LWIR Cameras: What Are They and What Are They Used For?
Long-wavelength infrared (LWIR) cameras are a common form of thermal imaging used in industrial applications. While there are other types of infrared imaging, if you need thermal imaging, you may need an LWIR camera.
But what exactly is a long-wave infrared camera? How do they work and what are they usually used for?
What is an LWIR camera and how does it work?
A long-wave infrared camera captures light in the 8-14μm spectral band. This is in contrast to SWIR cameras operating in the 0.9 - 1.7μm spectral band and MWIR cameras operating in the 3 - 5μm spectral band.
Typically, LWIR cameras utilize bolometers or microbolometers as image sensors. These are typically made of amorphous silicon (a-Si) or vanadium oxide (VOx) and are uncooled - older versions of thermal imaging required cooling systems for accurate imaging, but bolometers and microbolometers changed this. Each type of sensor and material has its own advantages - but they all have to use germanium lenses to let infrared light through.
What is a long-wave infrared camera used for?
Long-wave infrared cameras can detect light in the infrared spectrum that is invisible to the naked eye. The resulting applications are diverse. Some of the most common include:
Thermal imaging
Temperature control
Predictive maintenance
Gas leak detection
Wide dynamic range environment
Imaging through thick smoke
For applications such as gas leak detection or smoke imaging, LWIR cameras can give us a glimpse into the environment, sometimes even potentially hazardous environments, where we would otherwise be unable to detect anything.
Long-wave infrared cameras are suitable for many applications in the industrial sector. They are a common type of thermal imaging, although the cameras themselves can come in many different forms and performance levels. If you want to buy or customize a long-wave infrared camera, please contact us.
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