Infrared thermometers operate by detecting the infrared light emitted by objects. Infrared light is light that we cannot see, but we do feel it as heat. For instance, when you’re near a warm object you feel the warmth, even if you cannot see the light that it emits. The hotter something is, it emits more infrared light. This light can be detected by a thermometer, which can then use it to determine the heat of an object. This will allow you to record temperature without physical contact which comes in handy for numerous scenarios.
One of the best things about infrared thermometers is that you can measure temperature from a distance. This means you don’t have to touch something that is hot or cold to learn how hot or cold it is. For illustration, to measure the temperature of a patient, a doctor can use an infrared thermometer, without touching the patient. That is super safe and keep everyone healthy!
Infrared thermometers are widely used in medicine, food safety, construction, and other sectors. In the food industry, these thermometers ensure food is cooked at the right temperature for safe and healthy consumption. Food that is not cooked correctly may become dangerous. In construction, workers can use infrared thermometers to determine whether materials are at a proper temperature to work with one another while remaining safe and of proper quality.
Next, let’s take a closer look at how infrared thermometers work. These thermometers focus the infrared light from an object onto a detector inside the thermometers with a special lens. The detector is a small sensor that determines the amount of light that hits it. It then converts that light into an electrical signal. This means that the thermometer can recognize how much light it sees.
Infrared thermometers require specific features to provide accurate readings. One key parameter is emissivity. Emissivity is the measure of how much infrared light the object emits. Different materials, such as metal or wood, emit varying degrees of light. Thus, thermometers must compensate for what they measure. This helps to ensure that your temperature reading is accurate and reliable.
The distance to spot ratio is another key feature. This indicates how close you need to approach the object to avoid getting an accurate reading. The higher the ratio, the farther away you can stand and still take an accurate temperature reading. This is especially useful when dealing with hot objects you want to maintain a safe distance from.
Infrared thermometers have existed for decades but there are always new designs and improvements. An exciting new idea is to use smartphones for infrared thermometers. There are even apps that can turn your smartphone camera into infrared thermometer. This enables people to use these thermometers for sick visits, and testing in their day-to-day lives, which makes it cheaper and easier. Just point your phone at the object and the temperature reading is available instantly!