c| .
t..ot |vos . ..J|cnot.|c .r.|yst t|o
.b|||ty tc ncJo| t|o |...J|.rco oro..toJ
by t|o t..ot cvo. v..|cus ocnot.|c .rJ
.tncsp|o.|c ccrJ|t|crs
|o .o|.t|crs||p bot.oor spoct..|
b.rJs c| |rto.ost c.r bo nuc| o.s|o.
tc Joto.n|ro || ycu ..o .c.k|r .|t||r
..J|cnot.|c ur|ts
|o ccnp..|scr bot.oor J|o.ort
cbocts |r ..J|cnot.|c to.ns torJs tc
|.vo |oss urco.t.|rty boc.uso on|ss|v|ty
|s rct . ccrco.r (Oro st||| rooJs tc
ccrs|Jo. .tncsp|o.|c .rJ spoct..|
b.rJp.ss oocts)
Oro c.r typ|c.||y ccrvo.t . ..J|cnot.|c
s|r.tu.o |.cn ..J|.rco tc ooct|vo
b|.ckbcJy tonpo..tu.o |vor . |o.
.ssunpt|crs c. .rc|||..y no.su.onort
J.t. |t torJs tc bo nc.o J|cu|t tc c
|.cn tonpo..tu.o tc ..J|.rco
|oy ||ys|c.| |o|.t|crs||ps |r
.no.. Opo..t|cr
|o.o ..o vo b.s|c stops |r p.cJuc|r
..J|cnot.|c .rJ t|o.nc..p||c
no.su.onorts .|t| .r || c.no.. syston
|o t..ot cboct |.s . co.t.|r oro.y
s|r.tu.o t|.t |s cc||octoJ by t|o ||
c.no.. t|.cu| |ts |ors
. ||s |rvc|vos t|o cc||oct|cr c| p|ctcrs
|r t|o c.so c| . p|ctcr Jotoctc., c.
cc||oct|cr c| |o.t oro.y .|t| . t|o.n.|
Jotoctc., suc| .s . n|c.cbc|cnoto.
, |o cc||octoJ oro.y c.usos t|o Jotoctc.
tc p.cJuco . s|r.| vc|t.o t|.t .osu|ts
|r . J||t.| ccurt t|.cu| t|o systons
A/| ccrvo.to. (|c. ox.np|o, . ||||
|o.nc\|s|cr S6ooo || c.no.. |.s .
b|t Jyr.n|c ..ro |r |ts A/| ccrvo.to.,
.||c| c.o.tos ccurt v.|uos ..r|r |.cn
o6,,8, |o nc.o || oro.y |rc|Jort cr
t|o c.no..s Jotoctc. (.|t||r |ts spoct..|
b.rJ), t|o |||o. t|o J||t.| ccurt)
\|or t|o c.no.. |s p.cpo.|y c.||b..toJ,
J||t.| ccurts ..o t..rs|c.noJ |rtc
..J|.rco v.|uos
, ||r.||y, t|o c.||b..toJ c.no..s
o|oct.cr|cs ccrvo.t ..J|.rco v.|uos
tc tonpo..tu.o us|r t|o krc.r c.
no.su.oJ on|ss|v|ty c| t|o t..ot cboct
|xp.rJ|r cr Stops .rJ ,, .r ooct|vo
b|.ckbcJy tonpo..tu.o no.su.onort c.r
bo Jo.|voJ |.cn . ..J|.rco no.su.onort
by .pp|y|r . ..J|cnot.|c c.||b..t|cr,
tonpo..tu.o vs ..J|.rco ncJo|, .rJ
on|ss|v|ty c| t|o t..ot cboct c. scoro
|vo.y || c.no.. Jos|roJ |c. so.|cus
no.su.onorts |s c.||b..toJ .t t|o |.ctc.y
|r t|o c.||b..t|cr |.b, t|o c.no.. t.kos
. runbo. c| b|.ckbcJy no.su.onorts
.t krc.r tonpo..tu.os, ..J|.rco |ovo|s,
on|ss|v|t|os, .rJ J|st.rcos ||s c.o.tos
. t.b|o c| v.|uos b.soJ cr t|o A/|
ccurts |.cn t|o tonpo..tu.o/..J|.rco
no.su.onorts
Orco t|o ccurts |c. o.c| b|.ckbcJy
tonpo..tu.o no.su.onort ..o orto.oJ |rtc
t|o c.||b..t|cr sc|t...o, t|o J.t. ..o t|or
p.ssoJ t|.cu| .r |rb.rJ ..J|.rco cu.vo
t .|c.|t|n tc p.cJuco t|o .pp.cp.|.to
|rb.rJ ..J|.rco vs ccurt v.|uos |vor
t|o c.no.. systons rc.n.||.oJ spoct..|
.ospcrso |urct|cr ||s p.cJucos .
..J|cnot.|c c.||b..t|cr c| |rb.rJ ..J|.rco
\/(s.cn
`
) vo.sus t|o J||t.| ccurts
16
|.pto. ,
cbt.|roJ .|||o v|o.|r . b|.ckbcJy cvo. .
..ro c| tonpo..tu.os |o .osu|t |s . so.|os
c| c.||b..t|cr cu.vos Ar ox.np|o c| |c.
c.||b..t|cr pc|rts ..o c.ptu.oJ |s s|c.r |r
||u.o
|o c.||b..t|cr cu.vos ..o stc.oJ |r t|o
c.no.. systons nonc.y .s . so.|os c|
runo.|c cu.vot t.b|os t|.t .o|.to ..J|.rco
v.|uos tc b|.ckbcJy tonpo..tu.os \|or
t|o syston n.kos . no.su.onort, |t
t.kos t|o J||t.| v.|uo c| t|o s|r.| .t .
|vor ncnort, cos |rtc t|o .pp.cp.|.to
c.||b..t|cr t.b|o, .rJ c.|cu|.tos
tonpo..tu.o |uo ccrs|Jo..t|cr |s |vor tc
ct|o. |.ctc.s ||ko .tncsp|o.|c .ttoru.t|cr,
.ooctoJ .nb|ort tonpo..tu.o, .rJ t|o
c.no..s .nb|ort tonpo..tu.o J.||t bo|c.o
t|o r.| .osu|t |s p.osortoJ
Ambient Drift Compensation (ADC).
Arct|o. |npc.t.rt ccrs|Jo..t|cr |r
t|o c.||b..t|cr p.ccoss |s t|o ..J|.t|cr
c.usoJ by t|o |o.t|r .rJ ccc||r c|
t|o c.no.. |tso|| Ary s.|rs |r c.no..
|rto.r.| tonpo..tu.o c.usoJ by c|.ros |r
orv|.crnort c. t|o |o.t|r .rJ ccc||r c|
c.no.. o|oct.cr|cs .||| .oct t|o ..J|.t|cr
|rtors|ty .t t|o Jotoctc. |o ..J|.t|cr
t|.t .osu|ts J|.oct|y |.cn t|o c.no.. |s
c.||oJ p...s|t|c ..J|.t|cr .rJ c.r c.uso
|r.ccu..c|os |r c.no.. no.su.onort
cutput, ospoc|.||y .|t| t|o.nc..p||c.||y
c.||b..toJ c.no..s o.t.|r || c.no..s
(||ko t|o |||| |o.nc\|s|cr

p.cJuct
||ro), |.vo |rto.r.| sorsc.s t|.t ncr|tc.
c|.ros |r c.no.. tonpo..tu.o As p..t
c| t|o c.||b..t|cr p.ccoss, t|oso c.no..s
..o p|.coJ |r .r orv|.crnort.| c|.nbo.
Iigure 1. xampIe of camera measurements and corresponding in-band radiance vaIues for given bIack
body temperatures with resuIting radiance vs. measurement curve.
2.9516e04
2.8149e04
2.6781e04
2.5414e04
2.4047e04
2.2680e04
2.1313e04
1.9946e04
1.8579e04
1.7212e04
1.5845e04
1.4478e04
1.3111e04
1.1744e04
1.0377e04
9.0096e05
7.6425e05
6.2755e05
0 10 20 30 40
7
.
5
8
9
9
e
+
0
3
7
.
8
0
2
5
e
+
0
3
8
.
0
1
5
1
e
+
0
3
8
.
2
7
3
8
e
+
0
3
8
.
4
5
0
3
e
+
0
3
8
.
6
6
2
9
e
+
0
3
8
.
8
8
5
6
e
+
0
3
9
.
0
9
8
1
e
+
0
3
9
.
3
1
0
7
e
+
0
3
9
.
5
3
3
4
e
+
0
3
9
.
7
4
6
0
e
+
0
3
9
.
9
5
8
5
e
+
0
3
1
.
0
1
8
1
e
+
0
4
1
.
0
3
9
3
e
+
0
4
1
.
0
6
0
6
e
+
0
4
1
.
0
8
2
9
e
+
0
4
1
.
1
0
4
1
e
+
0
4
1
.
1
2
6
4
e
+
0
4
1
.
1
4
7
6
e
+
0
4
1
.
1
6
8
9
e
+
0
4
1
.
1
9
1
2
e
+
0
4
1
.
2
1
2
4
e
+
0
4
1
.
2
3
3
7
e
+
0
4
1
.
2
5
5
9
e
+
0
4
1
.
2
7
7
2
e
+
0
4
1
.
2
9
8
5
e
+
0
4
1
.
3
2
0
7
e
+
0
4
1
.
3
4
2
0
e
+
0
4
1
.
3
6
3
2
e
+
0
4
1
.
3
8
5
5
e
+
0
4
1
.
4
0
6
8
e
+
0
4
1
.
4
2
8
0
e
+
0
4
1
.
4
5
0
3
e
+
0
4
1
.
4
7
1
6
e
+
0
4
1
.
4
9
3
8
e
+
0
4
Measurement (Counts)
Black Body Source Temperature (C)
Measurements Curve Fit
Radiance vs. Measurement
R
a
d
i
a
n
c
e

(
W
/
(
s
r
-
c
m
2
)
)
17
Getting The Most From Your IR Camera
.rJ |ccusoJ .t . b|.ck bcJy .o|o.orco |o
tonpo..tu.o c| t|o c|.nbo. .rJ b|.ck
bcJy ..o t|or v..|oJ .rJ J.t. |s cc||octoJ
|.cn t|o |rto.r.| sorsc.s c..oct|cr
|.ctc.s ..o t|or c.o.toJ .rJ stc.oJ |r
t|o c.no.. |r .o.|t|no cpo..t|cr, t|o
c.no.. sorsc.s ccrt|ru.||y ncr|tc. |rto.r.|
tonpo..tu.o .rJ sorJ |ooJb.ck tc t|o
c.no.. p.ccossc. |o c.no.. cutput |s
t|or cc..octoJ |c. .ry p...s|t|c ..J|.t|cr
|ruorcos ||s |urct|cr.||ty |s ccnncr|y
.o|o..oJ tc .s .nb|ort J.||t ccnpors.t|cr
||t|n.to|y, t|o c.no.. nust c.|cu|.to .t .r
cbocts tonpo..tu.o b.soJ cr |ts on|ss|cr,
.ooctoJ on|ss|cr |.cn .nb|ort scu.cos,
.rJ on|ss|cr |.cn t|o .tncsp|o.o us|r
t|o ct.| |.J|.t|cr |.. |o tct.| ..J|.t|cr
pc.o. .oco|voJ by t|o c.no.. c.r bo
oxp.ossoJ .s
\
tct
e t \
cb
+ ( e) t \
.nb
+
( t) \
.tn
,
.|o.o e |s t|o cboct on|ss|v|ty, t |s t|o
t..rsn|ss|cr t|.cu| t|o .tncsp|o.o,
.nb

|s t|o (ooct|vo) tonpo..tu.o c| t|o cboct
su..curJ|rs, c. t|o reected ambient
(background) temperature, .rJ
.tn
|s t|o
tonpo..tu.o c| t|o .tncsp|o.o
|o bost .osu|ts ..o cbt.|roJ .|or . uso.
|s J|||ort |r orto.|r krc.r v.|uos |c. .||
t|o po.t|rort v..|.b|os |rtc t|o c.no..
sc|t...o |n|ss|v|ty t.b|os ..o .v.||.b|o
|c. . .|Jo v..|oty c| ccnncr subst.rcos
|c.ovo., .|or |r Jcubt, no.su.onorts
s|cu|J bo n.Jo tc cbt.|r t|o cc..oct
v.|uos
.||b..t|cr .rJ .r.|ys|s sc|t...o tcc|s
.v.||.b|o tc uso.s ..o rct .|..ys ccrt.|roJ
crbc..J t|o c.no.. \|||o |||orJ
c.no..s |.vo n.ry bu||t|r sc|t...o
|urct|crs, ct|o.s .o|y cr oxto.r.| sc|t...o
t|.t .urs cr . | |vor |||orJ c.no..s
..o ccrroctoJ tc |s tc oxp.rJ t|o|.
|rto.r.| c.||b..t|cr, cc..oct|cr, .rJ
.r.|ys|s c.p.b|||t|os |c. ox.np|o, ||||s
|o.n.AV

|cc|s sc|t...o c.r so.vo

. .|Jo v..|oty c| |urct|crs |.cn .o.|t|no
|n.o .cou|s|t|cr tc pcst.cou|s|t|cr
.r.|ys|s
\|ot|o. t|o sc|t...o |s cr t|o c.no.. c.
.r oxto.r.| |, t|o ncst uso|u| p.ck.os
.||c. . uso. tc o.s||y ncJ||y c.||b..t|cr
v..|.b|os |c. |rst.rco, ||||s |o.n.AV
|cc|s p.cv|Jos t|o .b|||ty tc orto. .rJ
ncJ||y on|ss|v|ty, .tncsp|o.|c ccrJ|t|crs,
J|st.rcos, .rJ ct|o. .rc|||..y J.t. rooJoJ
tc c.|cu|.to .rJ .op.osort t|o ox.ct
tonpo..tu.o c| t|o cboct, bct| ||vo .rJ
t|.cu| s.voJ J.t. ||s sc|t...o p.cv|Jos
. pcstno.su.onort c.p.b|||ty tc |u.t|o.
ncJ||y .tncsp|o.|c ccrJ|t|crs, spoct..|
.ospcrs|v|ty, .tncsp|o.|c t..rsn|ss|cr
c|.ros, |rto.r.| .rJ oxto.r.| |to.s, .rJ
ct|o. |npc.t.rt c.|to.|. .s rooJoJ
|o J|scuss|crs t|.t |c||c. bo|c. ..o
|rtorJoJ tc .op.osort bct| crbc..J .rJ
oxto.r.| c.no.. .n...o .rJ sc|t...o
|urct|crs \|o.o t|oso |urct|crs .os|Jo
JoporJs cr t|o c.no..
yp|c.| .no.. Vo.su.onort |urct|crs
|| c.no..s |.vo v..|cus cpo..t|r
ncJos tc .ssu.o cc..oct tonpo..tu.o
no.su.onorts urJo. J|o.ort .pp||c.t|cr
ccrJ|t|crs yp|c.| no.su.onort |urct|crs
|rc|uJo
Spctnoto.
A.o.
|.c|o
|sct|o.n
18
|.pto. ,
onpo..tu.o ..ro
c|c. c. ..y sc.|o sott|rs
u.sc. |urct|crs .||c. o.sy so|oct|cr c| .r
..o. c| |rto.ost, suc| .s t|o c.css|.|.s c| t|o
spct .o.J|rs |r ||u.o . |r .JJ|t|cr, t|o
cu.sc. n.y bo .b|o tc so|oct c|.c|o, sou..o,
.rJ |..ou|..|y s|.poJ pc|ycr ..o.s, c.
c.o.to . ||ro |c. . tonpo..tu.o p.c|o Orco
.r ..o. |s so|octoJ, |t c.r bo |.c.or sc
t|.t t|o c.no.. c.r t.ko . sr.ps|ct c| t|.t
..o. A|to.r.t|vo|y, t|o c.no.. |n.o c.r
.on.|r ||vo |c. cbso.v.t|cr c| c|.ros |r
tonpo..tu.o
Iigure z. IR image of a printed circuit board
indicating three spot temperature readings.
Image coIors correspond to the temperature
scaIe on the right.
|o spctnoto. rJs t|o tonpo..tu.o
.t . p..t|cu|.. pc|rt |oporJ|r cr t|o
c.no.., t||s |urct|cr n.y .||c. tor c.
nc.o ncv.b|o spcts, cro c. nc.o c| .||c|
n.y .utcn.t|c.||y rJ t|o |cttost pc|rt
|r t|o |n.o |o ..o. |urct|cr |sc|.tos .
so|octoJ ..o. c| .r cboct c. scoro .rJ
rJs t|o n.x|nun, n|r|nun, .rJ .vo..o
tonpo..tu.os |rs|Jo t|.t ..o. |o |sct|o.n
|urct|cr n.kos |t pcss|b|o tc pc.t..y
t|o tonpo..tu.o J|st.|but|cr c| . |ct
..o. Vu|t|p|o |sct|o.ns n.y bo .||c.oJ
|o ||ro p.c|o |s . ..y tc v|su.||.o t|o
tonpo..tu.o .|cr scno p..t c| t|o cboct,
.||c| n.y .|sc bo s|c.r .s . ..p|
(||u.o ,)
Iigure . Graph of temperature aIong a seIected
area of a target ob|ect using a cameras proIe
function
|o tonpo..tu.o no.su.onort ..ro
typ|c.||y |s so|oct.b|o by t|o uso. ||s
|s . v.|u.b|o |o.tu.o .|or . scoro |.s
. tonpo..tu.o ..ro r...c.o. t|.r
. c.no..s |u||sc.|o ..ro Sott|r .
r...c.o. ..ro .||c.s botto. .osc|ut|cr
c| t|o |n.os .rJ |||o. .ccu..cy |r t|o
no.su.oJ tonpo..tu.os |o.o|c.o, |n.os
.||| botto. |||ust..to sn.||o. tonpo..tu.o
J|o.orcos Or t|o ct|o. |.rJ, . b.c.Jo.
sc.|o .rJ/c. |||o. n.x|nun tonpo..tu.o
..ro n.y bo rooJoJ tc p.ovort s.tu..t|cr
c| t|o pc.t|cr c| t|o |n.o .t t|o |||ost
tonpo..tu.o
As .r .Jurct tc t|o tonpo..tu.o ..ro
so|oct|cr, ncst c.no..s .||c. . uso. tc sot
up . cc|c. sc.|o c. ..y sc.|o tc cpt|n|.o
t|o c.no.. |n.o ||u.o |||ust..tos t.c
..y sc.|o pcss|b|||t|os
|r ||u.o . . scc.||oJ |.cr sc.|o ..s usoJ
|c. . cc|c. .orJo.|r |r . n.rro. s|n||.. tc
t|o ..y sc.|o usoJ |r ||u.o , t|o |cttost
tonpo..tu.os c.r bo .orJo.oJ .s o|t|o.
|||to. cc|c.s c. J..ko. cc|c.s Arct|o.
pcss|b|||ty |s .orJo.|r |n.os .|t| .|.t
|s krc.r .s . ..|rbc. sc.|o (||u.o ,) |r
scno cc|c. |n.os, ..y |s usoJ tc |rJ|c.to
..o.s .|o.o t|o c.no.. Jotoctc. |.s
boccno s.tu..toJ (|o, tonpo..tu.os .o||
.bcvo t|o tcp c| t|o sc.|o)
19
Getting The Most From Your IR Camera
\|||o c|c|co c| cc|c. sc.|o |s c|tor .
n.tto. c| po.scr.| p.o|o.orco, t|o.o n.y
bo t|nos .|or cro typo c| sc.|o |s botto.
t|.r .rct|o. |c. |||ust..t|r t|o ..ro c|
tonpo..tu.os |r . scoro
|r t|o c.so c| |sct|o.n no.su.onorts,
..o.s .|t| t|o s.no t|o.n.| ..J|.rco ..o
||||||toJ || .o uso . cc|c. sc.|o .|t| tor
cc|c.s, .o .||| |r |.ct ot tor |sct|o.ns |r
t|o |n.o Suc| . sc.|o scnot|nos n.kos
|t o.s|o. tc soo t|o tonpo..tu.o J|st.|but|cr
cvo. .r cboct |r ||u.o 6, t|o tonpo..tu.o
sc.|o |s so|octoJ sc t|.t o.c| cc|c. |s .r
|sct|o.n .|t| . .|Jt| c| .
St|||, |t |s |npc.t.rt tc .o.||.o t|.t .r
|sct|o.n.| tonpo..tu.o sc.|o .orJo.|r
.||| rct bo .ccu..to ur|oss .|| c| t|o
||||||toJ ..o. |.s t|o s.no on|ss|v|ty,
.rJ t|o .nb|ort tonpo..tu.os ..o t|o
s.no |c. .|| cbocts .|t||r t|o ..o. ||s
pc|rts cut ccnncr p.cb|ons |c. || c.no..
uso.s O|tor, on|ss|v|ty v..|os .c.css .r
cboct c. scoro, .|cr .|t| v..|.t|crs |r
.nb|ort tonpo..tu.os, .cccnp.r|oJ by
.tncsp|o.|c ccrJ|t|crs t|.t Jcrt n.tc|
Iigure . Gray scaIe images of car engine, Ieft view has white as the hottest temperature, right view
shows bIack as the hottest
Iigure . Rainbow scaIe showing Iower
temperatures towards the bIue end of the
spectrum
Iigure . Isotherm coIor scaIe with each coIor
having an isotherm width of zC
20
|.pto. ,
. c.no..s Jo|.u|t v.|uos ||s |s .|y ||
c.no..s |rc|uJo no.su.onort cc..oct|cr
.rJ c.||b..t|cr |urct|crs
|n|ss|v|ty c..oct|crs
|r ncst .pp||c.t|crs, t|o on|ss|v|ty c| .r
cboct |s b.soJ cr v.|uos |curJ |r . t.b|o
A|t|cu| c.no.. sc|t...o n.y |rc|uJo
.r on|ss|v|ty t.b|o, uso.s usu.||y |.vo t|o
c.p.b|||ty c| |rputt|r on|ss|v|ty v.|uos
|c. .r cboct ..r|r |.cn o tc o V.ry
c.no..s .|sc p.cv|Jo .utcn.t|c cc..oct|crs
b.soJ cr uso. |rput |c. .ooctoJ .nb|ort
tonpo..tu.o, v|o.|r J|st.rco, .o|.t|vo
|un|J|ty, .tncsp|o.|c t..rsn|ss|cr, .rJ
oxto.r.| cpt|cs
As Josc.|boJ o..||o., t|o || c.no..
c.|cu|.tos . tonpo..tu.o b.soJ cr ..J|.rco
no.su.onorts .rJ t|o cbocts on|ss|v|ty
|c.ovo., .|or t|o on|ss|v|ty v.|uo |s
urkrc.r c. urco.t.|r, t|o .ovo.so p.ccoss
c.r bo .pp||oJ |rc.|r t|o cboct
tonpo..tu.o, on|ss|v|ty c.r bo c.|cu|.toJ
||s |s usu.||y Jcro .|or ox.ct on|ss|v|ty
v.|uos ..o rooJoJ |o.o ..o t.c ccnncr
not|cJs c| Jc|r t||s
|o .st not|cJ ost.b||s|os . krc.r
tonpo..tu.o by us|r .r oou.||..t|cr
bcx ||s |s ossort|.||y . t||t|y ccrt.c||oJ
tonpo..tu.o c|.nbo. .|t| c|.cu|.t|r
|ct .|. |o |ort| c| t|no |r t|o bcx
nust bo suc|ort tc .||c. t|o .|c|o
cboct tc bo .t . ur||c.n tonpo..tu.o |r
.JJ|t|cr, |t |s .bsc|uto|y rocoss..y t|.t t|o
cboct st.b|||.o .t . tonpo..tu.o J|o.ort
|.cn t|o su..curJ|rs .|o.o t|o .ctu.|
no.su.onorts .||| t.ko p|.co |su.||y, t|o
cboct |s |o.toJ tc . tonpo..tu.o .t |o.st
o .bcvo t|o su..curJ|rs tc orsu.o t|.t
t|o t|o.ncJyr.n|cs c| t|o no.su.onorts
..o v.||J
Orco t|o cboct |.s .o.c|oJ t|o sot
tonpo..tu.o, t|o ||J |s J...r c .rJ .
t|o.nc..n |s c.ptu.oJ c| t|o cboct |o
c.no.. .rJ/c. sc|t...o |c. p.ccoss|r
t|o.nc..ns c.r bo usoJ tc ot t|o
on|ss|v|ty v.|uo
Arct|o. (.J.cort spct) not|cJ |s nuc|
s|np|o., but st||| |vos .o.scr.b|y ox.ct
v.|uos c| t|o on|ss|v|ty |t usos .r ..o. c|
krc.r on|ss|v|ty |o |Jo. |s tc Joto.n|ro
t|o tonpo..tu.o c| t|o cboct .|t| t|o
c.no.. |r t|o usu.| ..y |o cboct |s
.JustoJ sc t|.t t|o ..o. .|t| urkrc.r
on|ss|v|ty |s vo.y c|cso tc .r ..o. c| krc.r
on|ss|v|ty |o J|st.rco sop...t|r t|oso
..o.s nust bo sc sn.|| t|.t |t c.r bo s.|o|y
.ssunoJ t|oy |.vo t|o s.no tonpo..tu.o
|.cn t||s tonpo..tu.o no.su.onort t|o
urkrc.r on|ss|v|ty c.r bo c.|cu|.toJ
|o p.cb|on |s |||ust..toJ |r ||u.o ,, .||c|
|s .r |n.o c| . p.|rtoJ c|.cu|t bc..J (|b)
|o.toJ tc . ur||c.n tonpo..tu.o c| 68,
|c.ovo., ..o.s c| J|o.ort on|ss|v|t|os n.y
.ctu.||y |.vo J|o.ort tonpo..tu.os, .s
|rJ|c.toJ |r t|o c.pt|cr c| ||u.o ,. |s|r
t|o toc|r|ouo ust Josc.|boJ, on|ss|v|ty
cc..oct|cr p.ccooJs by rJ|r . .o|o.orco
spct .|o.o . tonpo..tu.o c| 68, |s
|rJ|c.toJ .rJ c.|cu|.t|r t|o on|ss|v|ty .t
t|.t |cc.t|cr by krc.|r t|o on|ss|v|ty
c| t|o .o|o.orco spct, t|o on|ss|v|ty c|
t|o t..ot spcts c.r bo c.|cu|.toJ |o
cc..octoJ tonpo..tu.os ..o s|c.r |r ||u.o
,b
As |||ust..toJ |r t|oso u.os, t||s toc|r|ouo
c.r bo usoJ .|t| . c.no..s ..o. so|oct|cr
|urct|cr (A| |r t|o u.os) .rJ us|r
t|o .vo..o tonpo..tu.o |c. t|.t ..o. |o
.o.scr |c. us|r t|o .vo..o tonpo..tu.o
|r t|o .o|o.orco ..o. |s t|.t t|o.o |s usu.||y
. sp.o.J c| tonpo..tu.os .|t||r t|o ..o.,
21
Getting The Most From Your IR Camera
ospoc|.||y |c. n.to.|.|s .|t| |c. on|ss|v|ty
|r t|.t c.so, us|r . spctnoto. c. .r
..o. n.x|nun v.|uo .cu|J |vo . |oss
st.b|o .osu|t |o |sct|o.n |urct|cr |s rct
.occnnorJoJ o|t|o., .s |t |s rct pcss|b|o tc
ot t|o .vo..|r ooct .|t| |t
|t n.y .|sc bo pcss|b|o tc uso . ccrt.ct
sorsc. tc rJ t|o tonpo..tu.o c| .r
..o. c| urkrc.r on|ss|v|ty, but suc|
no.su.onorts pcso ct|o. p.cb|ons t|.t
n.y rct bo o.sy tc cvo.ccno |u.t|o.nc.o,
|t |s rovo. pcss|b|o tc no.su.o t|o
on|ss|v|ty c| .r cboct .|cso tonpo..tu.o
|s t|o s.no .s t|o .ooctoJ .nb|ort
tonpo..tu.o |.cn |ts su..curJ|rs
oro..||y, . uso. c.r .|sc |rput ct|o.
v..|.b|os t|.t ..o rooJoJ tc cc..oct |c.
.nb|ort ccrJ|t|crs |oso |rc|uJo |.ctc.s
|c. .nb|ort tonpo..tu.os .rJ .tncsp|o.|c
.ttoru.t|cr ..curJ t|o t..ot cboct
|s|r .no.. Spoc|c.t|crs
\|or ccrs|Jo.|r || c.no.. po.|c.n.rco,
ncst uso.s ..o |rto.ostoJ |r |c. sn.||
.r cboct c. ..o. c.r bo JotoctoJ .rJ
.ccu..to|y no.su.oJ .t . |vor J|st.rco
|rc.|r . c.no..s o|J c| v|o. (|O\)
spoc|c.t|crs |o|ps Joto.n|ro t||s
Field of View (FOV) ||s p...noto. JoporJs
cr t|o c.no.. |ors .rJ |cc.| p|.ro
J|nors|crs, .rJ |s oxp.ossoJ |r Jo.oos,
suc| .s ,,, .8, c. 8. 6 |c. .
|vor v|o.|r J|st.rco, t||s Joto.n|ros t|o
J|nors|crs c| t|o tct.| su.|.co ..o. soor
by t|o |rst.unort (||u.o 8) |c. ox.np|o,
. |||| |o.nc\|s|cr S6ooo c.no.. .|t| .
.,nn |ors |.s .r |O\ c| o6 o, noto.s
.t . J|st.rco c| cro noto., .rJ 6 ,
noto.s .t . J|st.rco c| tor noto.s
Instantaneous Field of View (IFOV). ||s
|s . no.su.o c| t|o sp.t|.| .osc|ut|cr
c| . c.no..s |cc.| p|.ro ....y (||A)
Jotoctc. |o ccru..t|cr c| t|o ||A
|r t|o |||| |o.nc\|s|cr S6ooo |s 6o
,. Jotoctc.s, .||c| n.kos . tct.| c|
,.,,68o |rJ|v|Ju.| p|ctu.o o|onorts (p|xo|s)
Suppcso ycu ..o |cck|r .t .r cboct .t
. J|st.rco c| cro noto. .|t| t||s c.no..
|r Joto.n|r|r t|o sn.||ost Jotoct.b|o
cboct, |t |s |npc.t.rt tc krc. t|o ..o.s
||O\ ccvo.oJ by .r |rJ|v|Ju.| p|xo| |r t|o
....y |o tct.| |O\ |s o6 o, noto.s .t
Iigure /a. PC8 heated to a uniform 8./C, but
digitaI readouts are incorrect.
Iigure /b. PC8 with emissivity correction using
the ad|acent spot technique. DigitaI readouts
now indicate the correct temperatures at aII
Iocations.
22
|.pto. ,
. J|st.rco c| cro noto. || .o J|v|Jo t|oso
|O\ J|nors|crs by t|o runbo. c| p|xo|s |r
. ||ro .rJ .c., .ospoct|vo|y, .o rJ t|.t .
p|xo|s ||O\ |s .r ..o. .pp.cx|n.to|y o
onn .t t|.t J|st.rco ||u.o , |||ust..tos
t||s ccrcopt
Iigure p. A cameras geometric (spatiaI)
resoIution (IIOV) is determined by its Iens and
IPA conguration.
c uso t||s |r|c.n.t|cr ccrs|Jo., t|o p|xo|
||O\ .o|.t|vo tc t|o t..ot cboct s|.o
(||u.o o) |r t|o |o|t v|o. c| t||s u.o, t|o
..o. c| t|o cboct tc bo no.su.oJ ccvo.s
t|o ||O\ ccnp|oto|y |o.o|c.o, t|o p|xo|
.||| .oco|vo ..J|.t|cr cr|y |.cn t|o cboct,
.rJ |ts tonpo..tu.o c.r bo no.su.oJ
cc..oct|y

Iigure 1o. IIOV (red squares) reIative to ob|ect
size.
|r t|o .||t v|o. c| ||u.o o, t|o p|xo|
ccvo.s nc.o t|.r t|o t..ot cboct
..o. .rJ .||| p|ck up ..J|.t|cr |.cn
oxt..rocus cbocts || t|o cboct |s |ctto.
t|.r t|o cbocts bos|Jo c. bo||rJ |t, t|o
tonpo..tu.o .o.J|r .||| bo tcc |c.,
.rJ v|co vo.s. |o.o|c.o |t |s |npc.t.rt
tc ost|n.to t|o s|.o c| t|o t..ot
cboct ccnp..oJ tc t|o ||O\ |r o.c|
no.su.onort s|tu.t|cr
Spot Size Ratio (SSR). At t|o st..t c| .
no.su.onort soss|cr, t|o J|st.rco
bot.oor t|o c.no.. .rJ t|o t..ot
cboct s|cu|J bo ccrs|Jo.oJ oxp||c|t|y
|c. c.no..s t|.t Jc rct |.vo . c.||b..toJ
spct s|.o, t|o spct s|.o ..t|c not|cJ
c.r bo usoJ tc cpt|n|.o no.su.onort
.osu|ts SS| |s . runbo. t|.t to||s |c. |..
t|o c.no.. c.r bo |.cn . t..ot cboct
c| . |vor s|.o |r c.Jo. tc ot . ccJ
tonpo..tu.o no.su.onort A typ|c.| u.o
n||t bo ,ooo (.|sc ..|ttor ,ooo/, c.
s|np|y .bb.ov|.toJ .s ,ooo) ||s c.r bo
|rto.p.otoJ .s |c||c.s .t ooo nn J|st.rco
|.cn . t..ot, t|o c.no.. .||| no.su.o .
tonpo..tu.o .vo..oJ cvo. . nn sou..o
|cto t|.t SS| |s rct ust |c. t..ots |.. ...y
|t c.r bo ust .s |npc.t.rt |c. c|csoup
.c.k |c.ovo., t|o c.no..s n|r|nun
|cc.| J|st.rco nust .|sc bo ccrs|Jo.oJ
|c. s|c.to. t..ot J|st.rcos, scno
n.ru|.ctu.o.s co. c|csoup |orsos
Iigure 8. A cameras eId of view (IOV) varies
with viewing distance.
23
Getting The Most From Your IR Camera
|c. .ry .pp||c.t|cr .rJ c.no../|ors
ccnb|r.t|cr, t|o |c||c.|r oou.t|cr
.pp||os
D SSR

__

____
, .|o.o
S
| |s t|o J|st.rco |.cn t|o c.no.. tc t|o
t..ot,
S |s sn.||ost t..ot J|nors|cr c| |rto.ost,
.rJ
SS| |s t|o spct s|.o ..t|c
|o ur|ts c| | .rJ S nust bo t|o s.no
\|or so|oct|r . c.no.., koop |r n|rJ
t|.t ||O\ |s . ccJ u.o c| no.|t tc uso
|o sn.||o. t|o ||O\, t|o botto. t|o c.no..
|c. . |vor tct.| o|J c| v|o.
Ot|o. cc|s |c. .no.. |so.s
As nort|croJ o..||o., || c.no..s ..o
c.||b..toJ .t t|o |.ctc.y, .rJ o|J
c.||b..t|cr |r rct p..ct|c.| |c.ovo., scno
c.no..s |.vo . bu||t|r b|.ckbcJy tc .||c.
. ou|ck c.||b..t|cr c|ock |oso c|ocks
s|cu|J bo Jcro po.|cJ|c.||y tc .ssu.o v.||J
no.su.onorts
burJ|oJ .rJ cpt|cr.| J.t. .cou|s|t|cr
sc|t...o .v.||.b|o |c. || c.no..s .||c.s
o.sy J.t. c.ptu.o, v|o.|r, .r.|ys|s,
.rJ stc..o Sc|t...o |urct|crs n.y
|rc|uJo .o.|t|no ..J|cnot.|c cutput c|
..J|.rco, ..J|.rt |rtors|ty, tonpo..tu.o,
t..ot |ort|/..o., otc Opt|cr.| sc|t...o
ncJu|os ..o .|sc .v.||.b|o |c. sp.t|.| .rJ
spoct..| ..J|cnot.|c c.||b..t|cr |urct|crs
p.cv|JoJ by t|oso ncJu|os n||t |rc|uJo
|rst.unort c.||b..t|cr |r to.ns c|
..J|.rco, |...J|.rco, .rJ tonpo..tu.o
|.J|cnot.|c J.t. rooJoJ tc sot
|rst.unort sors|t|v|ty .rJ spoct..| ..ro
|so c| J|o.ort t..rsn|ss|cr .rJ/
c. on|ss|v|ty cu.vos c. ccrst.rts |c.
c.||b..t|cr J.t. pc|rts
AJustnorts |c. .tncsp|o.|c oocts
|r .JJ|t|cr, || c.no.. sc|t...o .rJ
.n...o p.cv|Jo ct|o. uso. |rputs
t|.t .oro t|o .ccu..cy c| tonpo..tu.o
no.su.onorts Oro c| t|o ncst |npc.t.rt
|urct|crs |s rcrur||c.n|ty cc..oct|cr
(||) c| t|o Jotoctc. ||A ||s typo c|
cc..oct|cr |s rooJoJ Juo tc t|o |.ct t|.t
o.c| |rJ|v|Ju.| Jotoctc. |r t|o c.no..s
||A |.s . s|||t|y J|o.ort .|r .rJ .o.c
csot c c.o.to . uso|u| t|o.nc..p||c
|n.o, t|o J|o.ort .|rs .rJ csots nust
bo cc..octoJ tc . rc.n.||.oJ v.|uo
||s nu|t|stop || p.ccoss |s po.|c.noJ
by c.no.. sc|t...o |c.ovo., scno
sc|t...o .||c.s t|o uso. tc spoc||y t|o
n.rro. |r .||c| || |s po.|c.noJ by
so|oct|r |.cn . ||st c| noru cpt|crs
|c. ox.np|o, . uso. n.y bo .b|o tc
spoc||y o|t|o. . cropc|rt c. . t.c
pc|rt cc..oct|cr A cropc|rt cc..oct|cr
cr|y Jo.|s .|t| p|xo| csot .cpc|rt
cc..oct|crs po.|c.n bct| .|r .rJ csot
rc.n.||..t|cr c| p|xo|tcp|xo| rcr
ur||c.n|ty
\|t| .o..J tc ||, .rct|o. |npc.t.rt
ccrs|Jo..t|cr |s |c. t||s |urct|cr Jo.|s
.|t| t|o |npo.|oct|crs t|.t ncst ||As
|.vo .s . .osu|t c| son|ccrJuctc. ..|o.
p.ccoss|r Scno c| t|oso |npo.|oct|crs
..o n.r||ostoJ .s b.J p|xo|s t|.t p.cJuco
rc cutput s|r.|s c. .s cutputs |..
cuts|Jo c| . cc..oct.b|o ..ro |Jo.||y,
t|o || p.ccoss |Jort|os b.J p|xo|s .rJ
.op|.cos t|on us|r . ro..ost ro||bc.
.op|.conort .|c.|t|n b.J p|xo|s ..o
24
|.pto. ,
|Jort|oJ b.soJ cr . .ospcrso .rJ/c.
csot |ovo| cuts|Jo uso.JoroJ pc|rts
|.cn t|o no.r .ospcrso .rJ .bsc|uto
csot |ovo|
Ot|o. || |urct|crs n.y bo |rc|uJoJ
.|t| t||s typo c| sc|t...o, .||c| ..o tcc
runo.cus tc nort|cr |o s.no |s t.uo
c| n.ry ct|o. ct|os|o|| sc|t...o
ncJu|os t|.t c.r bo pu.c|.soJ tc |.c|||t.to
t|o.nc..p||c |n.o J|sp|.y, .r.|ys|s,
J.t. |o stc..o, n.r|pu|.t|cr, .rJ oJ|t|r
Av.||.b|||ty c| ccnp.t|b|o sc|t...o |s .r
|npc.t.rt ccrs|Jo..t|cr .|or so|oct|r .r
|| c.no.. |c. . uso.s .pp||c.t|cr c. .c.k
orv|.crnort
crc|us|crs
|ocort .Jv.rcos |r || c.no..s |.vo n.Jo
t|on nuc| o.s|o. tc uso .no.. .n...o
|.s n.Jo sotup .rJ cpo..t|cr .s s|np|o
.s us|r . ccrvort|cr.| v|Joc c.no..
Orbc..J .rJ |b.soJ sc|t...o p.cv|Jos
pc.o.|u| no.su.onort .rJ .r.|ys|s tcc|s
|ovo.t|o|oss, |c. .ccu..to .osu|ts, t|o uso.
s|cu|J |.vo .r urJo.st.rJ|r c| || c.no..
cpt|c.| p.|rc|p.|s .rJ c.||b..t|cr not|cJs
At t|o vo.y |o.st, t|o on|ss|v|ty c| . t..ot
cboct s|cu|J bo orto.oJ |rtc t|o c.no..s
J.t.b.so, || rct .|.o.Jy .v.||.b|o .s . t.b|o
ort.y
25
|.pto.
Filters Extend IR
Camera Usefulness
\|o.o |||to.s .r |o|p
V.to.|.|s t|.t ..o t..rsp..ort c. cp.ouo tc
|| ..vo|ort|s p.osort p.cb|ons |r rcr
ccrt.ct tonpo..tu.o no.su.onorts .|t|
.r || c.no.. \|t| t..rsp..ort n.to.|.|s,
t|o c.no.. soos t|.cu| t|on .rJ .occ.Js
. tonpo..tu.o t|.t |s . ccnb|r.t|cr c| t|o
n.to.|.| |tso|| .rJ t|.t .||c| |s bo||rJ |t
|r t|o soccrJ c.so, .|or .r || c.no..
rooJs tc soo t|.cu| . n.to.|.| tc no.su.o
t|o tonpo..tu.o c| .r cboct bo||rJ |t,
s|r.| .ttoru.t|cr .rJ .nb|ort .ooct|crs
c.r n.ko .ccu..to tonpo..tu.o .o.J|rs
J|cu|t c. |npcss|b|o |r scno c.sos, .r ||
|to. c.r bo p|.coJ |r t|o c.no..s cpt|c.|
p.t| tc cvo.ccno t|oso p.cb|ons
Spoct..| |ospcrso |s t|o |oy
|| c.no..s |r|o.ort|y no.su.o |...J|.rco
rct tonpo..tu.o |c.ovo., . c.no..s
sc|t...o ccvo.ts ..J|.rco no.su.onorts
|rtc tonpo..tu.os by us|r t|o krc.r
on|ss|v|ty c| . t..ot cboct .rJ .pp|y|r
|rto.r.| c.||b..t|cr J.t. |c. t|o c.no..s
spoct..| .ospcrso |o spoct..| .ospcrso
|s Joto.n|roJ p.|n..||y by t|o c.no..s
|ors .rJ Jotoctc. ||u.o s|c.s t|o
spoct..| .ospcrso c| . |o. || c.no..s .|t|
v..|cus spoct..| .ospcrsos |o spoct..|
po.|c.n.rco c| ncst c.no..s c.r bo
|curJ |r t|o|. uso. n.ru.| c. toc|r|c.|
spoc|c.t|crs
|c. n.ry cbocts, on|ss|v|ty |s . |urct|cr
c| t|o|. ..J|.rco ..vo|ort|, .rJ |s
|u.t|o. |ruorcoJ by t|o|. tonpo..tu.o,
t|o .r|o .t .||c| t|oy ..o v|o.oJ by .
c.no.., .rJ ct|o. |.ctc.s Ar cboct .|cso
on|ss|v|ty v..|os st.cr|y .|t| ..vo|ort|
|s c.||oJ . so|oct|vo ..J|.tc. Oro t|.t |.s
t|o s.no on|ss|v|ty |c. .|| ..vo|ort|s |s
c.||oJ . .oybcJy ..rsp..ort n.to.|.|s,
suc| .s |.ss .rJ n.ry p|.st|cs, torJ tc
bo so|oct|vo ..J|.tc.s |r ct|o. .c.Js,
t|o|. Jo.oo c| t..rsp..orcy v..|os .|t|
..vo|ort| |o.o n.y bo || ..vo|ort|s
.|o.o t|oy ..o ossort|.||y cp.ouo Juo tc
.bsc.pt|cr S|rco, .ccc.J|r tc ||.c||cs
|.., . ccJ .bsc.bo. |s .|sc . ccJ on|tto.,
t||s cpors t|o pcss|b|||ty c| no.su.|r t|o
Iigure 1. ReIative response curves for a number of IR cameras
2 3 4 1 5 6 7
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Wavelength [m]
Relative
sensitivity
0%
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Mikrobolometer
FLIR QWIP
MCT-LW
MCT-SW InSb

26
|.pto.
..J|.rco .rJ tonpo..tu.o c| . so|oct|vo
..J|.tc. .t scno ..vo|ort|
Spoct..| AJ.pt.t|cr
|rso.t|r . spoct..| |to. |rtc t|o
c.no..s cpt|c.| p.t| |s c.||oJ spoct..|
.J.pt.t|cr |o .st stop c| t||s p.ccoss
|s tc .r.|y.o t|o spoct..| p.cpo.t|os c|
t|o son|t..rsp..ort n.to.|.| ycu ..o
t.y|r tc no.su.o |c. ccnncr n.to.|.|s
t|o J.t. n.y bo .v.||.b|o |r pub||s|oJ
J.t. Ot|o..|so, t||s .oou|.os .r.|ys|s
.|t| . spoct.cp|ctcnoto. (|o c.no..
n.ru|.ctu.o. c. . ccrsu|t|r .n n.y
supp|y t||s so.v|co) |r o|t|o. c.so, t|o
cboct|vo |s tc rJ t|o spoct..| |cc.t|cr c|
. b.rJ c| ccnp|oto .bsc.pt|cr t|.t |.||s
.|t||r t|o || c.no..s .ospcrso cu.vo
V|c.cbc|cnoto. Jotoctc.s |.vo ..t|o.
b.c.J .ospcrso cu.vos sc t|oy ..o rct
||ko|y tc p.osort . p.cb|on |r t||s .ospoct
|c.ovo., .JJ|r . |to. Joc.o.sos cvo..||
sors|t|v|ty Juo tc r...c.|r c| t|o c.no..s
spoct..| ..ro Sors|t|v|ty |s .oJucoJ
.pp.cx|n.to|y by t|o ..t|c c| t|o ..o.
urJo. t|o |to.s spoct..| cu.vo tc t|o ..o.
urJo. t|o c.no..s spoct..| cu.vo ||s
ccu|J bo . p.cb|on |c. n|c.cbc|cnoto.
systons, s|rco t|oy |.vo .o|.t|vo|y |c.
sors|t|v|ty tc st..t .|t| .rJ . b.c.J
spoct..| cu.vo |s|r . c.no.. .|t|, |c.
ox.np|o, . \|| Jotoctc. .||| p.cv|Jo
.o.to. sors|t|v|ty .|t| . r...c.o. spoct..|
cu.vo St|||, t||s r...c. ..ro n.y ||n|t t|o
.pp||c.t|cr c| suc| c.no..s |c. spoct..|
.J.pt.t|cr
||t|n.to|y, .r cpt|c.| (||) |to. nust bo
so|octoJ t|.t b|ccks .|| ..vo|ort|s oxcopt
t|o b.rJ .|o.o t|o cboct .bsc.bs ||s
orsu.os t|.t t|o cboct |.s ||| on|ss|v|ty
.|t||r t|.t b.rJ
bos|Jos son|t..rsp..ort sc||Js, so|oct|vo
.J.pt.t|cr c.r .|sc bo .pp||oJ tc .sos
|c.ovo., . vo.y r...c. |to. n||t bo
.oou|.oJ |c. so|oct|r .r .bsc.pt|cr
sp|ko |r . .s |vor .|t| p.cpo. |to.|r,
tonpo..tu.o no.su.onort c| .sos |s
J|cu|t, n.|r|y Juo tc urkrc.r .s
Jors|ty So|oct|vo .J.pt.t|cr |c. . .s |.s
. botto. c|.rco c| succoss || t|o cboct|vo
|s no.o|y .s Jotoct|cr, s|rco t|o.o ..o |oss
st.|rort .oou|.onorts |c. ou.rt|t.t|vo
.ccu..cy |r t|.t c.so sors|t|v|ty .cu|J bo
nc.o |npc.t.rt, .rJ scno .sos .|t| vo.y
||| .bsc.pt|cr n||t st||| bo no.su..b|o
Spoct..| .J.pt.t|cr ccu|J .|sc bo .pp||oJ
t|o cppcs|to ..y, |o, so|oct|cr c| . spoct..|
b.rJ .|o.o t|o t..rsn|ss|cr t|.cu| .
noJ|un |s .s ||| .s pcss|b|o |o pu.pcso
.cu|J bo tc or.b|o no.su.onort cr .r
cboct by soo|r t|.cu| t|o noJ|un
.|t|cut .ry |rto.|o.orco |o noJ|un
ccu|J bo c.J|r..y .tncsp|o.o, t|o
.tncsp|o.o c| ccnbust|cr .sos |rs|Jo .
|u.r.co, c. s|np|y . .|rJc. (c. ct|o. sc||J)
t|.cu| .||c| cro ..rts tc no.su.o
|||to. ypos
|o s|np|ost |to.s ..o b.c.Jb.rJ rout..|
Jors|ty typos t|.t ..o usoJ no.o|y tc
.oJuco cpt|c.| t..rsn|ss|cr .rJ p.ovort
Jotoctc. s.tu..t|cr .t ||| tonpo..tu.os
\|||o rocoss..y scnot|nos, t||s |s rct
spoct..| .J.pt.t|cr
|r spoct..| .J.pt.t|cr, |to.s ..o usoJ
|r c.Jo. tc supp.oss c. t..rsn|t co.t.|r
..vo|ort|s |c. J|scuss|cr pu.pcsos,
|to.s c.r bo Josc.|boJ .s s|c.tp.ss (S|),
|crp.ss (||), b.rJp.ss (b|), .rJ r...c.
b.rJp.ss (|b|) Soo ||u.o . S| .rJ ||
|to.s ..o spoc|oJ .|t| . cutcr .rJ .
cutc ..vo|ort| b| .rJ |b| |to.s ..o
27
Filters Extend IR Camera Usefulness
spoc|oJ .|t| . corto. ..vo|ort| .rJ
. |.||.|Jt| (|.||pc.o.) ..vo|ort|,
t|o |.tto. bo|r t|o .|Jt| .|o.o spoct..|
.ospcrso |.s Joc.o.soJ tc ,o` c| |ts
n.x|nun
|c. tonpo..tu.o no.su.onorts cr
t..rsp..ort n.to.|.|s, t|o |to. so|octoJ
nust p.cv|Jo . b.rJ c| ossort|.||y
ccnp|oto .bsc.pt|cr |rccnp|oto
.bsc.pt|cr c.r bo usoJ, .t |o.st
t|oc.ot|c.||y, p.cv|JoJ t|.t bct|
.bsc.pt.rco .rJ .ooct.rco ..o krc.r
.rJ st.b|o .t t|o .bsc.pt|cr b.rJ
|r|c.tur.to|y, .bsc.pt|cr c|tor v..|os .|t|
bct| tonpo..tu.o .rJ t||ckross c| t|o
n.to.|.|
Ar ox.np|o c| .pp|y|r . |b| |to. tc
t|o no.su.onort c| pc|yot|y|oro |n
tonpo..tu.o |s s|c.r |r ||u.o , |o b|uo
cu.vo |r t|o u.o s|c.s t|o .bsc.pt|cr
b.rJ c| pc|yot|y|oro |n |o .oJ cu.vo
s|c.s t|o t..rsn|tt.rco c| . ,,,n
|b| |to., .||c| |s Jos|roJ tc n.tc|
pc|yot|y|oro |n |o .oor cu.vo s|c.s
t|o .osu|t|r t..rsn|ss|cr t|.cu| |n
p|us t|o |to. ||s cu.vo, .urr|r ust
.bcvo t|o .o.c ||ro, |rJ|c.tos .r oxco||ort
|to. .J.pt.t|cr, |o t|o |n .ppo..s tc bo
cp.ouo tc t|o c.no.., .rJ rc b.ck.curJ
..J|.t|cr .cu|J J|stu.b t|o no.su.onort
c| |n tonpo..tu.o
|||to.s c.r .|sc bo c|.ss|oJ .ccc.J|r tc
t|o|. .pp||c.t|cr tonpo..tu.o ..J|t|cr.||y,
cc|J |to.s, |to.s t|.t ..o st.b|||.oJ .t c.
ro.. t|o s.no tonpo..tu.o .s t|o Jotoctc.,
..o t|o ncst .ccu..to .rJ Jos|.oJ |to.s
|c. t|o.n.| s|r.tu.os \..n |to.s, |to.s
sc.o.oJ crtc t|o b.ck c| t|o cpt|c.| |ors
cuts|Jo c| t|o Jotoctc./ccc|o. .ssonb|y, ..o
.|sc ccnncr|y usoJ but torJ tc p.cv|Jo
nc.o ..J|cnot.|c c.||b..t|cr urco.t.|rty
Juo tc v..y|r || on|ss|cr .|t| .nb|ort
tonpo..tu.o c|.ros
Diferent types of flter characteristics
0
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
6 0
7 0
8 0
9 0
1 0 0
1 . 5 2 2 . 5 3 3 . 5 4 4 . 5 5 5 . 5
Wavelength, m
System response curve
Long-pass flter
Band-pass flter
Narrow band-pass flter
Short-pass flter
Iigure z. Response curves for dierent types of Iters
28
|.pto.
Orco . |to. |s so|octoJ |c. uso .|t|
. p..t|cu|.. c.no.., t|o c.no../|to.
ccnb|r.t|cr rooJs tc bo c.||b..toJ
by t|o c.no.. n.ru|.ctu.o. |or t|o
po.|c.n.rco c| t|o syston s|cu|J bo
c|...cto.|.oJ s|rco .ccu..cy .rJ sors|t|v|ty
.||| bo .octoJ Juo tc . .oJuct|cr |r
oro.y c|r tc t|o Jotoctc.
..rsp..ort V.to.|.|
Vo.su.onort oc|r|ouos
|.cJuct|cr c| s|oot |.ss .rJ t||r p|.st|c
|n .oou|.os |.|.|y t||t tonpo..tu.o ccrt.c|
tc n.x|n|.o p.cJuct|cr ou.||ty .rJ y|o|J
..J|t|cr.||y, tonpo..tu.o sorsc.s |.vo
boor onboJJoJ .t t|o c.|co c| t|o
oxt.uJo., .||c| p.cv|Jos ..t|o. cc..so
|r|c.n.t|cr .bcut s|oot/|n tonpo..tu.o
Ar || n.c||ro v|s|cr syston c.r n.ko rcr
ccrt.ct tonpo..tu.o no.su.onorts .rJ
supp|y nc.o us.b|o J.t. .bcut t|o n.to.|.|
.s |t |s oxt.uJoJ |c.ovo., .s Josc.|boJ
.bcvo, .r .pp.cp.|.to |to. |s rooJoJ |c.
t|o || c.no.. tc n.ko t|o n.to.|.| .ppo..
cp.ouo
c orsu.o t|.t t|o p.cpo. |to. ..s
so|octoJ, spoct..| .ospcrso cu.vos |c. t|o
c.no../|to. syston c.r bo c.o.toJ by t|o
c.no.. n.ru|.ctu.o. (Soo t|o .oor cu.vo
|r ||u.o ,) |r |.ct, t||s |s oro..||y .oou|.oJ
|c. po.n.rort cc|J |to. |rst.||.t|crs tc
v.||J.to |to. .ospcrso Ot|o..|so, (.|t|
suppc.t|vo spoct..| J.t.) t|o uso. c.r
p.ccooJ by c|ock|r on|ss|v|ty ||s |s .
vo.|c.t|cr c| on|ss|v|ty oc|orcy |c. t|o
cvo..|| syston .ospcrso, |rc|uJ|r t|o
t..ot n.to.|.| .rJ c.no.. .|t| |rst.||oJ
|to. |oc.|||r ||.c||cs |..,
r
l
+ e
l
+ t
l
, c. e
l
t
l
r
l
,
|t |s c|o.. t|.t |r c.Jo. tc ot .r on|ss|v|ty
v.|uo, t..rsn|tt.rco .rJ .ooct.rco .t t|o
p.ss b.rJ c| t|o |to. nust bo krc.r |o
t..rsn|tt.rco, t
l
, c.r bo t.kor J|.oct|y
|.cn . t..rsn|ss|cr J|...n ||ko t|o cro
Filter adaptation
0
0 . 1
0 . 2
0 . 3
0 . 4
0 . 5
0 . 6
0 . 7
0 . 8
0 . 9
1
3 3 . 1 3 . 2 3 . 3 3 . 4 3 . 5 3 . 6 3 . 7 3 . 8 3 . 9 4
Wavelength, m
T
r
a
n
s
m
i
s
s
i
o
n

%
3.45m NBP flter
Polyethylene
transmission
Resulting
transmission
Iigure . AppIication of an N8P Iter to achieve nearIy compIete absorption and high emittance from
poIyethyIene Im, aIIowing its temperature measurement
29
Filters Extend IR Camera Usefulness
|r ||u.o , (. v.|uo c| .bcut oo. |r t|.t
ox.np|o)
|ooct.rco |s |oss o.sy tc c|...cto.|.o .rJ
usu.||y |s . |urct|cr c| n.to.|.| t||ckross
|c.ovo., . t..rsn|ss|cr J|...n ||ko t|o
cro |r ||u.o p.cv|Jos scno |rJ|c.t|cr c|
t||s p...noto.s v.|uo |s|r t|o b|uo cu.vo
|c. t|o t||rrost pc|yot|y|oro n.to.|.| |r
||u.o , .||c| |.s t|o |c.ost .bsc.pt|cr,
t|o t..rsn|ss|cr bot.oor .bsc.pt|cr
b.rJs |s soor tc bo .pp.cx|n.to|y ,o` ||
t|o.o .o.o rc .bsc.pt|cr b.rJs .t .||, .o
ccu|J ccrc|uJo t|.t t|o .ooct|cr .cu|J
bo o` S|rco t|o.o ..o scno r...c.
.bsc.pt|cr b.rJs urJo. t|o cu.vo, .o
c.r ost|n.to t|o .ooct|cr tc bo 8` |r
t|o spoct..| .o|crs .|o.o .bsc.pt|cr |s
vo.y |c. |c.ovo., .o ..o |rto.ostoJ |r
t|o .ooct.rco .|o.o t|o .bsc.pt|cr |s
||| (|o, .|o.o t|o n.to.|.| .ppo..s tc bo
cp.ouo)
c ost|n.to t|o .ooct.rco c| t||s
pc|yot|y|oro |n, .o nust .st n.ko t|o
.o.scr.b|o .ssunpt|cr t|.t |ts su.|.co
.ooct.rco st.ys ccrst.rt cvo. t|o
.bsc.pt|cr b.rJs |c. .occr|.o t|.t t|o
8` v.|uo |s t|o .osu|t c| .ooct|crs |.cn
bct| s|Jos c| t|o |n, |o, .pp.cx|n.to|y
` po. su.|.co At t|o .bsc.pt|cr b.rJ,
|c.ovo., s|rco t|o .bsc.pt|cr |r t|o
n.to.|.| |s .|ncst ccnp|oto, .o ot
.ooct|cr cr|y cr cro s|Jo |us r
l
oo
|.cn t||s r
l
, .rJ t|o t
l
v.|uo cbt.|roJ
|.cn t|o t..rsn|ss|cr ..p| (||u.o , |r t||s
ox.np|o), on|ss|v|ty c.r bo c.|cu|.toJ
e
l
oo. oo o,
||s v.|uo |s orto.oJ |rtc t|o c.no..s
no.su.onort J.t.b.so bo|c.o |.v|r |t
c.|cu|.to t|o tonpo..tu.os |.cn ..J|.rco
cbso.v.t|crs
S|oot .rJ p|.to |.ss p.cJuct|cr |.vo
s|n||.. tonpo..tu.o no.su.onort
.oou|.onorts |o ncst ccnncr
|rJust.|.| v..|ot|os ..o v..|.t|crs c| scJ.
||nos|||c. |.ss A|t|cu| t|oy n.y v..y
0
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
6 0
7 0
8 0
9 0
1 0 0
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0 1 1 1 2 1 3 1 4
Wavelength, m
Spectral transmission of polyethylene
25m
125m
250m
Iigure . 7ransmission bands for poIyethyIene Ims of three dierent thicknesses
30
|.pto.
|r ccnpcs|t|cr .rJ cc|c., t|o|. spoct..|
c|...cto.|st|cs Jc rct c|.ro nuc|
|cck|r .t t|o spoct..| t..rsn|tt.rco c|
suc| . |.ss .|t| J|o.ort t||ckrossos
(||u.o ,), cro c.r ccrc|uJo t|.t ||
tonpo..tu.o no.su.onort nust bo
.ost.|ctoJ tc ..vo|ort|s .bcvo ,,n
|oporJ|r cr |.ss t||ckross, t||s n.y
.oou|.o o|t|o. . n|J..vo|ort| (V\) c.
|cr ..vo|ort| (|\) c.no../Jotoctc.
V\ c.no..s ccvo. scno pc.t|cr c| t|o
spoct.un |.cn .,n, .rJ |\ c.no..s
ccvo. scno pc.t|cr .|t||r 8.n
|r so|oct|r . |to., t|o tonpt.t|cr
n||t bo tc c |c. .r || typo .|t| .
cutcr ..vo|ort| ro.. t|o pc|rt .|o.o
t..rsn|tt.rco J.cps tc .o.c |c.ovo., t|o.o
..o ct|o. |.ctc.s tc ccrs|Jo. |c. ox.np|o,
|| |to. c|...cto.|st|cs c.r |rto.|o.o .|t|
t|o ro.t|vo s|cpo c| t|o spoct..| .ospcrso
cu.vo c| t|o.nco|oct.|c.||y ccc|oJ |Jo
(V) Jotoctc.s, .||c| ..o usoJ |r bct|
V\ .rJ |\ c.no..s A botto. c|c|co n.y
bo . |b| |to.
|r ||u.o 6, t..rsn|ss|cr c|...cto.|st|cs c|
. |.ss, .r S\ c.no.., .rJ t.c |to.s ..o
supo.|npcsoJ |o .oor cu.vo .op.osorts
t|o || |to. .ospcrso cu.vo, .|o.o.s t|o
|b| |to. .ospcrso |s s|c.r |r b|uo |o
|.tto. ..s so|octoJ |c. t|o spoct..| |cc.t|cr
.|o.o |.ss boccnos b|.ck, .rJ |.s .
corto. ..vo|ort| c| ,o,n
|o .ooct.rco c| t||s |.ss |s s|c.r |r
||u.o , |cto t|o po.k bot.oor 8 .rJ
.,n, .||c| nust bo .vc|JoJ .|or us|r
.r |\ c.no.. tc no.su.o t|o |.ss
Arct|o. ccrs|Jo..t|cr |s t|o c.no..s
v|o.|r .r|o, boc.uso |.ss .ooct.rco
c.r c|.ro .|t| .r|o c| |rc|Jorco
|c.tur.to|y .ooct.rco Jcos rct c|.ro
nuc| up tc .r .r|o c| .bcut , .o|.t|vo tc
rc.n.| |rc|Jorco (||u.o 8)
|.cn ||u.o 8, . v.|uo oo., |c. t|o |.ss
.ooct.rco |s v.||J .|or us|r o|t|o. t|o
0
2 0
4 0
6 0
8 0
1 0 0
2 . 5 3 3 . 5 4 4 . 5 5 5 . 5 6 6 . 5 7 7 . 5 8
Wavelength, m
Spectral transmittance of Soda-Lime-Silica glass. Glass thickness in mm.
T
r
a
n
s
m
i
t
t
a
n
c
e

%
0. 23
0. 7
1. 6
3. 2
5. 9
Iigure . 7ransmission curves for a common industriaI gIass in ve thicknesses from o.z to .pmm
31
Filters Extend IR Camera Usefulness
,,n || c. t|o ,o,n |b| |to. (||u.o
6), boc.uso t|oy bct| cpo..to |r t|o ,,n
.o|cr crsoouort|y . p.cpo. v.|uo |c. t|o
|.ss on|ss|v|ty |r t|cso c.sos .cu|J bo
oo., o,,,
..rsn|ss|cr b.rJ App||c.t|crs
|c. n.ry .pp||c.t|crs, t|o uso. .||| rooJ
tc rJ . spoct..| b.rJ .|o.o t|o noJ|un
t|.cu| .||c| t|o c.no.. |s |cck|r |.s
n|r|nun |ruorco cr t|o no.su.onort
|o cboct c| |rto.ost |s .t t|o orJ c| .
no.su.onort p.t| cr t|o ct|o. s|Jo c|
t|o noJ|un |o noJ|un |s |r ncst c.sos
Spectral adaptation to glass
Wavelength, m
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1. 5 2 2. 5 3 3. 5 4 4. 5 5 5. 5 6
T
r
a
n
s
m
i
s
s
i
o
n

%
Glass transmission curve
SW/TE MCT spectral response
4.7m LP flter curve
5.0m NBP flter curve
Spectral refectance of Soda-Lime-Silica glass at normal incidence
Wavelength, m
0
10
20
30
40
50
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
Iigure . 7wo aIternative Iters for gIass measurement with a SW camera
Iigure /. Reectance of a common gIass at normaI (perpendicuIar) incidence
32
|.pto.
c.J|r..y .tncsp|o.o, but |t ccu|J .|sc bo .
.s c. . n|xtu.o c| .sos (o, ccnbust|cr
.sos c. .nos), . .|rJc., c. . sc||J
son|t..rsp..ort n.to.|.|
As |s t|o c.so |r .bsc.pt|cr b.rJ
.pp||c.t|crs, . spoct..| t..rsn|ss|cr
no.su.onort c| t|o .ctu.| noJ|un .cu|J
bo t|o |Jo.| st..t|r pc|rt |o cboct|vo |s
tc rJ . b.rJ .|t||r t|o c.no..s .ospcrso
cu.vo .|o.o t|o noJ|un |.s n|r|nun
|ruorco cr || t..rsn|ss|cr |.cn t|o t..ot
cboct |c.ovo., |t |s c|tor |np..ct|c.| tc
po.|c.n suc| . no.su.onort, p..t|cu|..|y
|c. .sos .t ||| tonpo..tu.os |r suc|
c.sos |t n.y bo pcss|b|o tc rJ t|o spoct..|
p.cpo.t|os c| .s ccrst|tuorts (c. ct|o.
noJ|.) |r || ||to..tu.o, .ovo.||r . su|t.b|o
spoct.un |c. t|o no.su.onort
|r ncst c.sos, || c.no.. n.ru|.ctu.o.s
|.vo .rt|c|p.toJ t|o .tncsp|o.|c
.ttoru.t|cr p.cb|on .no..
n.ru|.ctu.o.s typ|c.||y .JJ . |to. t|.t
.oJucos no.su.onort o..c.s Juo tc
|r.ccu..to .rJ/c. v..y|r .tncsp|o.|c
p...noto.s by .vc|J|r .bsc.pt|cr
b.rJs c| t|o ccrst|tuort .sos .rJ
..to. v.pc.s ||s |s ospoc|.||y rooJoJ
.t |cr no.su.onort J|st.rcos .rJ
s|c.to. ..vo|ort|s |c. V\ c.no..s, .r
.pp.cp.|.to |to. ut|||.os t|o .tncsp|o.|c
.|rJc. bot.oor t|o .bsc.pt|cr b.rJs c|
|
`
O+O
`
..curJ ?,n c. O
`
.t .,n
Atncsp|o.|c oocts cr .r |\ c.no..
..o nuc| |oss, s|rco t|o .tncsp|o.o |.s
.r oxco||ort .|rJc. |.cn 8 tc .,n
|c.ovo., c.no..s .|t| . b.c.J .ospcrso
cu.vo .o.c||r |rtc t|o V\ spoct.un n.y
.oou|.o .r || |to. ||s |s p..t|cu|..|y t.uo
|c. ||| tonpo..tu.o no.su.onorts .|o.o
t|o ..J|.t|cr |s s|||toJ tc...Js s|c.to.
..vo|ort|s .rJ .tncsp|o.|c |ruorco
|rc.o.sos Ar || |to. .|t| . cutcr .t
,,n b|ccks t|o |c.o. p..t c| t|o c.no..s
.ospcrso cu.vo
Ar |rto.ost|r t..rsn|ss|cr b.rJ
.pp||c.t|cr |s tonpo..tu.o no.su.onorts
cr . .s.oJ |u.r.co, cvor, c. s|n||..
|o.t|r oou|pnort Oboct|vos ccu|J bo
0 . 0 0
0 . 0 2
0 . 0 4
0 . 0 6
0 . 0 8
0 . 1 0
0 . 1 2
0 . 1 4
0 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 6 0 7 0
Angle of incidence, degrees
Refectance of Soda-Lime-Silica glass for
a varying angle of incidence at 5m
Iigure 8. GIass reectance as a function of camera viewing angIe reIative to normaI incidence
33
Filters Extend IR Camera Usefulness
t|o no.su.onort c| .no tonpo..tu.o c.
t|o no.su.onort c| |rto.r.| ccnpcrorts
t|.cu| t|o .nos |r t|o |.tto. c.so, .r
ur|to.oJ || c.no.. .||| bo cvo..|o|noJ
by t|o |rtorso ..J|.t|cr |.cn t|o .nos,
n.k|r no.su.onort c| t|o nuc| .o.ko.
..J|.t|cr |.cn |rto.r.| cbocts |npcss|b|o
Or t|o ct|o. |.rJ, .ry t..rsn|ss|cr
t|.cu| t|o .nos |.cn ccc|o. |rto.r.|
cbocts .||| n.ko .no tonpo..tu.o
no.su.onorts |r.ccu..to
|o .no .bsc.pt|cr spoct.un |r ||u.o
, .ovo.|s t|o spoct..| .o|crs .|o.o t|oso
t.c typos c| no.su.onort ccu|J bo n.Jo
|o.o |s vo.y ||tt|o ..J|.t|cr |.cn t|o .nos
|r t|o ,,,n ..o., .|o.o.s t|o.o |s . |ct c|
..J|.t|cr bot.oor t|o . .rJ ,n ..ro
|o |Jo. |s tc onp|cy |to.s t|.t ut|||.o
t|oso spoct..| .|rJc.s |c. t|o Jos|.oJ
no.su.onorts
|c. no.su.onort c| |rto.r.| ccnpcrorts,
ycu rooJ tc .vc|J st.cr .bsc.pt|cr b.rJs
boc.uso t|oy .ttoru.to t|o ..J|.t|cr |.cn
t|o t..ot cboct .rJ t|oy on|t |rtorso|y
Juo tc t|o ||| .s tonpo..tu.o, t|us
b||rJ|r t|o c.no.. A|t|cu| .s.oJ
ccnbust|cr .sos ccrs|st ncst|y c| O
`

.rJ ..to. v.pc., .r .tncsp|o.|c |to. |s
ursu|t.b|o boc.uso .s ccrcort..t|crs .rJ
tonpo..tu.os ..o nuc| |||o. ||s n.kos
t|o .bsc.pt|cr b.rJs Joopo. .rJ b.c.Jo.
A .no |to. |s rooJoJ |c. t||s .pp||c.t|cr
Soo ||u.o , ||s |s . b| |to. t..rsn|tt|r
bot.oor ,,, .rJ o.,n \|t| t||s |to.
|rst.||oJ, t|o c.no.. .||| p.cJuco .r |n.o
.|o.o t|o .nos ..o .|ncst |rv|s|b|o .rJ
t|o |rto.r.| st.uctu.o c| t|o |u.r.co |s
p.osortoJ c|o..|y (||u.o o)
c ot t|o n.x|nun tonpo..tu.o c| t|o
.nos, . O
`
|to. .||| s|c. t|oy ..o .s
||| .s oo by ccnp..|scr, t|o |u.r.co
..||s .s soor .|t| t|o .no |to. ..o .
.o|.t|vo|y ccc| ,oo
1.0
Relative
Intensity 3.9m fame flter
Wavelength [m]
4.3m CO
2
flter
0.0
1 1.5 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 2
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
Iigure p. IIame absorption spectrum of a gas-red furnace with two types for Iters for dierent
measurement appIications
34
|.pto.
crc|us|crs
|||to.s c.r oxtorJ t|o .pp||c.t|cr c| ||
c.no..s |rtc ..o.s t|.t n||t ct|o..|so
.ost.|ct t|o|. uso St|||, scno p.o||n|r..y
spoct.cp|ctcnoto. no.su.onorts n.y
bo rooJoJ cr t|o cbocts .rJ noJ|. c|
|rto.ost || spoct..| |r|c.n.t|cr c.rrct
bo |curJ |r || ||to..tu.o Orco . |to. |s
so|octoJ .rJ |rst.||oJ, t|o c.no../|to.
syston s|cu|J bo c.||b..toJ by t|o c.no..
n.ru|.ctu.o. |vor .|t| . .o||c.||b..toJ
syston, |t |s . ccJ |Jo. tc .vc|J o..c.s by
rct us|r spoct..| .o|crs c| urco.t.|r c.
v..y|r .bsc.pt|cr .o|.t|vo tc t|o c.no../
|to. syston .ospcrso spoct.un
Iigure 1o. ILIR 7hermaCAM* image of furnace
tubes with ame Iter to aIIow accurate
temperature measurement
35
|.pto. ,
Ultra High-Speed
Thermography
|ocort AJv.rcos |r |o.n.| |n.|r
\o |.vo .|| soor |||spooJ |n.o.y .t
scno pc|rt |r cu. ||vos, bo |t . v|Joc c| .
n|ss||o |r ||t c. . |unn|r b|.J .pp|r
|ts .|rs |r s|c. nct|cr bct| scor..|cs
..o n.Jo pcss|b|o by |||spooJ v|s|b|o
c.no..s .|t| u|t.. s|c.t oxpcsu.o t|nos
.rJ t.|o.oJ st.cbo |||t|r tc .vc|J
|n.o b|u., .rJ usu.||y .oou|.o ||| |..no
..tos tc orsu.o t|o c.ptu.oJ v|Joc p|.ys
b.ck sncct||y |rt|| .ocort|y, t|o .b|||ty
tc c.ptu.o |||spooJ Jyr.n|c |n.o.y
|.s rct boor pcss|b|o .|t| t..J|t|cr.|
ccnno.c|.| || c.no..s |c., .ocort
.Jv.rcos |r || c.no.. toc|rc|c|os, suc|
.s |.st c.no.. Jotoctc. .o.Jcuts .rJ |||
po.|c.n.rco o|oct.cr|cs, .||c. |||spooJ
|n.o.y
|.||oros p.c||b|t|r |||spooJ ||
c.no..s .o.o b.soJ p.|n..||y cr .o.Jcut
o|oct.cr|c Jos|rs, c.no.. p|xo| c|ccks,
.rJ b.ckorJ J.t. .cou|s|t|cr systons
bo|r tcc s|c. O|Jo. .o.Jcut Jos|rs cr|y
.||c.oJ n|r|nun |rto..t|cr t|nos Jc.r
tc .bcut o,s, .||c| |r scno c.sos .o.o
|rsuc|ort tc stcp nct|cr cr . |.st ncv|r
t..ot .|t|cut |n.o b|u. S|n||..|y, t..ots
.|t| vo.y |.st tonpo..tu.o c|.ros ccu|J
rct bo s.np|oJ .t .r .Joou.to |..no ..to
tc .ccu..to|y c|...cto.|.o t|o cboct c|
|rto.ost |vor .|t| t|o .Jvort c| |.sto. ||
c.no..s, t|o.o st||| .on.|rs t|o |u.J|o c|
|c. tc cc||oct ||| .osc|ut|cr, |||spooJ
J.t. .|t|cut cvo..|o|n|r ycu. J.t.
cc||oct|cr syston .rJ |cs|r |..nos c| J.t.
|ct .|| c|.||oros |c. |||spooJ
|| c.no..s .o.o Juo tc toc|rc|cy
||n|t.t|crs Scno .o.o J.|vor by .JJ|t|cr.|
.oou|.onorts t|.t .ost.|ctoJ t|o n.x|nun
|..no ..tos .||c.oJ |c. ox.np|o, c.no..s
t|.t .oou|.oJ .r.|c v|Joc cutput r.tu..||y
.ost.|ctoJ t|o n.x|nun |..no ..to Juo
tc t|o |S .rJ |A| |c.n.t .oou|.onorts
c| ,o|. c. .,|., .ospoct|vo|y ||s |s t.uo
.o..J|oss c| t|o Jotoctc. |cc.| p|.ro
....ys (||A) p|xo| ..to c.p.b|||t|os, boc.uso
t|o v|Joc ncr|tc.s p|xo| ..tos ..o sot by
t|o |S c. |A| t|n|r p...noto.s (vo.t|c.|
.rJ |c.|.crt.| b|.rk|r po.|cJs)
|c.ovo., .|t| ro. |np.cvonorts |r
|||orJ ccnno.c|.| || c.no..
toc|rc|c|os, .|| t|oso c|.||oros |.vo
boor cvo.ccno .rJ .o c.r bo|r
oxp|c.|r t|o n.ry borots c| |||spooJ
|| c.no.. toc|rc|cy |o cc.o borots ..o
t|o .b|||ty tc c.ptu.o |.st ncv|r t..ots
.|t|cut |n.o b|u., .cou|.o orcu| J.t.
tc p.cpo.|y c|...cto.|.o Jyr.n|c oro.y
t..ots, .rJ |rc.o.so t|o Jyr.n|c ..ro
.|t|cut ccnp.cn|s|r t|o runbo. c|
|..nos po. soccrJ
|oJuc|r |n.o b|u. .|t| S|c.t
|rto..t|cr |nos
\|t| .Jv.rcoJ ||A |o.Jcut |rto..toJ
|.cu|ts (|O|), || c.no..s c.r |.vo
|rto..t|cr t|nos (.r.|ccus tc oxpcsu.o
t|no c. s|utto. spooJ |r v|s|b|o c.no..s)
.s s|c.t .s ,oors |r .JJ|t|cr, ro. |O|
Jos|rs n.|rt.|r ||ro..|ty .|| t|o ..y tc t|o
bcttcn c| t|o|. |rto..t|cr t|no ||n|ts, t||s
..s rct t.uo |c. |O|s Jovo|cpoJ cr|y .
|o. yo..s .c
|o koy borot ..|r |s tc .vc|J nct|cr
b|u. .s t|o t..ot ncvos c. v|b..tos
t|.cu| t|o o|J c| v|o. c| t|o c.no..
\|t| subn|c.csoccrJ |rto..t|cr t|nos,
t|oso ro. c.no..s ..o nc.o t|.r suc|ort
36
|.pto. ,
|c. |.st ncv|r t..ots suc| .s n|ss||os c. |r
t|o |c||c.|r ox.np|o, . bu||ot |r ||t
|.sto. |.r . SpooJ|r bu||ot
|r t|o |c||c.|r oxpo.|nort, . |||
spooJ || .no.. ..s usoJ tc c.ptu.o
.rJ no.su.o t|o tonpo..tu.o c| . o,o
c.||bo. .|o bu||ot |r ||t At t|o pc|rt c|
|n.o c.ptu.o t|o bu||ot ..s t..vo||r .t
supo.scr|c spooJs (8oo,oo noto.s po.
soccrJ) .rJ ..s |o.toJ by |.|ct|cr .|t||r
t|o .|o b...o|, t|o p.cpo||.rt c|..o, .rJ
.o.cJyr.n|c |c.cos cr t|o bu||ot |uo
tc t||s |o.t |c.J, t|o || c.no.. ccu|J
o.s||y soo t|o bu||ot ovor .t t|o vo.y s|c.t
|rto..t|cr t|no c| ,s, sc ur||ko . v|s|b|o
c.no.., rc st.cbo scu.co |s rooJoJ
A t.|o. ..s rooJoJ tc st..t t|o c.no..
|rto..t|cr t|no tc orsu.o t|o bu||ot ..s
|r t|o ||o|J c| \|o. (|O\) c| t|o c.no.. .t
t|o t|no c| |..no c.ptu.o ||s ..s Jcro
by us|r .r .ccust|c t.|o. |.cn t|o .|o
s|ct, .||c| |cc.tos t|o bu||ot .|cr t|o
.x|s c| .o tc .|t||r . J|st.rco c| sovo..|
cort|noto.s
||u.o . s|c.s . c|csoup || |n.o c| t|o
bu||ot t..vo||r .t 8on/s (~,oo np|), yot
us|r t|o ,s |rto..t|cr t|no, ooct|vo|y
.oJucoJ t|o |n.o b|u. tc .bcut , p|xo|s
||u.o b s|c.s . .o|o.orco |n.o
c| .r |Jort|c.| bu||ot |n.oJ .|t| .
v|s|b|o |||t c.no.. sot tc cpo..to .|t|
. .n|c.csoccrJ |rto..t|cr t|no |o
c.|ort.t|cr c| t|o bu||ots |r t|o t.c |n.os
|s |Jort|c.| t|oy bct| t..vo| |.cn |o|t tc
.||t |o b.||t |c. soor cr t|o ..|st c|
t|o |n.o |s . .ooct|cr c| b.||t stuJ|c
|||ts t|.t .o.o .oou|.oJ tc p.cpo.|y
|||un|r.to t|o bu||ot Ju.|r t|o oxpcsu.o
|r||ko t|o t|o.n.| |n.o, t|o v|s|b|o |n.o
.oou|.oJ .ct|vo |||un|r.t|cr, s|rco t|o bu||ot
..s rct |ct orcu| tc |c. b.||t|y |r t|o
v|s|b|o .o|cr c| t|o spoct.un
|||SpooJ |n.|r |c. |.st ..rs|orts
S|c.t |rto..t|cr t|nos .rJ |||spooJ
|..no ..tos ..o rct .|..ys p.|.oJ tcot|o.
|r || c.no..s V.ry c.no..s |.vo |.st
|..no ..tos but rct |.st |rto..t|cr t|nos c.
v|co vo.s. St|||, |.st |..no ..tos ..o c.|t|c.|
Iigure 1a. Infrared image of a o.o caIiber buIIet in
ight with apparent temperatures
Iigure 1b. VisibIe-Iight image of an identicaI o.o
caIiber buIIet in ight
37
Ultrahigh-Speed Thermography
|c. p.cpo.|y c|...cto.|.|r t..ots .|cso
tonpo..tu.os c|.ro vo.y ou|ck|y
Ar .pp||c.t|cr .|o.o bct| s|c.t
|rto..t|cr t|no .rJ |.st |..no ..to ..o
.oou|.oJ |s cvo.|c.J tost|r c| |rto..toJ
c|.cu|ts (|s) Soo ||u.o . |o cboct|vo c|
t||s tost |s tc ncr|tc. t|o n.x|nun |o.t
|c.J t|o | oxpo.|orcos .|or b|.soJ .rJ
.ovo.so b|.soJ .|t| cu..ort |ovo|s cuts|Jo
t|o Jos|r ||n|ts \|t|cut |||spooJ ||
toc|rc|cy, suc|ort J.t. n||t rct bo
c.ptu.oJ tc c|...cto.|.o t|o t.uo |o.t
t..rs|orts cr t|o | Juo tc urJo. s.np||r
||s .cu|J rct cr|y |vo n|r|n.| J.t.
tc .r.|y.o, but ccu|J .|sc |vo |rcc..oct
.o.J|rs c| t|o t.uo n.x|nun tonpo..tu.o
Iigure z. Integrated circuit with 8ooms
overcurrent puIse
\|or t|o | ..s s.np|oJ .t . |..no ..to
c| ooo|., . n.x|nun tonpo..tu.o c| ,,
..s .opc.toJ |c.ovo., .|or s.np|oJ .t
cr|y ,oo|., t|o t.uo n.x|nun tonpo..tu.o
..s n|ssoJ .rJ . |.|so n.x|nun c| 8o
..s .opc.toJ (||u.o ,)
||s |s ust cro ox.np|o c| .|y |||spooJ
|| c.no..s c.r bo sc v.|u.b|o |c. ovor
s|np|o .pp||c.t|crs t|.t Jcrt rocoss..||y
.ppo.. tc borot |.cn ||| spooJ .t .st
ccrs|Jo..t|cr
||xo| |cck vs Ar.|c tc |||t.| .ps
|||spooJ || c.no..s .oou|.o .s .
p.o.oou|s|to . ccnb|r.t|cr c| . |.st p|xo|
c|cck .rJ . |||o. runbo. c| .r.|c tc
J||t.| (A/|) ccrvo.to.s, ccnncr|y c.||oJ
c|.rro|s c. t.ps As . |..no c| .o|o.orco,
ncst |c. po.|c.n.rco c.no..s |.vo t.c
c|.rro|s c. A/| ccrvo.to.s .rJ .ur .t
|c.o. t|.r o no.p|xo|s/soccrJ c|cck
..tos ||s n.y scurJ |.st, but .|or ycu
ccrs|Jo. t|o .ncurt c| J.t., t|.t t..rs|.tos
|rtc ..curJ 6o|. |r ncst c.sos
|||spooJ || c.no..s cr t|o ct|o. |.rJ
typ|c.||y |.vo . n|r|nun c| |cu. c|.rro|s
.rJ |.vo c|cck spooJs c| .t |o.st ,o
no.p|xo|s/soccrJ |r tu.r t|oy co. b|t
J||t.| J.t. .t |..no ..tos c| cvo. .o|. .t
6o ,. .|rJc. s|.os |r c.Jo. tc |rc.o.so
|..no ..tos |u.t|o., || c.no..s usu.||y .||c.
t|o uso. tc .oJuco t|o .|rJc. s|.o c.
runbo. c| p|xo|s .o.J cut |.cn ||A S|rco
t|o.o |s |oss J.t. po. |..no tc J||t|.o .rJ
t..rs|o., t|o cvo..|| |..no ..to |rc.o.sos
||u.o |||ust..tos t|o |rc.o.so |r |..no
..tos .o|.t|vo tc uso. JoroJ .|rJc. s|.os
Integrated Circuit Example
0
20
40
60
80
1 00
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0 1 1
Time (ms)
Actual Data Under Sampled Data
Iigure . Maximum IC temperature data actuaI
vs. undersampIed
38
|.pto. ,
Iigure . xampIe of IPA window sizes reIative to
frame rates
|o.o. c.no.. Jos|rs co. 6 c|.rro|s
.rJ p|xo| c|ccks up...Js c| .o,
no.p|xo|s/soccrJ ||s .||c.s |c. vo.y |.st
|..no ..tos .|t|cut s.c.|c|r t|o .|rJc.
s|.o .rJ cvo..|| .osc|ut|cr
|.osot Soouorc|r |rc.o.sos
|yr.n|c |.ro
|||spooJ || c.no..s |.vo .r .JJ|t|cr.|
borot t|.t Jcos rct .o|.to tc |||
spooJ t..ots, but ..t|o. tc |rc.o.s|r t|o
Jyr.n|c ..ro c| t|o c.no.. by ccup||r
. |||spooJ || c.no.. .|t| . J.t. c.ptu.o
not|cJ krc.r .s supo.|..n|r, ycu c.r
ooct|vo|y |rc.o.so t|o c.no..s Jyr.n|c
..ro |.cn b|ts tc ..curJ 8.. b|ts po.
|..no
Supo.|..n|r |rvc|vos cyc||r t|o ||
c.no.. t|.cu| up tc |cu. nu|t|p|o
|rto..t|cr t|nos (p.osots), c.ptu.|r cro
|..no .t o.c| p.osot ||s .osu|ts |r nu|t|p|o
ur|ouo J.t. ncv|o |os, cro |c. o.c|
p.osot ||s J.t. |s t|or ccnb|roJ by us|r
ct|os|o|| AbA|| sc|t...o |o sc|t...o
so|octs t|o bost .osc|voJ p|xo| |.cn o.c|
ur|ouo |..no tc bu||J . .osu|t.rt |..no
ccnpcsoJ c| J.t. |.cn .|| t|o cc||octoJ
J.t. ncv|o |os .t v..y|r |rto..t|cr
t|nos
||s not|cJ |s ospoc|.||y boroc|.| |c.
t|cso |n.|r scoros .|t| bct| |ct .rJ
cc|J cbocts |r t|o s.no o|J c| v|o.
yp|c.||y . b|t c.no.. c.rrct |n.o
s|nu|t.rocus|y bct| |ct .rJ cc|J cbocts
.|t| . s|r|o |rto..t|cr t|no ||s .cu|J
.osu|t |r o|t|o. cvo. oxpcsu.o cr t|o |ct
cboct c. urJo. oxpcsu.o cr t|o cc|J
cboct
|o .osu|ts c| supo.|..n|r ..o |||ust..toJ
|r t|o booc|c..|t ||r A|. .|.c..|t |n.os
|r ||u.o ,, c.ptu.oJ .t t.c J|o.ort
Iigure . Active aircraft engine imaged at integration rates of zms (Ieft) and os (right)
39
Ultrahigh-Speed Thermography
|rto..t|cr t|nos \|||o t|o .|.c..|t c.r bo
c|o..|y soor |r t|o |o|t |n.o (|.osot o
.ns |rto..t|cr t|no), t|o.o ..o pc.t|crs c|
t|o or|ro t|.t ..o c|o..|y cvo. oxpcsoJ
crvo.so|y, t|o .||t |n.o |r ||u.o ,
(|.osot ,o,s |rto..t|cr t|no), s|c.s
or|ro |rt.ko .rJ ox|.ust Jot.|| .|t| t|o
.on.|rJo. c| t|o .|.c..|t urJo.oxpcsoJ
\|or t|o t.c |n.os |r ||u.o , ..o
p.ccossoJ |r AbA|| sc|t...o, t|o bost
.osc|voJ p|xo|s ..o so|octoJ .rJ usoJ tc
bu||J . s|r|o .osu|t.rt supo.|..noJ |n.o
.|t| rc cvo. c. urJo. oxpcsoJ p|xo|s
(||u.o 6)
Iigure . Superframed image created with
A8A7R software from Preset o and Preset 1 data.
As ycu n.y |.vo u.oJ cut, t|o Jc.r
s|Jo tc t||s not|cJ c| J.t. cc||oct|cr
.rJ .r.|ys|s |s t|o .oJuct|cr |r t|o |..no
..to by t|o runbo. c| |.osots cyc|oJ by
.pp|y|r scno s|np|o c.|cu|.t|crs . oo|.
c.no.. .|t| t.c |.osots .||| p.cv|Jo .r
cvo..|| |..no ..to c| ,o|., .o|| urJo. t|o
||n|ts c| cu. J|scuss|cr c| ||| spooJ ||
|n.o.y ||s cr|y .o|r|c.cos t|o rooJ |c.
. ||| spooJ c.no.. || . ,o,|. c.no..
|s supo.|..noJ .s |r t|o ox.np|o .bcvo,
. ..to c| cvo. ,o|. po. p.osot |..no ..to
|s .c||ovoJ ||s ..to |s .o|| .|t||r t|o
bcurJs c| ||| spooJ || |n.|r
crc|us|crs
Scp||st|c.toJ || c.no..s ..o rc. .v.||.b|o
.|t| .Jv.rcoJ .o.Jcut o|oct.cr|cs .rJ
||| spooJ p|xo| c|ccks, .||c| cpor t|o
Jcc. |c. ||| spooJ || |n.o.y ||s .||c.s
us tc oxp.rJ t|o bcurJ..|os c| .||c|
.pp||c.t|crs c.r bo sc|voJ us|r || c.no..
sc|ut|crs |u.t|o.nc.o, |t .||c.s us tc
bo|r c.ptu.|r nc.o J.t. .rJ |rc.o.so
cu. .ccu..cy |c. Jon.rJ|r .pp||c.t|crs
.|t| |.st ncv|r t..ots, ou|ck tonpo..tu.o
t..rs|orts, .rJ .|Jo Jyr.n|c ..ro scoros
\|t| t|o .o|o.so c| t||s ro. toc|rc|cy
|r t|o ccnno.c|.| || n..kotp|.co, .o c.r
rc. bo|r tc .o.||.o t|o borots c| |||
spooJ J.t. c.ptu.o, crco cr|y .v.||.b|o tc
t|o v|s|b|o c.no.. .o.|n
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