Infrared cameras are changing how we see the world. From temperature screenings in workplaces to home inspections in real estate, countless professionals are now capitalizing on the benefit of IR imaging. But why? Infrared technology brings hidden treasures and lurking threats safely into an observable view.
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While traditional visible-light cameras capture images of objects radiating light visible to the naked eye, an infrared camera captures what the human eye cannot see. All objects radiate energy, but some wavelengths within the electromagnetic spectrum are invisible. Detectors in an infrared camera capture a particular range of invisible energy emission (700- nm) and then express each heat value (or wavelength) through a set of corresponding colors. The resulting image is called a thermography.
Infrared cameras have a wide range of industry applications. Though recently, they have gained widespread international attention for their ability to perform temperature calculations in temperature screening measures, thermal imaging cameras can also help medical and veterinary professionals to identify injury and illness. Electricians and building inspectors utilize IR technology to detect deterioration, corrosion, leaks, and other potential dangers.
IR is advantageous because obstructions like fog or darkness do not limit the outcome. For example, law enforcement officers and hunters can use thermography to detect security threats or predators under the cover of night or even hidden behind objects or walls. Infrared photography also provides a level of safety as there is no direct contact necessary to obtain the measurement in potentially high-risk situations.
Infrared cameras should not be confused with night vision, which enhances visible light. Because infrared cameras measure light that is not visible, they can work in darkness as well as daylight. Some professional photographers enjoy using infrared cameras to capture artistic images because they reflect elements like colors, textures, the sky, trees, and even human subjects differently than visible light photographs. For commercial and industrial use, ICI offers numerous products that will capture the heat and energy emissions outside in broad daylight.
Because infrared radiation is not visible, color palettes are convenient ways to see and understand a thermal image. Within the camera is an infrared sensor along with thousands of pixels. Each pixel captures the radiation emitted from the target area and is individually expressed in the final image. The final image shows the full temperature of every pixel — not just the average.
The color map, or palette, can be assigned and specifically tailored to give a visual representation of the different wavelength emissions. For instance, you may opt to have colder temperatures expressed by the color blue, medium yellow, and red hot. The combined readings of each pixel are processed and produces a thermal image, a vibrant RGB rendering based on the selected color map.
For example, in most thermal images, red and bright white symbolize the hottest parts of the image. Green, blue, and purple symbolize cooler temperatures.
While infrared cameras detect and project object temperature with extreme accuracy, there are many factors to consider in order to ensure correct data.
Not all infrared cameras are created equal. Some are designed for industrial use, while others are better suited for medical use or other purposes. Proper tools and an understanding of the equipment are essential.
You must also consider environmental conditions when utilizing infrared imaging cameras. Since the images measure radiated heat, external factors such as the sun, shadows, cold temperature, rain or windy conditions (even HVAC systems indoors) must be considered. Users should follow the ISO standard for proper implementation of medical-use cameras. Another consideration is the emissivity of an object itself, which is the rate at which infrared energy is emitted by an object. Allowing for these by utilizing settings within the camera body will help to mitigate error.
Infrared cameras, and the unique view of the world they offer, are growing in popularity in a number of industries worldwide. Understanding the proper use of these incredible tools is just as important as understanding the technology itself.
At Infrared Cameras Inc, we help connect customers with the proper tools for their thermal imaging needs and offer calibration services to help make adjustments for some of the factors mentioned above. Additionally, our sister company Infrared Training Institute offers a series of courses to inform and equip thermographers.
Many people have wished for night vision on a dark walk home. But have you ever wondered if it's possible to see with your eyes closed?
Both are feasible with a contact lens that allows the wearer to see light that's usually invisible to our eyes — and can pass through our eyelids.
The infrared lens, which was developed by researchers in China, was unveiled in the journal Cell today.
Tian Xue, a neuroscientist at the University of Science and Technology of China and study co-author, said the material had the potential to give people "super-vision".
But in the shorter term, the team's ambitions are more modest.
"Flickering infrared light could be used to transmit information in security, rescue, encryption or anti-counterfeiting settings," Professor Xue said in a press release.
Our eye cells only register light in a small proportion of the electromagnetic spectrum.
If we could see longer wavelengths — just outside the visible spectrum into the near-infrared — we'd be able to see humans and other warm-blooded animals "glow" faintly as they emit infrared light.
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Devices like night-vision goggles often work by tuning into near-infrared wavelengths, sometimes accompanied by an infrared light source to illuminate the surrounding area.
But these devices usually need an external power source to work, making them bulky.
They also tend to have a very limited of field of view, according to Paul Martin, a researcher in ophthalmology at the University of Sydney.
While it's possible to buy "infrared" contact lenses online, typically marketed for cheating at card games, these lenses don't allow users to see infrared light.
Instead, Professor Martin said they filter out higher wavelengths of light to make it easier to see light at a desired wavelength — usually, one tuned to an invisible ink sold with the contact lenses.
Researchers around the world, including in Australia, have been working on less cumbersome materials that can perform "wavelength shifting": absorbing invisible infrared light and re-emitting it as light we can see.
The researchers behind the new study had previously developed particles roughly the size of a small virus by mixing gold atoms with a few other elements, including the metals ytterbium and erbium.
The team injected these particles into the eyes of mice and found it gave them infrared vision. But they wanted to make the process less invasive before testing it on humans.
In the newest study, the researchers mixed their nanoparticles with polymers used in commercial contact lenses, and moulded this mixture into contacts.
They found people wearing the contact lenses could see visible light as normal. But they could also see a flashing infrared light — even when their eyes were shut.
Our eyelids have evolved to block visible light, but infrared light can pass right through them.
In fact, Professor Xue said participants were better at detecting the infrared flashes when their eyes were shut, because there was less interference from visible light.
The researchers could tweak their nanoparticles to convert specific infrared wavelengths into specific visible wavelengths, so the participants could see different shades of infrared light in different visible colours.
They tested this by showing the study participants different letters made from infrared light, which the participants could read in different colours.
Professor Martin, who was not involved with the research, called the study a "marvellous technical tour de force".
"One big and exciting promise of the present study is that the contact lenses or glasses could become a new basis for human-worn surveillance devices."
While the research is promising, Professor Martin believes these contact lenses are a long way away from practical use.
People using the lenses could see infrared light, but they weren't granted fine night vision.
The researchers did build their nanoparticles into wearable spectacles, which gave people crisper infrared vision, but they still needed a bright source of infrared light for the glasses to work.
"The nanoparticles in the contact lens or glasses are not sensitive enough to detect the very low intensity of infrared radiation emitted by warm-blooded animals," Professor Martin said.
Professor Xue said that the team was working on improving the nanoparticles' sensitivity so that they could make higher-resolution contact lenses.
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