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The Working Principle and Key Applications of Infrared Sensors

Infrared sensors detect infrared radiation, or heat, by emitting and detecting infrared waves. They have various applications including night vision devices, astronomy, missile tracking, art restoration, and more. Infrared sensors are classified as thermal or quantum sensors and work by detecting infrared radiation emitted from objects based on their temperature above absolute zero. Key benefits of infrared sensors include their low power needs, simple circuitry, and portability.

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132 views

The Working Principle and Key Applications of Infrared Sensors

Infrared sensors detect infrared radiation, or heat, by emitting and detecting infrared waves. They have various applications including night vision devices, astronomy, missile tracking, art restoration, and more. Infrared sensors are classified as thermal or quantum sensors and work by detecting infrared radiation emitted from objects based on their temperature above absolute zero. Key benefits of infrared sensors include their low power needs, simple circuitry, and portability.

Uploaded by

rajesh
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© © All Rights Reserved
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The Working Principle and Key Applications

of Infrared Sensors
Download PDF Copy

By Alexander ChiltonOct 15 2014

Image Credit: Dario Sabljak / Shutterstock.com

An infrared sensor is an electronic instrument which is used to sense certain characteristics


of its surroundings by either emitting and/or detecting infrared radiation. Infrared sensors
are also capable of measuring the heat being emitted by an object and detecting motion.

Infrared Radiation

What is Infrared Light?

What is a Pyrgeometer?

Infrared Radiation Theory


Infrared waves are not visible to the human eye. In the electromagnetic spectrum, infrared
radiation can be found between the visible and microwave regions. The infrared waves typically
have wavelengths between 0.75 and 1000m.

The wavelength region which ranges from 0.75 to 3m is known as the near infrared regions.
The region between 3 and 6m is known as the mid-infrared and infrared radiation which has a
wavelength greater higher than 6m is known as far infrared.

Infrared technology finds applications in many everyday products. Televisions use an infrared
detector to interpret the signals sent from a remote control. The key benefits of infrared sensors
include their low power requirements, their simple circuitry and their portable features.

The Foundations of Infrared Science


Infrared radiation was first discovered by the astronomer William Herschel. He conducted an
experiment in which he used a prism to refract light from the sun. Herschel was able to detect the
presence of infrared radiation beyond the red part of the visible spectrum using a thermometer to
measure an increase in temperature. In 1800 Herschel published his findings to the Royal Society
of London.

The Types of Infrared Sensors


Infrared sensors are broadly classified into two main types:

Thermal infrared sensors use infrared energy as heat. Their photo sensitivity is
independent of the wavelength being detected. Thermal detectors do not require cooling
but do have slow response times and low detection capabilities.

Quantum infrared sensors provide higher detection performance and faster response
speed. Their photo sensitivity is dependent on wavelength. Quantum detectors have to be
cooled in order to obtain accurate measurements.

The Working Principle of Infrared Sensors


All objects which have a temperature greater than absolute zero (0 Kelvin) posses thermal energy
and are sources of infrared radiation as a result.

Sources of infrared radiation include blackbody radiators, tungsten lamps and silicon carbide.
Infrared sensors typically use infrared lasers and LEDs with specific infrared wavelengths as
sources.
Image Credit: Dario Sabljak / Shutterstock.com

A transmission medium is required for infrared transmission, which can be comprised of either a
vacuum, the atmosphere or an optical fiber.

Optical components, such as optical lenses made from quartz, CaF2, Ge and Si, polyethylene
Fresnel lenses and Al or Au mirrors, are used to converge or focus the infrared radiation. In order
to limit spectral response, band-pass filters can be used.

Next, infrared detectors are used in order to detect the radiation which has been focused. The
output from the detector is usually very small and hence pre-amplifiers coupled with circuitry are
required to further process the received signals.

The Key Applications of Infrared Technology


Night Vision Devices

Infrared technology is implemented in night vision equipment if there is not enough visible light
available to see unaided. Night vision devices convert ambient photons of light into electrons and
then amplify them using a chemical and electrical process, before finally converting them back
into visible light.
Infrared Astronomy

Infrared astronomy is a field of astronomy which studies astronomical objects which are visible
in infrared radiation. Using telescopes and solid state detectors, astronomers are able to observe
objects in the universe which are impossible to detect using light in the visible range of the
electromagnetic spectrum.

Image Credit: Procy / Shutterstock.com

Infrared observatories have been set up in space such as the Spitzer Space Telescope and the
Herschel Space Observatory, which are not affected by the absorption of infrared light by water
vapour in the Earth's atmosphere.

Infrared Tracking

Infrared tracking, or infrared homing, is a missile guidance system which operates using the
infrared electromagnetic radiation emitted from a target in order to track it. These missile
systems are often known as 'heat-seekers' as infrared is radiated strongly by hot bodies such as
people, vehicles and aircraft.

Art History and Restoration


Art Restoration Technology

Infrared Imaging of Artwork for Analysis and Restoration

Infrared reflectography is used by art historians in order to reveal hidden layers in paintings. This
technique is useful in order to decide whether a painting is an original version or a copy, and
whether it has been altered by restoration work.

Hyperspectral Imaging

Hyperspectral imaging accumulates and processes information from across the electromagnetic
spectrum and can be used to track nanoparticles inside large living organisms.

Other Key Application Areas

Climatology

Meteorology

Night vision

Photobiomodulation

Gas detectors

Water analysis

Anesthesiology testing

Petroleum exploration

Rail safety

References and Further Reading


Characteristics and use of infrared detectors - Sabanci University

Herschel Discovers Infrared Light - Infrared Processing and Analysis Center (IPAC)
California Institute of Technology

What Is an Infrared Sensor? - Wise GEEK

Infrared Sensors or IR Sensors Engineers Garage


How Do IR Sensors Work? - eHow

IR Sensor Applications InfraTec

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