Optical System of Thermal Imaging Camera

As the basic element of the optical system, it is responsible for collecting the infrared radiation emitted by the object and focusing it on the sensor. Its directly affects the resolution and clarity of the thermal imaging image. Different application scenarios have different requirements for its focal length, aperture and other parameters. For example, a wide objective lens is often used for monitoring large areas, while a long focal length and large aperture objective lens is preferred for industrial inspection and medical diagnosis which require high detail.

It is indispensable for thermal imaging applications such as large area monitoring or dynamic target tracking. By mechanical scanning (such as rotating, scanning mirror) or electronic scanning (using electron beam deflection), the infrared imaging objective lens scans different areas point by point to obtain large area thermal imaging data. scanning has the advantages of fast speed and sensitive response, but the technology is complex.

It connects the infrared imaging objective lens and the sensor to efficient transmission of infrared radiation. It can further process and adjust the focused light, ensure that the light is accurately projected onto the sensitive surface of the sensor, and can correct aberration and distortion. Complex lens combinations and correction techniques are often used in high-end equipment.

Types and Characteristics of Optical Systems

is a common type, the main components are refractive lenses, which focus the image by using the principle of light refraction. The advantages are simple structure, easy and assembly, and convenient correction of aberration to obtain a large field of view. It is often used in consumer-grade thermal imaging equipment. The disadvantage is that theactive angle of light with different wavelengths is different, which is prone to chromatic aberration affecting the clarity of the image, and the manufacturing difficulty and cost increase when aperture is large and the focal length is long.

It has important applications in professional fields with high requirements for imaging quality and aperture, using reflectors reflect and focus infrared radiation. The reflector has low requirements for the optical performance of the material, no chromatic aberration, and can be made into a largeerture, long-focal-length structure, which is suitable for long-distance, large-area monitoring. However, the processing and inspection of aspherical mirrors are difficult and expensive and the surface of the reflector needs to be regularly maintained and cleaned, otherwise it will affect the reflection efficiency and imaging quality.

combines the advantages of refractive and reflective systems, and adds a compensating lens on the basis of the reflective system to correct aberration, which can achieve a largeerture, long-focal-length design, and the cost and manufacturing difficulty are relatively low. The common ones are Schmidt system, Maksutov catadioptr mirror, etc. In industrial inspection, scientific research experiments and other scenarios with high requirements for image quality, it can provide clearer and more accurate thermal imaging data.

The system of the thermal imaging camera is designed and combined with components to achieve efficient capture and imaging of infrared radiation, which lays the foundation for the application of thermal imaging in various fields. With the development of technology, its optical system will continue to innovate and optimize, bringing better imaging performance.