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The ratio of a target surface’s radiance to that of a blackbody at the same temperature, viewed from the same angle and over the same spectral interval; a generic look-up value for a material. Values range from 0 to 1.0. Alternatively, the ratio of a flat, optically polished, opaque target surface radiance to that of a blackbody at the same temperature, viewed from the same angle and over the same spectral interval. The latter definition characterizes the property of the material. When used this way, emittance is used to characterize the material when it is other than flat, optically polished and opaque. More Emissivity information

The ratio of a target surface’s radiance to that of a blackbody at the same temperature, viewed from the same angle over the same spectral interval; a generic look-up value for a material. Values range from 0 to 1.0.

A rating given an operating unit (typically an electrical or mechanical enclosure) to indicate the limits of the environmental conditions under which the unit will function reliably and within published performance specifications.

Total infrared energy (radiant flux) leaving a target surface. This is composed of radiated, reflected and transmitted components. Only the radiated component is related to target surface temperature.

A temperature scale based on 32°F as the freezing point of water and 212°F as the boiling point of water at standard atmospheric pressure; a relative scale related to the Rankine scale [0°F = 459.67.R; 1 F° (DT) = 1 R (DT)].

A flexible fiber made of a material that transmits infrared energy, used for making non-contact temperature measurements when there is not a direct line of sight between the instrument and the target.

The angular subtense (expressed in angular degrees or radians per side if rectangular, and angular degrees or radians if circular) over which an instrument will integrate all incoming radiant energy. In a radiation thermometer this defines the target spot size; in a scanner or imager this defines the scan angle or picture size or total field of view (TFOV). Information on Measuring Field of View

An optical element, usually transmissive, used to restrict the spectral band of energy received by an instrument’s detector.

A filter of a specific waveband used to minimize the effects of flame, enabling the IR camera to “see” through the flame. The specific waveband is a region where the transmittance of flame approaches unity. Center wavelengths are typically 3.9 mm for shortwave instruments and 10.6 mm for longwave.

A linear or two-dimensional matrix of detector elements, typically used at the focal plane of an instrument. In thermography, rectangular FPAs are used in “staring” (non-scanning) infrared imagers. These are called IRFPA imagers.

The point at which the instruments optics image the infrared detector at the target plane. In a radiation thermometer, this is where the spot size is the smallest. In a scanner or imager, this is where the instantaneous field of view (IFOV) is the smallest.

Temperature of the scene behind and surrounding the instrument as viewed from the target.

The time it takes an infrared imager to scan (update) every thermogram picture element (pixel); in frames per second.

The span between the minimum value and the maximum value that any instrument is capable of measuring. In a thermometer, this would be the span between the highest and lowest temperature that can be measured.

A radiating object whose emissivity is a constant value less than unity (1.0). over a specific spectral range.

The movement of heat from one point to another by conduction, convection and/or radiation.

Discovered infrared waves in 1800.

A unit of measurement of signal frequency; 1 Hz = cycle per second.

Gray shade or color hue on a thermogram.

Analysis of thermal images, usually by computer; enhancing the image to prepare it for computer or visual analysis. In the case of an infrared image or thermogram, this could include temperature scaling, spot temperature measurements, thermal profiles, image manipulation, subtraction and storage.

An infrared instrument that collects the infrared radiant energy from a target surface and produces an image in monochrome (black and white) or color, where the gray shades or color hues correspond respectively to target exitance.

An infrared thermal imager that provides quantitative thermal images.

Thermal imaging and measurement of a surface which is indirectly affected by the target of concern. That is, the target of concern is thermally decoupled from the surface due to thermal insulation, such as an air gap or a radiant barrier.

A material from which fast, sensitive photo-detectors used in infrared scanners and imagers are made. Such detectors usually require cooling while in operation.

See thermal effusivity.

A linear or two-dimensional matrix of individual infrared detector elements, typically used as a detector in an infrared imaging instrument.

The infrared spectrum is loosely defined as that portion of the electromagnetic continuum extending from the red visible (0.75 mm  to about 1,000 mm) . Because of instrument design considerations and the infrared transmission characteristics of the atmosphere, however, most infrared measurements are made between 0.75 and 20 mm.

An instrument that converts incoming infrared radiant energy from a spot on a target surface to a measurement value that can be related to the temperature of that spot.

An Instrument or system that converts incoming infrared radiant energy from a target surface to a thermal map, or thermogram, on which color hues or gray shades can be related to the temperature distribution on that surface.

The angular subtense (expressed in angular degrees or radians per side if rectangular and angular degrees or radians if round) found by the ratio of the detector dimension divided by the instrument focal length; the projection of the detector at the target plane. In a radiation thermometer this defines the target spot size; in a line scanner or imager it represents one resolution element in a scan line or thermogram and is a measure of spatial resolution.

An infrared imaging instrument that incorporates a two-dimensional IRFPA (focal plane array) and produces a thermogram without mechanical scanning.

A pattern superimposed on a thermogram or on a line scan that includes or highlights all points that have the same apparent temperature.

Absolute temperature scale related to the Celsius (or Centigrade) relative scale. The Kelvin unit is equal to 1 C°; 0 Kelvin = -273.16°C; the degree sign and the word “degrees” are not used in describing Kelvin temperatures.

In thermal equilibrium the absorbtivity of an opaque surface equals its emissivity (a = e).

An infrared radiation thermometer that projects a laser beam to the target, uses the reflected laser energy to compute target effective emissivity and automatically computes target temperature (assuming that the target is a diffuse reflector)—not to be confused with laser-aided aiming devices on some radiation thermometers.

Also called “hidden heat” as heat is added or removed without changing the temperature. The amount of heat required (or released) for a change of phase from solid to liquid and liquid to gas (or vice versa). The latent heat of vaporization is the amount of heat required to change one gram of liquid to vapor without change of temperature. The latent heat of fusion is the amount of heat to melt one gram of solid to liquid with no temperature change.

The number of target lines scanned by an infrared scanner or imager in one second.

An instrument that scans a field of view along a straight line at the target plane in order to collect infrared radiant energy from a line on the target surface, usually done by incorporating one scanning element within the instrument. If the target (such as a sheet or web process) moves at a fixed rate normal to the line scan direction, the result can be displayed as a thermogram.

The smallest target spot size on which an infrared imager can produce a measurement, expressed in terms of angular subtense (mrad per side). The slit response function (SRF) test is used to measure IFOVmeas.

The composition of the measurement path between a target surface and the measuring instrument through which the radiant energy propagates. This can be vacuum, gaseous (such as air), solid, liquid or any combination of these.

A material used for fast, sensitive infrared photo-detectors used in infrared sensors, scanners and imagers that requires cooled operation.

A small, palm size cooler based on the Stirling cycle that cools an infrared detector or focal plane array to liquid nitrogen temperature (77K).

One millionth of a meter; a unit used to express wavelength in the infrared.

One thousandth of a radian (1 radian = 180°/p); a unit used to express instrument angular field of view; an angle whose tangent is equal to 0.001; 1 mrad = 0.05729578°)

Thermal resolution; thermal sensitivity – the smallest temperature difference that an instrument can clearly distinguish out of the noise, taking into account target size and characteristics of the display and the subjective interpretation of the operator. The limit of MRTD is MDTD (minimum detectable temperature difference). MDTD is the MRTD of an extended source target, that is, a target large enough to be fully resolved by the instrument.

In general, the changes in one wave train caused by another; in thermal scanning and imaging, image luminant contrast; (Lmax – Lmin)/(Lmax + Lmin).

A measure of the ability of an imaging system to reproduce the image of a target. A formalized procedure is used to measure MTF. It assesses the spatial frequency resolution of a scanning or imaging system as a function of distance to the target.

The main difference between night vision and thermal imaging is the ability to see in total darkness. Night vision utilizes existing light sources and amplifies them, while thermal imaging is actually reading the infrared radiation coming from an object, regardless of any visible light source, and a trained thermographer can utilize this information to get accurate temperature measurements.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (formerly NBS). Traceability to NIST is a means of ensuring that reference standards remain valid and their calibration remains current.

The temperature difference that is just equal to the RMS noise signal; a measure of thermal resolution; (thermal sensitivity), but not taking into account target size, characteristics of the display and the subjective interpretation of the operator.

An object whose emissivity varies with wavelength over the wavelength interval of interest. A radiating object that does not have a spectral radiation distribution similar to a blackbody; also called a “colored body” or “realbody”. Glass and plastic films are examples of non-graybodies. An object can be a graybody over one wavelength interval and a non-gray body over another.

The primary lens of an optical system, on an infrared instrument, usually the interchangeable lens that defines the total field of view.

In thermography, an opaque material is one that does not transmit thermal infrared energy, ( t = 0).

Any element that collects, transmits, restricts or reflects infrared energy as part of an infrared sensing or imaging instrument.

Collecting samples at a rate higher than the Nyquist critical frequency, fc = 1/(2D), where D is the sampling interval. Applies to both time and spatial.

Hold – A feature of an instrument whereby an output signal is maintained at the peak instantaneous measurement for a specified duration.

A type of infrared detector that has fast response, (on the order of microseconds), limited spectral response and usually requires cooled operation; photo-detectors are used in infrared radiation thermometers, scanners and imagers.

Abbreviation for picture element. In infrared technology a pixel is a focal plane array element, for scanning systems is defined by the IFOV, for spot radiometers by FOV.

German physicist who incorporated quantum physics into the blackbody spectral radiance equation, giving rise to blackbody curves.

A type of thermal infrared detector that acts as a current source with its output proportional to the rate of change of its temperature.

A video camera tube with its receiving element fabricated of pyroelectric material and sensitive to wavelengths from about 2 to 20 mm; used in infrared thermal viewers.

Any instrument used for temperature measurement. A radiation or brightness pyrometer measures visible energy and relates it to brightness or color temperature. An infrared pyrometer measures infrared radiation and relates it to target surface temperature.

The process of obtaining and interpreting thermal images based on thermal contrast in order to identify anomalies; the purpose is more to determine where a temperature difference exists than what the temperature difference is between the target and its surroundings.

The process of obtaining thermal images with correct temperature readings. Especially useful in situations when the exact temperature or temperature difference of the target determines whether it falls in or out of a determined criteria or range of acceptability. Also important to R & D and process control situations.

An angular measurement equal to the ratio of the arc length of a circle to its radius. The circumference of a circle is 2p times the radius. Thus p radians = 180 degrees, and 1 radian = 57.29578 degrees.

The mode of heat flow that occurs by emission and absorption of electromagnetic radiation, propagating at the speed of light. Unlike conductive and convective heat flow, it is capable of propagating across a vacuum. The form of heat transfer that allows infrared thermography to work since infrared energy travels from the target to the detector by radiation.