Technology insights
How do thermographic cameras work?
Thermographic cameras allow operators to capture detailed images regardless of ambient lighting conditions. They use an infrared (IR) sensing technology to map heat variations within the sensor’s range and field-of-view, providing movement detection and hot-spot mapping even in total darkness. So, how do thermographic cameras generate such valuable imagery in a range of poor lighting conditions?
An Introduction to Thermography
Thermography refers to a range of imaging technologies that detect radiation in the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum rather than the visible range. The visible spectrum represents a tiny portion of the full electromagnetic range; covering wavelengths of approximately 400 – 700 nanometres (nm) in length. Infrared radiation, by comparison, ranges from 700 – 1,000,000 nm, but thermographic cameras generally sample thermal radiation from within the longwave infrared range (approximately 7,000 – 14,000 nm).
Operating Principles of Thermographic Cameras
All objects with a temperature above absolute zero emit infrared radiation. Thermographic cameras use detectors and lenses that are sensitive to this radiation, focussing this invisible light much like the lens of a standard camera. The difference is that thermal images are usually rendered in monochrome or false RGB coloring based on individual pixels temperature.
The amount of radiation emitted typically has a linear relationship to temperature, so hotter areas typically appear brighter on images while cooler areas are darker. By default, thermographic cameras display hot spots as the areas of greatest intensity, while variations in heat can be used to map objects and detect proximity. This is the conventional setup, but it depends on the colormap used. Operators can also invert the display so that darker areas correspond to hot spots and vice versa.
Thermographic Cameras from Terabee
Terabee supplies a dedicated infrared imaging platform that supports two distinct thermographic camera products: The Evo Thermal 90, and the Evo Thermal 33. Our thermal cameras are lightweight and compact, with a small form-factor to enable seamless integration into your work environment. Each one benefits from distinct image capturing capabilities.
Potential Applications of Thermographic Cameras
Thermography is now a key technology in the field of high-performance optics, with established applications ranging from medical imaging to security. It is seeing increasing uptick in non-conventional markets too. With passive infrared sensing, personal privacy is guaranteed at all times, which is an important property for detection systems in domestic and public areas, as well as workplaces. This additional KPI has helped establish thermographic cameras a potential solution in applications as varied as fall detection, responsive display advertising, and room usage optimization. At Terabee, we also expect to see industrial users put greater stock in thermography moving forward, from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to warehouses.
If you would like to learn more about the thermographic cameras available from Terabee, simply contact a member of the team using the link below.