Infrared Technology

An infrared (IR) thermometer is a sensor that determines the temperature of an object by detecting and quantifying the infrared radiation emitted by measured target. An IR thermometer can be compared to the human eye. The lens of the eye represents the optics through which the radiation (flow of photons) from the object reaches the photosensitive layer (retina) via the atmosphere.

Check the Raytek GS110 glass process imaging system in the production quality control of coated glass, low emission flat glass and architectural glass. With non-contact IR sensors, you can analyze the temperature distributions in the area, identify defective heating elements, automatically adjust the emissivity to change glass loads, identify defective heating elements and manage the heat balance in the glass oven.

The optical system of an infrared sensor collects the infrared energy from a circular measurement spot and focuses it on the detector. Optical resolution is defined by the ratio of the distance from the instrument to the object, compared to the size of the spot being measured (D:S ratio). The larger the ratio number the better the instrument's resolution, and the smaller the spot size that can be measured from greater distance.

A pyrometer is a type of thermal sensor used for measuring high temperatures of a surface, often in large furnaces or kilns. These devices measure the temperature of an object or surface from the thermal radiation emitted, also known as radiometry. There are many applications where a standard one-color pyrometer reads the temperature incorrectly and they include:

Emissivity is the measure of an object's ability to emit infrared energy. Emitted energy indicates the temperature of the object. Emissivity can have a value from 0 (shiny mirror) to 1.0 (blackbody). Most organic, painted, or oxidized surfaces have emissivity values close to 0.95. The majority of our IR sensors have an adjustable emissivity feature to ensure accuracy when measuring other materials, such as shiny metals.

These are the most frequent asked questions and answers about Infrared Sensors.

Temperature plays an important role as an indicator of the condition of a product or piece of machinery, both in manufacturing and in quality control. Downtimes are decreased since the manufacturing processes can proceed without interruption and under optimal conditions. Infrared technology has been utilized successfully in industry for decades, but new developments have reduced costs, increased reliability, and resulted in smaller, noncontact infrared measurement devices.