1. Thermal Imaging
  2. Service & Knowledge
  3. Thermography Glossary
  4. Rotating Filter and Aperture Wheel of the ImageIR® Camera Series

Rotating Filter and Aper­ture Wheel of the ImageIR® Camera Series

The combination of a separate filter and aperture wheel, allowing a total of 35 freely selectable combinations, is prerequisite for an universal application in measurement tasks with high object temperatures and in the field of spectral thermography.

InfraTec glossary - Rotating filter- und aperture wheel

Adapt­a­tion of the Camera to the Spec­tral Char­ac­ter­istics of the Object

The design of the ImageIR® thermographic camera enables the implementation of up to two rotating filter wheels and rotating aperture wheels, which can be controlled independently. The two motorised wheels allow up to 35 filter /aperture combinations, which can be fitted individually. The selection of the desired combination of the two wheels is completely remotely controllable from the corresponding menu of the camera operating software IRBIS® online.

The combination of separate rotating filter and aperture wheel positions is the prerequisite for universal use for measuring tasks in the spectral thermography sector. Spectral filters can be used to adapt the sensitivity range of the camera to the specific spectral characteristics of the measured objects, for example:

  • Optimised measurement of the surface temperature of shining metals, glass, plastics and other materials

  • Measurement of objects behind glass, gases or flames

  • Capturing flames and gases

Rotating aper­ture wheel and filter wheel for infrared camera

InfraTec glossary - Rotating filter- und aperture wheel
Left: Camera with filter and aperture wheel without any filter in place; Right: Camera with filter and aperture wheel and set filter

The effects of interference are securely prevented by aperture or grey filters, used for signal monitoring and arranged in close proximity to the detector, or by their combination with spectral filters. Furthermore, wide temperature measuring ranges can be achieved with or without spectral filter equipment.

The use of aperture or grey filters enables temperature ranges up to 3,000 °C. The combination of two spectral filters (short-pass and long-pass) results in further options of spectral thermography, for example, by means of narrow-band camera sensitivity, the use of specific absorption bands of the objects (thin films and gases) to collect their surfaces or volume radiation.

A further equipment option is the installation of a rotating filter wheel with up to 5,400 rotations per minute. This allows the implementation of a real-time MicroScan unit to quadruple the number of pixels and to increase the spatial resolution accordingly. Furthermore, this fast rotating filter wheel can be fitted with filtering components to condition signals, which allow the measurement of objects with extremely high temperature gradients by means of the so-called HDR technology (High Dynamic Range).

If this fast rotating filter wheel is combined with the second rotating aperture wheel or rotating filter wheel, further conditioning or spectral filtering components can be implemented. The customer-specific filtering components are coordinated individually in order to meet the customer requirements.

InfraTec glossary - Rotating filter- und aperture wheel

Rear filter / aperture wheel:
0 = open
1-3 = spectral filter
4 = grey filter

Front filter-/ aperture wheel:
0 = open
1-2 = grey filter
3 = aperture diaphragm
4 = spectral filter

Over­view of Bene­fits

  • Expansion of the measuring range to the physically achievable limits: (-40 … 3,000) °C

  • Use of spectral filters for special applications

  • Combination of spectral filters and dampening filters through the installation of two independently controllable wheels, therefore extended spectral measuring ranges are possible

  • Completely motorised remote control from the camera operating software IRBIS® 3, contactless filter control is also possible even from greater distances

  • A complete replacement of the filter module by the customer is possible to expand the diversity of the camera

Applic­a­tion Examples

  • Customer-specific configurable rotating filter wheels / rotating aperture wheels enable the adaptation of the ImageIR® to the most diverse measuring tasks

  • Optimised measurement of glass surfaces or objects behind glass

  • Detection of flames and gases as well as measurement of objects behind flames and gases

  • Use of sun reflex filters for the prevention of interference radiation

  • Real-time measuring range expansion due to HDR functions for the measurement of temperature-dynamic objects

  • High temperature measurements in the field of welding and laser technology

Further inform­a­tion about camera series ImageIR®

Relevant Indus­tries & Applic­a­tions

thermal imaging for automotive applications

Auto­motive Industry

Infrared camera systems help you to secure a high product quality in production and at your suppliers.

thermal imaging in aviation

Aerospace Industry

Comply with highest security demands by applying state-of-the-art infrared camera systems.

InfraTec | Thermography in Casting, molten metal - Picture credits: @ iStock / Warut1

Metal­ Industry

Achieving continuous improvement in process reliability and productivity is a top priority in the metal industry and can be supported by thermography.

All branches and application areas
Contact to thermography division of InfraTec

Would You Like to Know More?

It is not unusual for tasks to be associated with special requirements. Discuss your specific application needs with our specialists, receive further technical information or learn more about our additional services.

United Kingdom & Irland
InfraTec GmbH Infrarotsensorik und MesstechnikGostritzer Straße 61 - 6301217 DresdenGERMANY

Further Glossary Items relating to Filter and Aper­ture Wheel

InfraTec Service - thermography lenses

High‐performance Full Optics

High quality precision lenses allow the adaptation of the image geometry to almost every measuring situation. Its performance parameters are calibrated with respect to functionality, quality and flexible application. Due to proper IR-transparent lens materials and high-precision antireflexion coating, the lenses are optimised for different spectral ranges.

InfraTec Glossary Motorfocus

Motor Focus for ImageIR® Full Lenses – More Comfort

All interchangeable standard lens systems of the ImageIR® series can be combined with a motor focus unit, which is controlled by the camera operating software. It enables precise, remote and fast focusing. In addition, an autofocus function is available which operates reliably even with low image contrasts.

InfraTec glossary modules

Modular Concept for Your Flex­ib­ility

The camera can be adapted to all requirements of the user due to modular design of the camera series ImageIR®. This means that a customer-specific thermography system is achieved in every direction. The ImageIR® can also be subsequently retrofitted or upgraded in the event of changing measurement requirements. In this way, maximum investment security is achieved.

InfraTec Service - thermography lenses

High‐performance Full Optics

High quality precision lenses allow the adaptation of the image geometry to almost every measuring situation. Its performance parameters are calibrated with respect to functionality, quality and flexible application. Due to proper IR-transparent lens materials and high-precision antireflexion coating, the lenses are optimised for different spectral ranges.

InfraTec Glossary Motorfocus

Motor Focus for ImageIR® Full Lenses – More Comfort

All interchangeable standard lens systems of the ImageIR® series can be combined with a motor focus unit, which is controlled by the camera operating software. It enables precise, remote and fast focusing. In addition, an autofocus function is available which operates reliably even with low image contrasts.

InfraTec glossary modules

Modular Concept for Your Flex­ib­ility

The camera can be adapted to all requirements of the user due to modular design of the camera series ImageIR®. This means that a customer-specific thermography system is achieved in every direction. The ImageIR® can also be subsequently retrofitted or upgraded in the event of changing measurement requirements. In this way, maximum investment security is achieved.

Thermography Cameras using Rotating Filter and Aper­ture Wheel*

InfraTec Infrared camera
High-end Cameras

ImageIR® 8300 hp

Image Format(1,280 x 1,024) IR-Pixel
Detector typeMCT or InSb

InfraTec Infrared camera
High-end Cameras

ImageIR® 8800

Image Format(1,280 x 1,024) IR-Pixel
Detector typeMCT

InfraTec Infrared camera
High-end Cameras

ImageIR® 9400

Image Format(2,560 x 2,048) IR-Pixel
Detector typeInSb

InfraTec Infrared camera
High-end Cameras

ImageIR® 9400 hp

Image Format(2,560 x 2,048) IR-Pixel
Detector typeInSb

InfraTec Infrared camera
High-end Cameras

ImageIR® 9500

Image Format(2,560 x 1,440) IR-Pixel
Detector typeMCT

InfraTec Infrared camera
System Cameras

VarioCAM® HD head 900 security

Image Format(2,048 x 1,536) IR-Pixel
Detector typeUncooled Microbolometer Focal Plane Array

InfraTec Infrared camera
System Cameras

VarioCAM® HD head 900

Image Format(2,048 x 1,536) IR-Pixel
Detector typeUncooled Microbolometer Focal Plane Array

InfraTec Infrared camera
High-end Cameras

ImageIR® 10300

Image Format(1,920 x 1,536) IR-Pixel
Detector typeInSb

InfraTec Infrared camera
High-end Cameras

ImageIR® 8300 hs

Image Format(640 x 512) IR-Pixel
Detector typeT2SLS or InSb

InfraTec Infrared camera
High-end Cameras

ImageIR® 5300

Image Format(320 x 256) IR-Pixel
Detector typeMCT

InfraTec Infrared camera
High-end Cameras

ImageIR® 9400 hs

Image Format(640 x 512) IR-Pixel
Detector typeInSb

InfraTec Infrared camera
Zoom Cameras

ImageIR® 9300 Z

Image Format(1,280 x 1,024) IR-Pixel
Detector typeInSb

InfraTec Infrared camera
Zoom Cameras

ImageIR® 8300 Z

Image Format(640 x 512) IR-Pixel
Detector typeInSb

InfraTec Infrared camera
High-end Cameras

ImageIR® 9300

Image Format(1,280 x 1,024) IR-Pixel
Detector typeInSb

InfraTec Infrared camera
High-end Cameras

ImageIR® 7300

Image Format(640 x 512) IR-Pixel
Detector typeMCT or InSb

InfraTec Infrared camera
High-end Cameras

ImageIR® 4300

Image Format(320 x 256) IR-Pixel
Detector typeMCT

InfraTec Infrared camera
High-end Cameras

ImageIR® 8300

Image Format(640 x 512) IR-Pixel
Detector typeMCT or InSb

10.000,00 €

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