Almost all objects in nature emit infrared rays, and infrared rays are the most widespread radiation in nature. The atmosphere, smoke clouds, etc. absorb visible light and near-infrared light, but they cannot absorb infrared light of 3-5 microns and 8-14 microns. Infrared thermal imaging technology uses this principle. We use these two windows that cannot be absorbed by infrared rays. It is possible to clearly observe the situation ahead even on a completely dark night or in an invisible environment covered with smoke and clouds.
With the development and demand of market demand, modern high tech has almost been applied or is about to be applied in the field of security monitoring. Infrared thermal imaging technology, which has developed rapidly in modern sensing technology, has also begun to be applied in security monitoring systems.
Thermal Imaging: A Passive Infrared Night Vision Technology
Thermal imaging monitoring technology is a passive infrared night vision technology. Common infrared monitoring technology is active infrared night vision technology. Thermal imaging technology uses the difference in infrared thermal radiation intensity of different parts of natural objects to form images. The temperature difference or thermal radiation difference between parts of the target to find the target.
Since the technology does not change with the surrounding light conditions, it can provide video images in harsh environments such as day and night, even in heavy fog and rain. However, it cannot achieve long-distance monitoring, and the monitoring screen can only determine whether there is a suspicious person entering, but cannot clearly see the face and appearance characteristics.
An ordinary infrared camera is a kind of active infrared technology. It is a night vision technology that realizes camera monitoring by actively emitting infrared light and using target reflected infrared light. With the application of the third-generation infrared array technology, the effect of active infrared monitoring has been greatly improved. It has been well improved, the quality and life of the product are also better, and the manufacturing process requirements are not high, the cost is low, and it has a broad application prospect.
Infrared Thermal Imaging: Achieve the Effect That Ordinary Monitoring Cannot Achieve
It is impossible for the monitoring scene to have visible light all day long, so it is difficult for ordinary non-infrared cameras to achieve all-weather monitoring, while the infrared thermal imaging camera passively receives the infrared heat radiation of the monitoring target itself. All can work normally in the running state; under severe weather conditions such as rain and fog, due to the short wavelength of visible light, the ability to overcome obstacles is poor, so the observation effect is damaged.
The long-wave infrared thermal imaging camera working at a wavelength of 8 to 14μm has a strong ability to penetrate rain and fog so that the target can still be observed normally. Ordinary surveillance cameras cannot see hidden objects, such as buried objects. Stealing items, dead bodies, etc. Infrared thermal imaging cameras can detect and identify because when a surface is messed up, the thermal profile of the surface is also destroyed, such as the thermal radiation of turned soil and compacted soil are different; Since the infrared thermal imaging camera is a device that reflects the surface temperature of an object, it can be used as an effective fire alarm device in addition to on-site monitoring at night; my country's border is very long and the ocean is also vast. Due to the harsh field environment, especially on rainy, snowy, foggy, and windy days, many systems cannot play a good preventive role, let alone an alarm through intelligent analysis.
Personnel patrols and telescopes are used to observe, often because of the short wavelength of visible light, the observation effect is not ideal. Using the infrared thermal imaging camera, the infrared thermal radiation of different objects can be detected, so it can be observed from a long distance, especially in wind and rainy weather; for abandoned luggage packages and other leftover objects, ordinary surveillance cameras can only see the luggage package. External features, it is difficult to observe the contents of the luggage package and therefore cannot be analyzed. By intelligently analyzing the characteristics of the infrared thermal image of the luggage package, the characteristics of the contents inside can be inferred, so that it can be handled appropriately. Such as detectable analysis to identify combustibles and explosives.
The thermal imaging camera is different from the visible light camera. It cannot be turned on for a long time. It is best not to turn it on during the day and turn it on at night. If it is turned on during the day, be careful to avoid facing the sun or objects with high temperatures, so as not to burn the detector. At present, most manufacturers use a combination of thermal imaging cameras and visible light cameras, using visible light to collect images during the day and passive infrared thermal imaging at night.
Infrared Thermal Imagers: Monitoring a Wide Range of Applications
A device that uses infrared thermal imaging technology to detect the infrared radiation of the target object, and converts the temperature distribution image of the target object into a video image through photoelectric conversion, signal processing, and other means, we call it an infrared thermal imager. Infrared thermal imagers can be divided into two categories: refrigerated and non-refrigerated. The refrigerated type has high thermal sensitivity and complex structure and is generally used for military purposes. Although the sensitivity of the non-refrigerated type is lower than that of the refrigerated type, its performance can meet most military uses and almost all civilian fields. Since it does not need to be equipped with a cooling device, the reliability and cost-effectiveness of the uncooled infrared thermal imager are higher than that of the refrigerated type.
1. Monitoring of Targets at Night and in Harsh Weather Conditions
At night, due to well-known reasons, visible light equipment can no longer work properly. If artificial lighting is used, it is easy to expose the target. If a low-light night vision device is used, it also works in the visible light band and still needs external lighting.
The infrared thermal imager passively receives the infrared thermal radiation of the target itself, can work normally no matter the day or night, and will not expose itself. Also under severe weather conditions such as rain and fog, due to the short wavelength of visible light, the ability to overcome obstacles is poor, so the observation effect is poor, but the wavelength of infrared light is long, especially for thermal imagers working at 8-14um, penetrating The ability of rain and fog is high, so the target can still be observed normally. Therefore, at night and in harsh weather conditions, infrared thermal imaging monitoring equipment can be used to monitor various targets, such as personnel and vehicles.
2. Fire Monitoring
Since the infrared thermal imager is a device that reflects the surface temperature of an object, in addition to being used for on-site monitoring at night, it can also be used as an effective fire alarm device. In large areas of forest, fires are often caused by invisible hidden fires. of. This is the root cause of devastating fires, and it is difficult to detect such hidden fire signs with existing ordinary methods. The application of an infrared thermal imager can quickly and effectively find these hidden fires, and can accurately determine the location and scope of the fire, and find the ignition point through the smoke, so as to know early, prevent it early, and put it out early.
3. Identification of Camouflage and Hidden Targets
Ordinary camouflage is mainly to prevent visible light observation. Ordinary criminals usually hide in the grass and woods. Due to the harsh field environment and people's visual illusions, it is easy to make wrong judgments. The infrared thermal imaging device passively accepts the thermal radiation of the target itself. The temperature and infrared radiation of the human body and the vehicle are generally far greater than the temperature and infrared radiation of the vegetation, so it is not easy to camouflage, and it is not easy to make wrong judgments.
4. Intelligent Transportation
Infrared thermal imaging surveillance cameras are widely used in the field of intelligent transportation. With the rapid maturity of the front-end equipment market, the development of intelligent transportation applications has been promoted. Thermal imaging surveillance cameras are not disturbed by low illumination and strong sunlight, and can automatically eliminate the influence of shadows and harsh weather, which is an incomparable advantage of traditional surveillance cameras. Day or night, thermal imaging provides a clear video image that is unaffected by sunlight and virtually uncontrolled by the outside environment. Therefore, thermal imaging detects the traffic conditions of vehicles and pedestrians at intersections very accurately, meeting the needs of 7*24 hours of real-time monitoring.
About ThermTec
ThermTec is a global leading manufacturer of products concerning infrared thermal imaging technologies, providing the latest and best thermal technologies and solutions that improves the way people perceive the world, such constructs a safer and more efficient living and working condition for humankinds.