Thermal Imaging Metrology Using High Dynamic Range Near-Infrared Photovoltaic-Mode Camera

The measurement of a wide temperature range in a scene requires hardware capable of high dynamic range imaging. We describe a novel near-infrared thermal imaging system operating at a wavelength of 940 nm based on a commercial photovoltaic mode high dynamic range camera and analyse its measurement u...

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Main Authors: Thomas B. O. Rockett, Nicholas A. Boone, Robert D. Richards, Jon R. Willmott
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-09-01
Series:Sensors
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/21/18/6151
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author Thomas B. O. Rockett
Nicholas A. Boone
Robert D. Richards
Jon R. Willmott
author_facet Thomas B. O. Rockett
Nicholas A. Boone
Robert D. Richards
Jon R. Willmott
author_sort Thomas B. O. Rockett
collection DOAJ
description The measurement of a wide temperature range in a scene requires hardware capable of high dynamic range imaging. We describe a novel near-infrared thermal imaging system operating at a wavelength of 940 nm based on a commercial photovoltaic mode high dynamic range camera and analyse its measurement uncertainty. The system is capable of measuring over an unprecedently wide temperature range; however, this comes at the cost of a reduced temperature resolution and increased uncertainty compared to a conventional CMOS camera operating in photodetective mode. Despite this, the photovoltaic mode thermal camera has an acceptable level of uncertainty for most thermal imaging applications with an NETD of 4–12 °C and a combined measurement uncertainty of approximately 1% K if a low pixel clock is used. We discuss the various sources of uncertainty and how they might be minimised to further improve the performance of the thermal camera. The thermal camera is a good choice for imaging low frame rate applications that have a wide inter-scene temperature range.
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spelling doaj.art-7274af36ee934f29b01eb3569dce8be72023-11-22T15:12:27ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202021-09-012118615110.3390/s21186151Thermal Imaging Metrology Using High Dynamic Range Near-Infrared Photovoltaic-Mode CameraThomas B. O. Rockett0Nicholas A. Boone1Robert D. Richards2Jon R. Willmott3Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UKDepartment of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UKDepartment of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UKDepartment of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UKThe measurement of a wide temperature range in a scene requires hardware capable of high dynamic range imaging. We describe a novel near-infrared thermal imaging system operating at a wavelength of 940 nm based on a commercial photovoltaic mode high dynamic range camera and analyse its measurement uncertainty. The system is capable of measuring over an unprecedently wide temperature range; however, this comes at the cost of a reduced temperature resolution and increased uncertainty compared to a conventional CMOS camera operating in photodetective mode. Despite this, the photovoltaic mode thermal camera has an acceptable level of uncertainty for most thermal imaging applications with an NETD of 4–12 °C and a combined measurement uncertainty of approximately 1% K if a low pixel clock is used. We discuss the various sources of uncertainty and how they might be minimised to further improve the performance of the thermal camera. The thermal camera is a good choice for imaging low frame rate applications that have a wide inter-scene temperature range.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/21/18/6151thermal imagingradiation thermometrymetrologyinfraredradiometryphotovoltaic camera
spellingShingle Thomas B. O. Rockett
Nicholas A. Boone
Robert D. Richards
Jon R. Willmott
Thermal Imaging Metrology Using High Dynamic Range Near-Infrared Photovoltaic-Mode Camera
Sensors
thermal imaging
radiation thermometry
metrology
infrared
radiometry
photovoltaic camera
title Thermal Imaging Metrology Using High Dynamic Range Near-Infrared Photovoltaic-Mode Camera
title_full Thermal Imaging Metrology Using High Dynamic Range Near-Infrared Photovoltaic-Mode Camera
title_fullStr Thermal Imaging Metrology Using High Dynamic Range Near-Infrared Photovoltaic-Mode Camera
title_full_unstemmed Thermal Imaging Metrology Using High Dynamic Range Near-Infrared Photovoltaic-Mode Camera
title_short Thermal Imaging Metrology Using High Dynamic Range Near-Infrared Photovoltaic-Mode Camera
title_sort thermal imaging metrology using high dynamic range near infrared photovoltaic mode camera
topic thermal imaging
radiation thermometry
metrology
infrared
radiometry
photovoltaic camera
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/21/18/6151
work_keys_str_mv AT thomasborockett thermalimagingmetrologyusinghighdynamicrangenearinfraredphotovoltaicmodecamera
AT nicholasaboone thermalimagingmetrologyusinghighdynamicrangenearinfraredphotovoltaicmodecamera
AT robertdrichards thermalimagingmetrologyusinghighdynamicrangenearinfraredphotovoltaicmodecamera
AT jonrwillmott thermalimagingmetrologyusinghighdynamicrangenearinfraredphotovoltaicmodecamera