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This article is about the infrared imaging technique. For the printing technique called thermography, see thermographic printing

Image of a small dog taken in mid-infrared ("thermal") light (false color)

Thermographic image of two ostriches

Thermographic image of a snake held by a human

Thermographic image of a lion

Thermographic image of a traditional building in the background and a 'passive house' in the foreground

Infrared Thermography, thermal imaging, or thermal video, is a type of infrared imaging science. Thermographic cameras detect radiation in the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum (roughly 900–14,000 nanometers or 0.9–14 µm) and produce images of that radiation. Since infrared radiation is emitted by all objects based on their temperatures, according to the black body radiation law, thermography makes it possible to "see" one's environment with or without visible illumination. The amount of radiation emitted by an object increases with temperature, therefore thermography allows one to see variations in temperature (hence the name). When viewed by thermographic camera, warm objects stand out well against cooler backgrounds; humans and other warm-blooded animals become easily visible against the environment, day or night. As a result, thermography's extensive use can historically be ascribed to the military and security services. Image File history File links Wikitext. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Image File history File links Infrared_dog. ... Image File history File links Infrared_dog. ... Trinomial name Canis lupus familiaris The dog (Canis lupus familiaris) is a domestic subspecies of the wolf, a mammal of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. ... For other uses, see Infrared (disambiguation). ... A false color image showing the Chesapeake Bay and the city of Baltimore. ... Image File history File links Wiki_ostrich. ... Image File history File links Wiki_ostrich. ... Image File history File links Wiki_stranglesnake. ... Image File history File links Wiki_stranglesnake. ... For other uses, see Snake (disambiguation). ... Image File history File links Wiki_lion. ... Image File history File links Wiki_lion. ... For other uses, see Lion (disambiguation). ... Image File history File links Passivhaus_thermogram_gedaemmt_ungedaemmt. ... Image File history File links Passivhaus_thermogram_gedaemmt_ungedaemmt. ... One of the original Passive Houses at Darmstadt, Germany One of the original Passive Houses at Darmstadt The term passive house (Passivhaus in German) refers to the rigorous, voluntary, Passivhaus standard for energy use in buildings. ... For other uses, see Infrared (disambiguation). ... Imaging science is a field concerned with the generation, collection, duplication, analysis, modification, and visualization of images. ... Image of a small dog taken in mid-infrared (thermal) light (false-color) A thermographic camera, sometimes called a FLIR (Forward Looking InfraRed), or an infrared camera less specifically, is a device that forms an image using infrared radiation, similar to a common camera that forms an image using visible... This box:      Electromagnetic (EM) radiation is a self-propagating wave in space with electric and magnetic components. ... For other uses, see Infrared (disambiguation). ... Although some radiations are marked as N for no in the diagram, some waves do in fact penetrate the atmosphere, although extremely minimally compared to the other radiations The electromagnetic (EM) spectrum is the range of all possible electromagnetic radiation. ... A nanometre (American spelling: nanometer) is 1. ... A micrometre (American spelling: micrometer, symbol µm) is an SI unit of length. ... As the temperature decreases, the peak of the black body radiation curve moves to lower intensities and longer wavelengths. ... In physics, the spectral intensity of electromagnetic radiation from a black body at temperature T is given by the Plancks law of black body radiation: where: I(ν) is the amount of energy per unit time per unit surface area per unit solid angle per unit frequency. ... The visible spectrum is the portion of the optical spectrum (light or electromagnetic spectrum) that is visible to the human eye. ...

Thermal imaging photography finds many other uses. For example, firefighters use it to see through smoke, find persons, and localize the base of a fire. With thermal imaging, power lines maintenance technicians locate overheating joints and parts, a telltale sign of their failure, to eliminate potential hazards. Where thermal insulation becomes faulty, building construction technicians can see heat leaks to improve the efficiencies of cooling or heating air-conditioning. Thermal imaging cameras are also installed in some luxury cars to aid the driver, the first being the 2000 Cadillac DeVille. Some physiological activities, particularly responses, in human beings and other warm-blooded animals can also be monitored with thermographic imaging. [1] This article is about the profession. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Power line redirects here. ... Thermal insulation on the Huygens probe The term thermal insulation can refer to materials used to reduce the rate of heat transfer, or the methods and processes used to reduce heat transfer. ... Construction on the North Bytown Bridge in Ottawa, Canada. ... The term air conditioning most commonly refers to the cooling and dehumidification of indoor air for thermal comfort. ... It has been suggested that Cadillac Coupe DeVille be merged into this article or section. ...

The appearance and operation of a modern thermographic camera is often similar to a camcorder. Enabling the user to see in the infrared spectrum is a function so useful that ability to record their output is often optional. A recording module is therefore not always built-in. An infrared camera, or a thermographic camera, is a device that forms an image using infrared radiation, similar to a common camera that forms an image using visible light. ... Sony DV Handycam A camcorder is a portable electronic device for recording video images and audio onto an internal storage device. ...

Instead of CCD sensors, most thermal imaging cameras use CMOS focal plane array(FPA). The most common types are InSb, InGaAs, HgCdTe and QWIP FPA. The newest technologies are using low cost and uncooled microbolometers FPA sensors. Their resolution is considerably lower than of optical cameras, mostly 160x120 or 320x240 pixels, up to 640x512 for the most expensive models. Thermographic cameras are much more expensive than their visible-spectrum counterparts, and higher-end models are often export-restricted. Older bolometers or more sensitive models as InSb require cryogenic cooling, usually by a miniature Stirling cycle refrigerator or liquid nitrogen. A charge-coupled device (CCD), is an integrated circuit containing an array of linked, or coupled, capacitors. ... For other uses, see CMOS (disambiguation). ... A Staring array, staring-plane array or focal-plane array is a missile or related weapons guidance sensor, usually infrared light sensing, which has a fixed pointing direction and optical system. ... Indium antimonide (InSb) is a narrow gap semiconductor group the (III-V group) used in infrared detectors, including thermal imaging cameras. ... Indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) is a semiconductor composed of indium, gallium and arsenic. ... HgCdTe or Mercury cadmium telluride (also Cadmium Mercury Telluride or CMT) is an alloy of CdTe and HgTe and is sometimes claimed to be the third semiconductor of technological importance after Si and GaAs. ... A quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP), is an infrared photodetector made from semiconductor materials which contain one or more quantum wells. ... A Microbolometer is a specific type of bolometer used as a detector in a thermal camera. ... A pixel (a contraction of picture element) is one of the many tiny dots that make up the representation of a picture in a computers memory. ... Rendition of an imaging bolometer from Los Alamos National Laboratory A bolometer is a device for measuring incident electromagnetic radiation. ... The Stirling engine is a type of hot air engine, invented in 1816 by the Rev. ... A tank of liquid nitrogen, used to supply a cryogenic freezer (for storing laboratory samples at a temperature of about -150 Celsius). ...

Difference between IR film and thermography

IR film is sensitive radiation equivalent to temperatures between 250 °C and 500 °C while the range of thermography is approximately -50 °C to over 2,000 °C. So for a IR film to show something it must be over 250 °C or be reflecting infrared radiation from something that is at least that hot. Night vision goggles normally just amplify the small amount of light that is available outside like starlight or moon light and can't see heat or work in complete darkness.

Advantages of Thermography

• It shows a visual picture so that can help compare temperatures over a large area
• It is capable of catching moving targets in real time
• Able to find deteriorating components prior to failure
• Measurement in areas inaccessible or hazardous for other methods
• It is a non-destructive test method
• Make easier to find defects in shafts and other metal parts

Limitations & disadvantages of thermography

This section may contain original research or unverified claims. Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details. (April 2008)

• Quality cameras are expensive and are easily damaged^{[citation needed]}
• Images can be hard to interpret accurately even with experience^{[citation needed]}
• Accurate temperature measurements are very hard to make because of emissivities^{[citation needed]}
• Most cameras have ±2% or worse accuracy (not as accurate as contact)^{[citation needed]}
• Training and staying proficient in IR scanning is time consuming^{[citation needed]}
• Ability to only measure surface areas

Image File history File links Emblem-important. ...

Applications

• Condition monitoring
• Medical imaging
• Night vision
• Research
• Process control
• Nondestructive testing
• Surveillance in security, law enforcement and defense
• Chemical imaging

Thermal infrared imagers convert the energy in the infrared wavelength into a visible light video display. All objects above 0 kelvins emit thermal infrared energy so thermal imagers can passively see all objects regardless of ambient light. However, most thermal imagers only see objects warmer than -50 °C. Night-vision is seeing in the dark. ... // Nondestructive testing (also called NDT, nondestructive evaluation, NDE, and nondestructive inspection, NDI) is testing that does not destroy the test object. ... Chemical imaging is the simultaneous measurement of spectra (chemical information) and images or pictures (spatial information). ... For other uses, see Video (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Kelvin (disambiguation). ...

The spectrum and amount of thermal radiation depend strongly on an object's surface temperature. This makes it possible for a thermal camera to display an object's temperature. However, other factors also influence the radiation, which limits the accuracy of this technique. For example, the radiation depends not only on the temperature of the object, but is also a function of the emissivity of the object. Also, radiation also originates from the surroundings and is reflected in the object, and the radiation from the object and the reflected radiation will also be influenced by the absorption of the atmosphere. Radiant heat redirects here. ... The emissivity of a material (usually written ) is the ratio of energy radiated by the material to energy radiated by a black body at the same temperature. ... Look up absorption in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Atmospheres redirects here. ...

See also

• Infrared camera
• Infrared thermometer
• Infrared detector
• Chemical Imaging
• Night vision

An infrared camera, or a thermographic camera, is a device that forms an image using infrared radiation, similar to a common camera that forms an image using visible light. ... Infrared thermometers offer a great method for accurately and quickly measuring temperature of objects at a distance and/or in motion. ... An infrared detector is a detector that reacts to infrared (IR) radiation. ... Chemical imaging is the simultaneous measurement of spectra (chemical information) and images or pictures (spatial information). ... Night-vision is seeing in the dark. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Thermography

• Good examples of FLIR thermographic images broken down by industry application
• IrInfo.org, online resource for infrared thermography
• Physical basics
• various examples of thermographic images
• Uncooled Thermal Imaging
• Some uses of thermographic images in medicine
• Some uses of thermographic images in electronics
• More examples of Thermographic Images

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ...

History of thermal imager manufacturers

• History of AIM thermal imaging
• History of Texas Instruments/DRS Thermal imaging
• History of Raytheon Commercial Infrared/L-3 Communications thermal imaging