Thermal Imaging and

Heat Seeking

Principle of Thermal Imaging

All objects emit
infrared energy
(heat) as a
function of their
temperature.
The infrared
energy emitted
by an object is
known as
itsheat
signature.
Thermal image of
steam locomotive

Principle of Thermal Imaging

A thermal imager (also known as
a thermal camera) is essentially a
heat sensor that is capable of
detecting tiny differences in
temperature. The device collects
the infrared radiation from
objects in the scene and creates
an electronic image based on
information about the
temperature differences. Because
objects are rarely precisely the
same temperature as other
objects around them, a thermal
camera can detect them and
they will appear as distinct in a
thermal image.

Use of Thermal Imaging

Unlike other
methods, thermal
imaging works in
environments
without any
ambient light. Like
near-infrared
illumination,
thermal imaging
can penetrate
obscurants such as
smoke, fog and

Uses of Thermal Imaging

Without Thermal
imaging

With thermal imaging

Applications of Thermal
Imaging
Heat sensed by an infrared camera can be
very precisely quantified, or measured,
allowing you to not only monitor thermal
performance, but also identify and evaluate
the relative severity of heat-related problems.
Recent innovations, particularly detector
technology, the incorporation of built-in visual
imaging, automatic functionality, and infrared
software development, deliver more costeffective thermal analysis solutions than ever
before.

Heating Problem in Circuits

The thermal image shows the enormous amount of heat
being generated that is an indicator of either a short
circuit or some other fault.

Overload of fuse
The enormous amount of heat being generated due to
overload or excess of current being drawn.

Applications of Thermal
Imaging

Heat Seeking
Infrared homingrefers to apassive weapon
guidance systemwhich uses theemissionfrom a
target of electromagnetic radiationin
theinfraredpart of thespectrumto track and
follow it (imaging infrared IIR). Missiles which use
infrared seeking are often referred to as "heatseekers", since infrared (IR) is just below the
visible spectrum of light in frequency and is
radiated strongly by hot bodies

Early infrared seekers were

most
effective
in detecting
Seeker
Head
infrared radiation with shorter
wavelengths, such as the 4.2
micrometer emissions of
thecarbon dioxideefflux of
ajet engine. Such seekers,
which are most sensitive to
the 3 to 5 micrometer range,
are now calledsinglecolorseekers. Modern
infrared seekers also operate
in the 8 to 13
micrometerwavelengthrang
e, which is absorbed least by
the atmosphere. Such
seekers are calledtwocolorsystems. Two-color
seekers are harder to defeat
with countermeasuressuch
asflares.

Infrared countermeasures

THANK YOU