USB thermal imagers detect even smaller changes in temperature
Non-contact temperature measurement specialist Micro-Epsilon has extended its popular thermoIMAGER TIM range of infrared thermal imagers with two new higher resolution versions, which not only offer improved image resolutions, but also detect even smaller temperature differences.
Micro-Epsilon's new thermoIMAGER TIM 400 and 450 thermal imagers are able to capture and store thermal video and images with extremely high optical resolution (382 x 288 pixels) at a full frame rate of 80Hz (80 images per second). The cameras are also equipped with new detectors, which provide excellent thermal sensitivities of 80mK and 40mK respectively. This enables the cameras to detect even smaller changes in temperature. The smallest USB camera in its class, the TIM 400/450 weighs just 320g (including lens) with dimensions of 46mm x 56mm x 88mm.
The cameras come pre-calibrated with temperature ranges from -20 to +900 deg C with an option to extend this to +1,500 deg C. The cameras are currently provided with 30-degree or 13-degree angle of view (aperture) lenses. The fully featured software, TIMConnect, included as standard, provides quick and easy set up together with a range of software tools that enable the cameras to be used in R&D tasks as well as process control. Typical applications include automatic hotspot detection in process and quality control, R&D work, test cells and automated industrial environments.
The new cameras open up a wide range of possibilities for thermal analysis of components and process control tasks. The 40mK thermal sensitivity of the TIM450 offered at less than £6,000 – and the 80mK of the TIM400 at less than £5,000 – represent significant price breakthroughs for IR video capture cameras. Compared to conventional infrared cameras, the new cameras offer more than four times the number of pixels, which means infrared images are significantly clearer and sharper. Also, very small objects with surface areas down to just 0.8mm2 can be detected reliably. A frame rate of 80Hz also allows infrared images to be captured in real time, making it ideal for dynamic, high speed, fast moving processes.