An infrared thermal imager is a handheld electronic device with an integrated visual display designed to detect thermal energy. An infrared thermal imager mounted on a special lens is a key component of an infrared thermal imaging camera, which works with standard image capture technology. With this capability, engineers can quickly identify areas of excessive temperature or sources of wasted thermal energy, such as overheating building components or potential insulation gaps.
Visible light makes up only a small part of the electromagnetic spectrum, and it's the only part we actually see. When the camera is pointed at an object or area, sensors on the camera allow the user to see the otherwise invisible infrared spectrum, wavelengths between visible light and microwaves.
While infrared displays are usually rendered in color, some applications opt for black-and-white displays to reduce visual clutter and improve the capture of fine details. On a color IR display, hotter components or areas will appear as red, orange, and yellow, while cooler parts will typically appear as purple and blue (green usually indicates approximately room temperature). Because infrared thermal imaging cameras are designed to measure infrared radiation, not visible light, they can also be used to identify heat sources in very dark or otherwise obscured environments.
Infrared thermal imagers are designed to provide a wide range of thermal temperature detection capabilities. They can be used in a variety of industries and are a great help for emergency departments, medical personnel, product manufacturers, engineers, maintenance personnel, and they are also an economical choice for many home lovers and loyal fans.
Infrared thermal imagers have significantly reduced the cost of producing uncooled arrays, which has driven their widespread use in areas such as emergency response, architectural analysis, medical diagnostics, environmental control, and autonomous driving systems.
Today, the plummeting cost of cutting-edge technologies such as smart sensors, microcircuits, and WiFi connectivity has madeinfrared thermal imaging cameras a popular choice for many professionals as well as home users for engineering, repair, design, creativity, and more.
