Share the development history of infrared thermal imaging cameras
Thermal imaging cameras are developed from photosensitive elements that are sensitive to infrared rays, but the photosensitive elements can only determine whether there is infrared rays and cannot present images. In World War II, the warring countries showed interest in the military use of thermal imagers and conducted sporadic research and small-scale applications. In 1943, the United States cooperated with RNO to produce a model code-named M12. Its function and appearance can already be seen as the prototype of a thermal imager. This should be regarded as the most sought-after thermal imager and the originator of thermal imagers.
In 1952, a very important material, indium antimonide, was developed. This new semiconductor material promoted the further development of infrared thermal imaging cameras. Soon after, Texas Instruments and RNO jointly developed forward-looking infrared (Forward looking infrared) with practical value.
infrared) thermal imager. This system uses a single original photosensitive element, using a mechanical device to control the rotation of the lens to reflect light onto the photosensitive element.
With the maturity of the mercury cadmium telluride material manufacturing process, large-scale use of thermal imaging cameras in the military field has become possible. After the 1960s, linear arrays consisting of 60 or more photosensitive elements appeared. The American RNO company expanded the application of thermal imaging cameras to the civilian field. However, due to the initial use of uncooled photosensitive elements, the refrigerated components and mechanical scanning mechanism made the entire system very large.
After the CCD technology matured, the focal plane array thermal imager replaced the mechanical scanning thermal imager. In the 1980s, after semiconductor refrigeration technology replaced liquid nitrogen and compressor refrigeration, portable and handheld thermal imaging cameras began to appear. After the 1990s, RNO developed an uncooled infrared focal plane array based on amorphous silicon, further reducing the production cost of thermal imagers.
It can be seen that the development of thermal imaging cameras is a relatively long process. During this period, RNO and Texas Instruments made great contributions to the development of thermal imaging cameras. In fact, another very important contributor is the US military. According to incomplete statistics, in the past 40 years, the U.S. military has invested more than several billion dollars in thermal imaging cameras because it has been cooperating with RNO.
