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For many years, thermal imaging cameras have been used by scientists,
researchers and R&D specialists for a wide range of applications, including
industrial R&D, academics & research, non-destructive testing (NDT) & materials
testing, and defense and aerospace. However, not all thermal cameras are
The FLIR A6700sc is a compact, thermal imaging
created equal and for some applications dedicated, advanced thermal cameras camera with cooled InSb detector at an extremely
with high speed stop motion capability are required in order to get accurate affordable price.
measurements.
Thermal imaging cameras for Science FLIR’s thermal imaging cameras are
/ R&D applications are powerful and used for capturing and recording
non-invasive tools. With a thermal thermal distribution and variations
imaging camera you can identify in real-time, allowing engineers and
problems early in the design cycle, researchers to see and accurately
allowing them to be documented measure heat patterns, dissipation,
and corrected before becoming more leakage, and other temperature
serious and more costly to repair. factors in equipment, products and The FLIR T650sc uncooled research camera has high
processes. Some of these cameras resolution, with small spot size for precise results, and
reliable temperature measurement accuracy.
THERMAL IMAGING IN AN R&D can distinguish temperature changes
ENVIRONMENT as subtle as 0.02°C. They feature them ideal for a wide range of
Thermal imaging cameras use thermal state-of-the-art detector technology research, thermal testing and product
radiation, which is not detectable by and advanced mathematical validation applications.
the human eye, but can be converted algorithms for high performance and
into a visual image that depicts thermal precise measurements from -80°C COOLED AND UNCOOLED CAMERAS
variations across an object or scene. to +3000°C. The R&D camera ranges There is plenty of choice when it
Covering a part of the electromagnetic combine extremely high imaging comes to thermal imaging camera
spectrum, thermal energy is emitted performance and precise temperature systems for R&D/science applications.
by all objects at temperatures above measurements, with powerful tools An often asked question is therefore:
absolute zero, and the amount of and software for analyzing and “Should I use a cooled or an uncooled
radiation increases with temperature. reporting. This combination makes thermal imaging system and which
Figure 1
Figure 2
Cooled thermal camera image of electronics board Uncooled thermal camera image of electronics board
TECHNICAL NOTE
SPEED at 20mph. The upper image was The thermal images in Figure 2
Cooled cameras have much higher taken with a cooled thermal imaging compare the best close-up magni
imaging speeds than uncooled ones. camera. One would think the tire is fication that can be achieved with a
High-speed thermal imaging allows not spinning, but this is the result of cooled and uncooled camera system.
microsecond exposure times that a very fast capture rate of the cooled The image on the left was taken with
stop the apparent motion of dynamic camera that has stopped the motion of a 4× close-up lens and 15μm pitch
scenes and permit capturing frame the tire. The uncooled camera capture cooled camera combination resulting
rates exceeding 62,000 frames per rate is simply too slow to capture the in a 3.5μm spot size. The image on
second. Applications include thermal rotating tire causing the wheel spokes the right was taken with a 1× close-up
and dynamic analysis of jet engine to appear transparent and blurred (see lens and 25μm pitch uncooled sensor
turbine blades, automotive tire or airbag lower image). You cannot accurately resulting in a 25μm spot size.
inspection, supersonic projectiles, and measure temperature on blurred
explosions to name a few. images. SENSITIVITY
It is often difficult to fully appreciate
Cooled cameras have very fast SPATIAL RESOLUTION the value offered by the improved
response times and they make use of Cooled cameras typically have sensitivity of cooled thermal cameras.
a global shutter. This means that they greater magnification capabilities How do you get a feeling of the benefit
will read out all pixels at the same than uncooled cameras, because they from a 50mK sensitivity uncooled
time, as opposed to reading them out sense shorter infrared wavelengths. thermal camera in comparison to
line by line, which is the case with Because cooled cameras have a 20mK sensitivity cooled thermal
uncooled cameras. This allows cooled greater sensitivity characteristics, camera? To help illustrate this benefit
cameras to capture images and take lenses with more optical elements we ran a quick sensitivity experiment
measurements on moving objects or thicker elements can be used (See Figure 3). For this comparison
without image blurring. without degrading the signal to noise we put our hand on a wall for a brief
ratio, allowing for better magnification few seconds to create a thermal
The IR images in Figure 1 compare performance. handprint. The first two images
the capture results of a tire rotating show the handprint immediately
Figure 3
Cooled thermal camera image of handprint on wall initial image Uncooled thermal camera image of handprint on wall initial image
Cooled thermal camera image of handprint on wall after 2 minutes Uncooled thermal camera image of handprint on wall after 2 minutes
TECHNICAL NOTE
Figure 4 Figure 5
Two drops of the same coin will trigger the camera at the same time giving you the object in the same position
every time.