Abstract:
A radiation thermometer is provided, comprising: a thermal radiation detector assembly (15) having an operative surface area responsive to thermal radiation of a first wavelength; a focussing optics assembly (18) adapted to focus both thermal radiation of the first wavelength and visible light of a second wavelength along an optical axis, the focussing optics assembly being configured to form a focussed image of the operative surface area of the thermal radiation detector assembly on a focal plane outside the radiation thermometer, the focussed image of the operative surface area defining a target region from which the thermal radiation detector assembly detects thermal radiation; a visible light source assembly (20) adapted to exhibit an illuminated pattern of visible light of the second wavelength, the visible light source assembly comprising at least one visible light source (21) and a mask (22) through which light from the at least one visible light source is arranged to pass, the mask having one or more substantially opaque portions and one or more translucent portions arranged to define the illuminated pattern; and a radiation splitter (30) adapted to deflect one of thermal radiation of the first wavelength and visible light of the second wavelength, and to transmit the other, or to deflect both wavelengths differently, the radiation splitter being configured so as to pass the thermal radiation along a first optical path from the focussing optics assembly to the thermal radiation detector assembly, and to pass the visible light along a second optical path from the visible light source assembly to the focussing optics assembly. The length of the first optical path is substantially equal to that of the second optical path, such that the focussing optics additionally forms a focussed image of the illuminated pattern of the visible light source assembly substantially on the focal plane, the illuminated pattern being configured to mark the location of the target region in the focal plane. The illuminated pattern includes a primary illumination region (25) and at least one secondary illumination region (26), the primary illumination region having substantially the same lateral extent as the operative surface area of the thermal radiation detector assembly and being positioned such that the image of the primary illumination region formed at the focal plane falls substantially within and is substantially co-incident with the target region from which the thermal radiation detector assembly detects thermal radiation, and the at least one secondary illumination region being configured such that the image of the or each secondary illumination region formed at the focal plane is located outside the target region.
Abstract:
A method of measuring the temperature of a sheet material is provided. The sheet material is arranged such that it forms at least one side of a cavity so as to enhance the effective emissivity of the sheet material in the vicinity of the cavity. The method comprises: a) generating a thermal image of at least part of the inside of the cavity using a thermal imaging device to detect radiation emitted by the cavity, the thermal image comprising a plurality of pixels each having a pixel value representative of radiation emitted by a respective region of the cavity; b) identifying a first subset of the plurality of pixels whose pixel values meet predetermined criteria; c) using the identified first subset of pixels to determine a line on the thermal image representative of optimal emissivity enhancement in the cavity; and d) selecting a second subset of the plurality of pixels based on the determined line and generating a temperature profile along the determined line derived from the pixel values associated with each of the second subset of pixels.
Abstract:
A radiation thermometer comprising a radiation detector and an optical input path arranged to direct radiation from an object of interest to the radiation detector is disclosed. The radiation detector is adapted to output a signal related to the radiation received from the object of interest, and a processor is adapted to generate temperature measurements from the signal. Filtering means are provided in the optical input path which are arranged to block radiation having a wavelength between approximately 0.92 and 0.98 microns.
Abstract:
An apparatus is disclosed for automatically aligning an infra-red sensor (2) with a hot extruded body. The apparatus includes a scanner (16) such as a motor that can point the infra-red sensor that the axis of the infra-red sensor is pointed in a plurality of directions. A central control unit (14), which is a processor, is configured to analyse the amount of infra-red radiation received in the plurality of positions, to identify a first position in which the axis of the infra-red sensor points at a first extruded body by measuring the amount of radiation received in the first position and in a plurality of positions around the first position, and to instruct the scanner to move the infra-red sensor to the first position so that the temperature of the first extruded body can be measured.
Abstract:
A thermal imaging system and method for quantitative thermal mapping of a scene. The system comprises a thermal imaging device, a heat source of known temperature and emissivity located within the scene viewed by the thermal imaging device and a processor adapted to generate a calibrated temperature map of the scene from the data supplied by the thermal imaging device, based on the known temperature of the heat source. This enables accurate temperature measurements to be made using inexpensive uncooled Focal Plane Array detectors.
Abstract:
A metal strip production line measurement system is disclosed comprising a thermal imaging camera (8) configured to receive thermal radiation from a plurality of positions on a metal strip being conveyed along a production line and to generate an image based on the thermal radiation received. A temperature or emissivity calculation unit (34) is also provided within a processor (36) to determine temperature and/or emissivity for the plurality of positions which includes identifying and subtracting a reflected component in the radiation received at the thermal imaging camera from a position on the metal strip.
Abstract:
There is provided a control system for a furnace. The control system comprises a thermal imaging camera and a control unit. The thermal imaging camera is configured to receive thermal radiation from a plurality of positions in a furnace and to generate an image which includes temperature information for the plurality of positions in the furnace. The control unit is configured to receive the image from the thermal imaging camera and to generate control signals for the furnace using the image.