Know the Various Applications of an Infrared Camera

Infrared cameras or thermal infrared cameras have decreased in prices since the past few years. Low cost infrared cameras are available in the market today and yet they deliver high performance. The infrared camera finds use in different kinds of applications and in various industries.

Using infrared cameras

These cameras have various uses and thus are versatile. Thermographers are coming up with newer ways of using these cameras with every passing day.

• You can use infrared cameras to get the perfect shots. The tonality depicted by infrared cameras is superior when compared to regular cameras.

• The automobile industry benefits from infrared camera application. BMW automakers have developed the Pathfinder, powered by the car’s battery and located in the grill. Infrared cameras help drivers see beyond the headlights range.

• Infrared camera application also finds place in diagnostics. They are extensively used in hospitals and clinics for the purpose of checking minute body parts and internal organs.

• Infrared cameras are also useful for utility firms who use this technology for identification of transformers on the verge of exploding.

• NASA is known to use infrared cameras for enabling them to learn more about space. Infrared camera application is used for researching on stars and other heavenly bodies.

• When it comes to building inspectors, they find the infrared cameras really handy. These cameras can hunt for termites that may be hidden in plumbing and electrical systems of one’s house.

• Infrared camera application is also very common in civilian security measures. These cameras help check people for bugs and deadly weapons. The use of infrared cameras is prevalent in airports, nuclear power plants, dams and borders.

More about infrared cameras

Infrared light is beyond the visible spectrum of light. The image produced by these cameras is formed with infrared radiation that cannot be seen with the naked eye. There are two kinds of infrared cameras. One camera uses cooled infrared image detectors and the other makes use of uncooled detectors. Infrared cameras with cooled detectors have the detectors contained in a vacuum-sealed flask or case where detectors are cryogenically cooled. The detectors are lower in temperature than the objects from which radiation is meant to be detected; this is the reason for their increased sensitivity. Infrared cameras with uncooled detectors have a sensor that functions at ambient temperature. The change in voltage, resistance and current is calculated and the value is compared to the sensor’s operating temperature. These cameras do not need costly cryogenic coolers, but offer low resolution and image quality than cooled detectors.