Thermal Imagers

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APPLICATIONS AND FUTURE

TRENDS IN THERMAL

IMAGERS

CAPT P K

SINGH

(2)

AIM

TO ACQUAINT THE STUDENT OFFRS WITH

VARIOUS APPLICATIONS AND FUTURE

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PREVIEW

• NIGHT VISION

• WHAT IS THERMAL IMAGING

• WORKING OF THERMAL IMAGERS

• APPLICATIONS OF THERMAL IMAGERS

• FUTURE TRENDS

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NIGHT VISION

• ABILITY TO SEE AT NIGHT USING

ELECTRO OPTIC DEVICES

• TYPES

– ACTIVE



_{IR ILLUMINATION}

– PASSIVE



_{IMAGE INTENSIFICATION}



_{THERMAL IMAGING}

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• _{THE CONCEPT OF THERMAL IMAGING IS}

_{THE CONCEPT OF THERMAL IMAGING IS}

TRACED BACK TO THE 1800s AND BRITISH

ASTRONOMER SIR WILLIAM HERSHEL.

• _{HERSHEL DISCOVERED THAT}

_{HERSHEL DISCOVERED THAT}

_COLORS

BELOW THE COLOR RED IN THE VISIBLE

SPECTRUM ARE INVISIBLE TO THE NAKED

EYE WITHOUT THE USE OF A PRISM.

THESE CALORIFIC RAYS, NOW KNOWN AS

INFRARED RAYS

, ARE THE BASIS FOR

TODAY’S TIC TECHNOLOGY.

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• _{AS WITH MANY TECHNICAL}_{AS WITH MANY TECHNICAL} _{ADVANCES, THERMAL IMAGING}_{ADVANCES, THERMAL IMAGING}

TECHNOLOGY WAS DEVELOPED FOR MILITARY USE. THE

TECHNOLOGY, ORIGINALLY KNOWN AS

TECHNOLOGY, ORIGINALLY KNOWN AS FLIR (FORWARD FLIR (FORWARD LOOKING INFRARED),

LOOKING INFRARED), WAS USED IN THE FALKLANDS WAR OF WAS USED IN THE FALKLANDS WAR OF 1982 BY BRITISH SOLDIERS TO OBSERVE MOVEMENTS OF

1982 BY BRITISH SOLDIERS TO OBSERVE MOVEMENTS OF

ENEMY TROOPS. THIS TECHNOLOGY WAS SOON ADDED TO

MILITARY AIRCRAFT AND WIDELY USED IN THE FIRST GULF

WAR.

• _{MILITARY PERSONNEL FOUND THAT USE OF THE THERMAL}_{MILITARY PERSONNEL FOUND THAT USE OF THE THERMAL}

IMAGING TECHNOLOGY GAVE THEM

IMAGING TECHNOLOGY GAVE THEM THE ADVANTAGE OF THE ADVANTAGE OF SIGHT IN OTHERWISE ZERO-VISIBILITY CONDITIONS. THE

SIGHT IN OTHERWISE ZERO-VISIBILITY CONDITIONS. THE

TECHNOLOGY ALSO ALLOWED PERSONNEL

TECHNOLOGY ALSO ALLOWED PERSONNEL TO DETECTTO DETECT

TARGETS FROM THE LANDSCAPE BY THEIR HEAT SIGNATURES.

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WHAT IS THERMAL

IMAGING

• THERMAL IMAGING IS THE MEANS BY

WHICH HUMANS ENABLE THEMSELVES

TO SEE IN THE INFRARED PORTION OF

THE SPECTRUM OF LIGHT.

• TYPE OF INFRA-RED IMAGING

SCIENCE.

• ALSO KNOWN AS ‘THERMOGRAPHY’

OR ‘INFRA-RED THERMOGRAPHY’.

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BASICS OF LIGHT

• ENERGY IS

INVERSELY

PROPORTIONA

L TO

WAVELENGTH.

• VIOLET HAS

THE MOST

ENERGY AND

RED HAS THE

LEAST.

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INFRA-RED REGION

DIVIDED INTO THREE

REGIONS:-I.

NEAR-INFRARED REGION:

» CLOSEST TO VISIBLE LIGHT.

» WAVELENGTHS RANGING FROM 0.7 TO 1.3 MICRONS.

II. MID-INFRARED REGION:

» WAVELENGTHS RANGING FROM 1.3 TO 3 MICRONS.

FOR EXAMPLE: REMOTE CONTROL

III. FAR-INFRARED REGION:

» LARGEST COMPONENT OF THE INFRA-RED SPECTRUM

» WAVELENGTHS RANGING FROM 3 TO OVER 30 MICRONS.

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PHYSICS OF

EMISSIVITY

Incident Energy = Emitted Energy + Transmitted Energy + Reflected Energy Incide nt light Reflected Absorbed Transmitted

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HOW THERMAL IMAGING

WORKS

• A SPECIAL LENS FOCUSES THE INFRARED LIGHT EMITTED BY ALL OF THE OBJECTS IN VIEW.

• THE FOCUSED LIGHT IS SCANNED BY A PHASED ARRAY OF INFRARED-DETECTOR ELEMENTS. THE DETECTOR ELEMENTS CREATE A VERY DETAILED

TEMPERATURE PATTERN CALLED A THERMOGRAM. • THE THERMOGRAM CREATED BY THE DETECTOR

ELEMENTS IS TRANSLATED INTO ELECTRIC IMPULSES. • THE IMPULSES ARE SENT TO A SIGNAL-PROCESSING

UNIT, A CIRCUIT BOARD WITH A DEDICATED CHIP THAT TRANSLATES THE INFORMATION FROM THE ELEMENTS INTO DATA FOR THE DISPLAY.

• THE SIGNAL-PROCESSING UNIT SENDS THE

INFORMATION TO THE DISPLAY, WHERE IT APPEARS AS VARIOUS COLORS DEPENDING ON THE INTENSITY OF THE INFRARED EMISSION.

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HOW THERMAL IMAGING WORKS

Detector (MEMS or III-V Compound) Focal Plane Array (FPA) Cooled or Uncooled Optical Imaging Engine Electronics Detector Package and Cooler/Stabilizer

(TEC or Stirling Cooler), (Hi-Vac, Low-Vac, or Backfilled Package) Detector Dewar/Cooler Assembly (DDCA) Thermal Imager Final Packaging Enclosure, App Software, UI Thermal System Silicon ROIC

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TYPES OF THERMAL

IMAGING DEVICES

• UN-COOLED -

– MOST COMMON TYPE OF THERMAL-IMAGING DEVICE.

– THE INFRARED-DETECTOR ELEMENTS ARE CONTAINED IN A UNIT THAT OPERATES AT ROOM TEMPERATURE.

– COMPLETELY QUIET, ACTIVATES IMMEDIATELY AND HAS THE BATTERY BUILT RIGHT IN.

• CRYOGENICALLY COOLED -

– MORE EXPENSIVE AND MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE FROM RUGGED USE, THESE SYSTEMS HAVE THE ELEMENTS SEALED

INSIDE A CONTAINER THAT COOLS THEM TO BELOW 32 F (ZERO C). – THE ADVANTAGE OF SUCH A SYSTEM IS THE INCREDIBLE

RESOLUTION AND SENSITIVITY THAT RESULT FROM COOLING THE ELEMENTS.

– CRYOGENICALLY-COOLED SYSTEMS CAN "SEE" A DIFFERENCE AS SMALL AS 0.2 F (0.1 C) FROM MORE THAN 1,000 FT (300 M) AWAY, WHICH IS ENOUGH TO TELL IF A PERSON IS HOLDING A GUN AT THAT DISTANCE!

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APPLICATIONS OF THERMAL

IMAGING

• MILITARY

• LAW ENFORCEMENT

• MEDICAL

• TRANSPORT

• VOLCANOLOGY

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MILITARY APPLICATIONS

•

TOP-SPEC

NIGHT-VISION

EQUIPMENT

DRAMATICALLY

ENHANCES CAPABILITY, PROVIDING

SIGNIFICANT TACTICAL BENEFITS

FOR ARMED FORCES.

•

IT CAN SUPPORT ALL TYPES OF

OPERATIONS

FROM

RECONNAISSANCE AND CONTACT

WITH THE ENEMY TO SUPPORTING

ESCAPE AND RESCUE OPERATIONS.

•

NIGHT-VISION SYSTEMS ARE USED

FOR SURVEILLANCE AND TARGET

ACQUISITION IN CLOSE COMBAT,

AND ARE ALSO HIGHLY EFFECTIVE

WHEN USED IN THE URBAN

ENVIRONMENT.

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MILITARY APPLICATIONS

• TACTICAL TEAMS ARE SOME OF THE MOST AGGRESSIVE USERS OF THERMAL IMAGING EQUIPMENT.

• BECAUSE THE THERMAL IMAGER REQUIRES NO LIGHT AND FUNCTIONS WITHOUT EMITTING ANY BEAM OF ENERGY, IT CAN HELP TACTICAL TEAMS MAINTAIN A COMPLETE TACTICAL ADVANTAGE OVER ANY SUSPECTS INSIDE A BUILDING.

• NEW TECHNOLOGY USED IN INFRARED THERMAL IMAGING WEAPON SIGHTS IS HELPING TO PROVIDE SUPERIOR ENEMY RECOGNITION AT LONG RANGES, MORE-ACCURATE LONG-RANGE FIRING AND MUCH FASTER SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS.

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LAW ENFORCEMENT

• BECAUSE THE THERMAL IMAGER DOES NOT REQUIRE LIGHT AND ONLY RECEIVES HEAT ENERGY, IT CAN BE USED TO OBSERVE POTENTIAL CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AT A DISTANCE.

• BECAUSE THE HEAT SIGNATURE OF A SURFACE IS AFFECTED BY ITS MATERIAL AS WELL AS ITS DENSITY, HIDDEN COMPARTMENTS CAN BE IDENTIFIED WITH A THERMAL IMAGER. • A THERMAL IMAGER CAN HELP

DETECT AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN DISTURBED FROM THEIR ORIGINAL STATE, POTENTIALLY INDICATING WHERE SUSPECTS MAY HAVE BURIED EVIDENCE

• A THERMAL IMAGER CAN CONTRIBUTE TO OFFICER SAFETY AT A NUMBER OF SCENES.

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MEDICAL APPLICATIONS

• THERMOGRAPHY IS A NON-INVASIVE, NON-CONTACT TOOL THAT USES THE HEAT FROM THE BODY TO AID IN MAKING DIAGNOSIS OF A HOST OF HEALTH CARE CONDITIONS.

• IT CAN INDICATE DEVELOPING DISEASE STATES – AND BREAST CANCER – EARLIER THAN ANATOMICAL EXAMINATIONS.

• MII CAN ALSO HELP TO IDENTIFY SOURCES OF PAIN, PARTICULARLY THOSE INVOLVING THE NEUROMUSCULAR AND CIRCULATORY SYSTEMS.

• IF DISEASE PROCESSES ARE PRESENT, A THERMAL IMAGER MAY DETECT THEM BEFORE SYMPTOMS BECOME APPARENT, ENABLING EARLY INTERVENTION AND PROACTIVE TREATMENT.

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COMMERCIAL

APPLICATIONS

• IMAGING DEVICES TO PERFORM SYSTEMS

DIAGNOSTICS. THE AUTOMOTIVE, COMMERCIAL

AND MECHANICAL INDUSTRIES ARE NOW

USING THERMAL

• AUTOMOTIVE MECHANICS WEAR THERMAL AND

ULTRAVIOLET GOGGLES TO EASILY LOCATE

FLUID AND AIR LEAKS IN VEHICLE ENGINES.

• HOME REPAIR INSPECTORS USE HAND-HELD

THERMAL CAMERAS TO SPOT GAPS IN THE

STRUCTURE'S INSULATION, SURVEY ROOF

DAMAGE, AND PINPOINT ELECTRICAL

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TRANSPORTATION

APPLICATIONS

• NIGHT DRIVING SYSTEMS ENABLE DRIVERS TO DETECT POTENTIAL

HAZARDS EARLIER IN POOR VISIBILITY • SYSTEMS BASED ON THERMAL IMAGING

ARE ALSO EMERGING FOR USE IN

COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEMS (E.G. FOR PEDESTRIAN DETECTION) AND TO LOCATE THE POSITION OF A PASSENGER FOR EFFECTIVE AND SAFE AIRBAG

DEPLOYMENT.

• THERE ARE MANY APPLICATIONS FOR THERMAL IMAGING IN THE RAILWAY ENVIRONMENT.

• IN AIRCRAFTS, THERMOGRAPHY IS NOW USED ROUTINELY TO LOCATE AND

IDENTIFY STRESS CRACKS AND

CORROSION, TO LOCATE DELAMINATION OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS, TO DETECT WATER INGRESS INTO CONTROL

SURFACES AND TO DIAGNOSE SUB- SURFACE ICING

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VOLCANOLOGY

• VOLCANOLOGISTS MONITOR TEMPERATURE

CHANGES INDICATIVE OF UPCOMING

VOLCANIC ACTIVITY USING THERMOMETERS

TO OBSERVE CHANGES IN THERMAL

PROPERTIES OF VOLCANIC LAKES AND

VENTS.

• THERMAL IMAGERS HELP THEM TO MONITOR

LARGE, SCARCELY POPULATED AREAS WHERE

MAINTENANCE OF GROUND INSTRUMENTS IS

DIFFICULT AND EXPENSIVE.

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FUTURE TRENDS

• Dual Sensor Night Vision



_{THE DSNVG COMBINES AN I²}

TUBE AND IR IMAGER INTO

ONE MONOCULAR DEVICE.



_{WHERE I² IS USELESS IN}

TOTAL DARKNESS, IR FINDS

WARM SPOTS REGARDLESS

OF LIGHT CONDITIONS.



_{IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT}

HAS

TOO

MANY

WARM

TARGETS TO DISCRIMINATE

THE ONE YOU'RE INTERESTED

IN, THE I² SCOPE ALLOWS YOU

TO IDENTIFY HIM VISUALLY.

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FUTURE TRENDS

• Multispectral

Thermal

Imager (MTI)

 _IT _IS _A _SPACE _BASED DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH PROJECT SPONSORED BY E U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY(DOE), OFFICE OF NONPROLIFERATION AND NATIONAL SECURITY.

 _{MTI'S PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS} TO DEMONSTRATE ADVANCED MULTISPECTRAL AND THERMAL IMAGING,IMAGE PROCESSING, AND

ASSOCIATED TECHNOLOGIES TH AT COULD BE USED IN FUTURE SYSTEMS FOR DETECTING AND CHARACTERIZING FACILITIES PRODUCING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION

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FUTURE TRENDS

• _Thermal _Imaging _For _Lie

Detection

 _{THE MAYO CLINIC, WORKING WITH} HONEYWELL LABORATORIES, HAS DEVELOPED "HIGH-DEFINITION" THERMAL IMAGING TECHNOLOGY THAT MEASURES "HEAT PATTERNS CREATED BY THE FACE" THAT "CHANGE DRAMATICALLY WITH LYING."  _{THE THERMAL IMAGER EXPLOITS}

WHAT APPEARS TO BE A "FRIGHT/FLIGHT" RESPONSE WHICH CAUSES BLOOD TO FLOW TO A PERSON'S EYES WHEN THEY PRACTICE DECEPTION. THE THERMAL IMAGER MEASURES THE HEAT AROUND A PERSON'S EYES TO DETERMINE IF IT HAS INCREASED DURING ANY ANSWER TO THE SCREENER'S QUESTIONS.