Engineers Garage

  • Projects and Tutorials
    • Electronic Projects
      • 8051
      • Arduino
      • ARM
      • AVR
      • PIC
      • Raspberry pi
      • STM32
    • Tutorials
    • Circuit Design
    • Project Videos
    • Components
  • Articles
    • Tech Articles
    • Insight
    • Invention Stories
    • How to
    • What Is
  • News
    • Electronic Products News
    • DIY Reviews
    • Guest Post
  • Forums
    • EDABoard.com
    • Electro-Tech-Online
    • EG Forum Archive
  • Digi-Key Store
    • Cables, Wires
    • Connectors, Interconnect
    • Discrete
    • Electromechanical
    • Embedded Computers
    • Enclosures, Hardware, Office
    • Integrated Circuits (ICs)
    • Isolators
    • LED/Optoelectronics
    • Passive
    • Power, Circuit Protection
    • Programmers
    • RF, Wireless
    • Semiconductors
    • Sensors, Transducers
    • Test Products
    • Tools
  • EE Resources
    • DesignFast
    • LEAP Awards
    • Oscilloscope Product Finder
    • White Papers
    • Webinars
  • EE Learning Center
    • Design Guides
      • WiFi & the IOT Design Guide
      • Microcontrollers Design Guide
      • State of the Art Inductors Design Guide
  • Women in Engineering

Infrared Imaging or Thermal Imaging : Working of IR Devices

By Ashutosh Bhatt

Working of IR Imaging Devices
 
Working of Infrared Imaging Devices
 
Most infrared imaging devices can work on about 30 scans per second sensing temperatures between -20 degrees and 2000 degrees with a gradient resolution of about 0.2 degrees. Quantum detectors with semiconductors are employed in high precision detection of radiation. Higher the wavelength of the radiation, the smaller the band gap of the semiconductors that are utilized in detecting it. However, if the band gaps are small, the intrinsic noise of the semiconductor itself would be higher than the incident signal, and the detector would start detecting its own radiation which is certainly highly undesirable. Thus such detectors need to be cooled to levels where intrinsic noise reduces to acceptable levels. Other room temperature detection methods have also been developed which entail loss of quality and resolution, but also reduce costs at the same time. This results in two types of thermal infrared imagers:
 
1.      Cryogenically Cooled IR Imagers: These are vacuum sealed cryogenically cooled cases with cooling temperatures between 4 Kelvin to a few Kelvin below room temperatures. These are costly devices both to buy and to run and need sufficient time for cooling down before operating them after turning on. But, the quality and precision of these devices is the best on offer, along with greater sensitivity.
Cryogenically cooled Quantum IR Detectors (Dewar typeCryogenically cooled Quantum IR Detectors (Dewar type)
 
Materials like indium antimonide, indium arsenide, MCT, lead sulfide etc. are used as narrow band semiconductors. Superconducting tunnel junction infrared detectors offer sensitivity of registering even single photons but the use is limited to research labs like ESA’s SCAM.
 
2.      Uncooled IR Imagers: This is a less precise albeit the cheaper technology which is popular in industry. It is based on the principles of change in some property of the material such as resistance, voltage or current when exposed to IR radiation. These devices are mainly made of pyroelectric or ferroelectric materials or are based on bolometric techniques. These don’t actually detect photons, but the heating effect of the IR rays causes a change in electrical polarisation of the material. If compared to Cooled devices, they offer a resolution varying from 70-80mK in ferroelectric devices to 20mK in Silicon based bolometers. Research is going on in the field of Uncooled Focal Plane Arrays for increased sensitivity and pixel densities.
 

 


Filed Under: Recent Articles

 

Questions related to this article?
👉Ask and discuss on EDAboard.com and Electro-Tech-Online.com forums.



Tell Us What You Think!! Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

HAVE A QUESTION?

Have a technical question about an article or other engineering questions? Check out our engineering forums EDABoard.com and Electro-Tech-Online.com where you can get those questions asked and answered by your peers!


Featured Tutorials

  • Introduction to Brain Waves & its Types (Part 1/13)
  • Understanding NeuroSky EEG Chip in Detail (Part 2/13)
  • Performing Experiments with Brainwaves (Part 3/13)
  • Amplification of EEG Signal and Interfacing with Arduino (Part 4/13)
  • Controlling Led brightness using Meditation and attention level (Part 5/13)
  • Control Motor’s Speed using Meditation and Attention Level of Brain (Part 6/13)

Stay Up To Date

Newsletter Signup

Sign up and receive our weekly newsletter for latest Tech articles, Electronics Projects, Tutorial series and other insightful tech content.

EE Training Center Classrooms

EE Classrooms

Recent Articles

  • What are the battery-selection criteria for low-power design?
  • Key factors to optimize power consumption in an embedded device
  • EdgeLock A5000 Secure Authenticator
  • How to interface a DS18B20 temperature sensor with MicroPython’s Onewire driver
  • Introduction to Brain Waves & its Types (Part 1/13)

Most Popular

5G 555 timer circuit 8051 ai Arduino atmega16 automotive avr bluetooth dc motor display Electronic Part Electronic Parts Fujitsu ic infineontechnologies integratedcircuit Intel IoT ir lcd led maximintegratedproducts microchip microchiptechnology Microchip Technology microcontroller microcontrollers mosfet motor powermanagement Raspberry Pi remote renesaselectronics renesaselectronicscorporation Research samsung semiconductor sensor software STMicroelectronics switch Technology vishayintertechnology wireless

RSS EDABOARD.com Discussions

  • Slope compensation ramp calculation for UCC38084
  • Parts storage / inventory best practices and organization
  • Unusual gap shape of ETD59 ferrite core?
  • Vco cadencd
  • WH-LTE-7S1 GSM module and SIM card problem

RSS Electro-Tech-Online.com Discussions

  • HV Diodes
  • intro to PI
  • surge arresters
  • NOR gate oscillator in LTspice not working
  • Very logical explanation on low calue C3
Engineers Garage
  • Analog IC TIps
  • Connector Tips
  • DesignFast
  • EDABoard Forums
  • EE World Online
  • Electro-Tech-Online Forums
  • Microcontroller Tips
  • Power Electronic Tips
  • Sensor Tips
  • Test and Measurement Tips
  • 5G Technology World
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Engineers Garage

  • Projects and Tutorials
    • Electronic Projects
      • 8051
      • Arduino
      • ARM
      • AVR
      • PIC
      • Raspberry pi
      • STM32
    • Tutorials
    • Circuit Design
    • Project Videos
    • Components
  • Articles
    • Tech Articles
    • Insight
    • Invention Stories
    • How to
    • What Is
  • News
    • Electronic Products News
    • DIY Reviews
    • Guest Post
  • Forums
    • EDABoard.com
    • Electro-Tech-Online
    • EG Forum Archive
  • Digi-Key Store
    • Cables, Wires
    • Connectors, Interconnect
    • Discrete
    • Electromechanical
    • Embedded Computers
    • Enclosures, Hardware, Office
    • Integrated Circuits (ICs)
    • Isolators
    • LED/Optoelectronics
    • Passive
    • Power, Circuit Protection
    • Programmers
    • RF, Wireless
    • Semiconductors
    • Sensors, Transducers
    • Test Products
    • Tools
  • EE Resources
    • DesignFast
    • LEAP Awards
    • Oscilloscope Product Finder
    • White Papers
    • Webinars
  • EE Learning Center
    • Design Guides
      • WiFi & the IOT Design Guide
      • Microcontrollers Design Guide
      • State of the Art Inductors Design Guide
  • Women in Engineering