Infrared temperature sensors have a variety of applications. As they have no need to 'touch' the surface they are measuring, they are a highly efficient solution to temperature measurement in all kinds of environments, and in particular high-temperature measurements in challenging conditions. They are a key component of thermal imaging cameras and are so vital in energy conservation and maintenance, and are also used in medical applications in IR thermometers.
How Do Infrared Temperature Sensors Work?
Infrared (IR) temperature sensors emit an infrared energy beam focused by a lens onto a surface to detect the surface or object temperature. The reflected beam is received back in the sensor which converts the energy to an electrical signal that can be displayed in units of temperature. The sensor compensates for ambient temperature variation to give an accurate temperature reading.
Measuring Different Surface Materials
With different temperature ranges, sensor types and outputs available, it is important to choose the infrared temperature sensor that is appropriate for your application. Painted surfaces, paper, thick plastics, food, water, asphalt, rubber, wood and other non-metals all have a high emissivity. These materials can be measured easily using general-purpose sensors with a fixed emissivity setting. Sensors with an adjustable emissivity setting allow fine-tuning of the measurement accuracy for use on partially reflective materials such as metals.
