Ircon introduces faster, lower cost, line scanning infrared thermometer and thermal imaging system

Citation

(2000), "Ircon introduces faster, lower cost, line scanning infrared thermometer and thermal imaging system", Sensor Review, Vol. 20 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/sr.2000.08720aaf.002

Ircon introduces faster, lower cost, line scanning infrared thermometer and thermal imaging system

Keywords Infrared, Thermometers, Thermal imaging, Systems

Ircon's new industrial line scanning infrared thermometer and thermal imaging system - the ScanIR II - features improved resolution through a faster sampling rate and enhanced product design at an affordable price (see Plate 1). This rugged industrial product, designed to meet NEMA 12K and IP52 standards, uses Microsoft Windows NT along with Ircon's SpotMaster and ZoneMaster software to provide real-time, two- or three-dimensional colour thermal displays to plant-floor operators in steel, glass, paper and textile industries.

Plate 1 Scan IR II infra-red thermometer

The ScanIR II offers fast, accurate thermal imaging and allows temperature measurements ranging from 35°C to 2,500°C, depending on the model. For each 90° scan, the thermometer offers a maximum scanning rate of 100 Hz or a maximum of 5000 measurements per scan.

Using a single element detector, the ScanIR II guarantees the same calibration for all measurements across a target, assuring that indicated temperature differences across a target are actual differences, not artifacts of different detector element calibrations. Completely self-contained, the ScanIR II is a stand-alone system performing all temperature processing internally without the assistance of an external computer.

The ScanIR Il's sensor uses a single detector and a scanning mirror to provide a full 90° scan angle, allowing wide targets to be viewed at closer distances. This makes installation more convenient in many applications. This sensor operates in ambient temperatures up to 55°C without cooling, up to 94°C with air cooling only, and up to 205°C with air and water cooling.

The sensor can be configured to operate in the Spot Mode or the Zone Mode for up to ten independent spots or zones. In Spot Mode, the ScanIR II is able to detect product edges, and measure spot temperatures even while the product width is changing. If the product position changes, it will recalculate the new position of each spot and continue monitoring. In Zone Mode, the ScanIR II measures temperatures continuously across the full width of the product, and computes high, low and average temperatures for each zone.

Depending upon the mode, a user can define individual high and low alarm setpoints and peak-picking signal conditioning functions for each of the ten spots, which can be of any size, up to the full width and length of the target. In addition, a new Smart Zone feature ignores temperatures within the zone that are below the user-defined threshold temperature, dismissing the contribution from the background.

During set up and alignment, an optional, patented, built-in visible laser assists in aligning the sensor and defining the scan-line width. Since the laser option is built-in at the time of manufacture, alignment accuracy is assured. This also eliminates the need for the sensor to be opened or physically accessed in a potentially dirty or unsafe industrial environment.

The ScanIR II provides full digital output capabilities to other system elements. It communicates simultaneously with Ircon's operator interface software via an Ethernet network and with a data acquisition/process-control computer or PLC via the RS-485 serial communications port. Over the same Ethernet network, a user can initiate a TCP/IP connection and receive an output of spot or zone temperature data. Easy-to-use Ircon SpotMaster and ZoneMaster operator intedace software uses sensor data and product movement to create a variety of real-time thermal imaging/temperature maps running on a Microsoft Windows NT platform.

Further information from: Steve Green, Ircon Ltd. Tel: +44 (0) 1784 485323; Mobile: 0 7803 499591.