Multi-Spectral Imaging Pyrometer

About this technology

Overview

Innovators at NASA Langley Research Center have developed a multi-spectral imaging pyrometer utilizing tunable optics. The system uses a conventional infrared imaging camera as the basis and then incorporates an ultrafast, all solid-state, tunable optical filter combined with unique data processing algorithms to function as a multi-color ratio pyrometer but with true imaging capabilities. Currently, there is no way to provide automatic, independent, emissivity-based temperature corrections at the pixel level for infrared cameras that operate with broadband detectors. Multiwavelength pyrometric systems can make emissivity-corrected temperature measurements but are not imaging devices and lack the ability to view surface gradients and other subtle variations. Optical systems that measure at several discrete wavelengths require the use of multiple optical filters and are slow, bulky and require high power.