IRKameras

IRKameras, or infrared cameras, are imaging systems that detect infrared radiation emitted by objects and convert it into visible images or video. Unlike conventional cameras that record reflected visible light, IR cameras visualize temperature differences, producing thermal or radiometric images where brightness correlates with surface temperature or emissivity.

Most modern IR cameras are uncooled microbolometer devices operating in the long-wave infrared (LWIR) range around 7–14 micrometers, though mid-wave (MWIR) and short-wave (SWIR) systems exist. Cooled systems using detectors such as InSb or HgCdTe provide higher sensitivity and are common in MWIR and LWIR but require cryogenic cooling. Some specialized cameras cover near-infrared (NIR) or SWIR for reflected IR imaging using InGaAs detectors.

Key performance parameters include detector resolution (often expressed as the pixel array, e.g., 320×240 or 640×480), frame rate, and noise-equivalent temperature difference (NETD), which measures thermal sensitivity. Calibration, optics, and filtering influence image quality. In many cameras, thermal data can be displayed as color-coded temperature maps or grayscale thermal images, and some provide radiometric data for precise temperature readings.

IR cameras have broad applications: building and electrical inspections, predictive maintenance, firefighting, security and surveillance, medical research, and automotive night vision. They enable operation in darkness, through smoke or haze, and can reveal faults not visible to the naked eye. Limitations include reduced spatial resolution in cheaper models, emissivity variations, and interference by reflective surfaces or glass.