- Email: [email protected]
Thermal imaging systems
-New equipment 30-channel portable recorder A 10 to 30 channel field recorder introduced by Astro-Med offers a range of features including a high-response vacuum fluorescent monitor, internal rechargeable battery, laser quality printing (300 dpi), 280 mm wide chart, five types of alphanumeric annotation, built-in signal conditioning, 1.2 Megabytes of RAM per channel for data capture, and floppy disc drive for data archiving, updates, and test setups. Designated the Dash 10, the unit can record signals ranging from 50 mV to 500 V peak (isolated) at frequencies from DC to 25 kHz with chart speeds up to 200 mm s -1 . A built-in battery, which recharges automatically when the recorder is plugged in, permits it to be used at remote sites and to double as an uninterruptible power supply in the laboratory. The unit is suited for demanding applications in the aerospace, telecommunications, automotive, pulp and paper, electric utility, metals manufacturing, medical and other industrial, scientific and educational fields that require a sturdy field recorder. Data capture and playback capabilities permit a detailed analysis of high speed data in a slow motion replay. Data stored on RAM or the floppy disc can be displayed, reviewed and selected for hard copy recording in any real-time format (separate channels, overlap, X-Y, data logger). Additionally, the user can analyse data with the FFT utility program. Host communication is achieved through RS-232 and GPIB.
technology allows maintenance engineers to interpret the results of colour thermograms more easily than with grey scale images seen through conventional CRT viewfinders.
lO-30 channel field recorder from AstroMed
The 10 standard waveform channels are expandable to 20 or 30 channels. Individual channel widths, channel locations, grid on/off, major and minor division sizing, as well as annotation are readily selectable. Recorder setup and operation are simple. Menus displayed on the monitor guide the user through the programming sequence. Ten soft keys permit the operator to change predetermined functions quickly. In addition, an encoder wheel simplifies the setting of precise gain and waveform position.
Astro-Med Inc, 11 Whittle Parkway, Slough SL 1 6DQ, UK
Thermal imaging systems Incorporated on Agema's new Professional range of thermal imaging systems, are colour viewfinders based on state-of-the-art LCD technology, which enable detail on colour images to be seen with high resolution. The
The use of LCD rather than CRT technology in the viewfinder means that maintenance engineers in industries where strong electromagnetic fields are prevalent, such as copper refineries or aluminium works, can take advantage of thermal imaging techniques for plant condition monitoring. Electromagnetic fields in these industries have previously precluded the use of thermal imaging cameras which use distortable CRT displays. The colour viewfinder will also be helpful in applications where the operator needs to set image sensitivity manually. Using a colour palette, it is much easier to ensure that all items of interest remain within the temperature range and do not go into image saturation a condition which is more difficult to spot in grey scale images. The Professional series includes a number of new functions which simplify the camera operation and minimize the time required to conduct a thermographic survey. Of particular help to the operator is the ability to customize the setup of the camera. Various operational parameters can be set at the beginning of a survey, and the status area of the image seen through the viewfinder can be configured to show only those parameters that have a direct bearing on the survey. Recognizing the limitations of thermal imaging systems with pre-defined sensitivity ranges
NDT&E International 1994 Volume 27, Number 3
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m
=New equipment providing low image contrast, the company has improved the automatic sensitivity selection function called Autosens which appears on its Thermovision 400 series cameras. By allocating the full palette of available colours to the full range of temperatures in the image, the new Adjusted option offers a continuous range of sensitivity values with much greater image contrast. Likewise, the Autolevel function also incorporated on its Thermovision 400 series range has been improved to make even better use of the available colour palette. Whereas previously the level of a chosen spotmeter was set at 50% of the sensitivity range, this can now be preset to 10%, 50% or 90% of the range. For example, if the chosen spotmeter is in the middle of a hot spot whose temperature is at the very top of the sensitivity range, it is now possible to set the level to about 90% of the range, so there are more colours available to differentiate between the background temperatures.
isotherm for the ironbow palette), and will allow users to switch between =F and "C as req u ired. Other new features introduced include an image integration function which enhances the quality of images affected by noise for example when viewing very cold objects or when using narrow band filters. The camera can be set to integrate up to 256 images in powers of two. Integration continues until the specified number of images has been collected by the camera, at which point the average is computed and then presented either through the viewfinder or remotely on the PC.
Agema Infrared Systems Ltd, Arden House, West Street, Leighton Buzzard, Beds, LU7 7DD, UK
image processing and analysis resources for X-ray microanalysis has been launched by Oxford Instruments Microanalysis Group. It includes a comprehensive set of image processing libraries. The system is integrated with Link ISIS and offers fully automated image analysis. ISIS additionally includes complete stage control. Through its 'learnt scripts' ability it can, for example, move the stage, collect and pre-process an image, segment it, carry out a variety of post-processing functions to analyse and classify particles and then both store and display the results, without the need for an operator.
Image processing and analysis
The system allows the operator to assume full control through its point-and-click interface. Labbook, data, report and experiment data management system, is included as well as easy printing and clipboard facilities.
An IMQuant system for Link ISIS, which includes comprehensive automated
Extensive image processing and analysis libraries are incorporated. Functions include
A new temperature difference function built into the camera allows operators to read off differences in temperature from a predefined reference. This function will be useful for electrical engineers who often only need to compare the temperature of a hot spot with the normal operating temperature of a component or its surrounds. The reference value can be taken from an isotherm or spot meter reading, the ambient temperature value or an arbitrary figure input during set-up. The camera will also automatically choose the best isotherm colour for a chosen colour palette (eg a green
174
IMQuant image processing and analysis resource from Oxford Instruments Microanalysis Group
N D T & E International 1994 Volume 27, Number 3
technology allows maintenance engineers to interpret the results of colour thermograms more easily than with grey scale images seen through conventional CRT viewfinders.
lO-30 channel field recorder from AstroMed
The 10 standard waveform channels are expandable to 20 or 30 channels. Individual channel widths, channel locations, grid on/off, major and minor division sizing, as well as annotation are readily selectable. Recorder setup and operation are simple. Menus displayed on the monitor guide the user through the programming sequence. Ten soft keys permit the operator to change predetermined functions quickly. In addition, an encoder wheel simplifies the setting of precise gain and waveform position.
Astro-Med Inc, 11 Whittle Parkway, Slough SL 1 6DQ, UK
Thermal imaging systems Incorporated on Agema's new Professional range of thermal imaging systems, are colour viewfinders based on state-of-the-art LCD technology, which enable detail on colour images to be seen with high resolution. The
The use of LCD rather than CRT technology in the viewfinder means that maintenance engineers in industries where strong electromagnetic fields are prevalent, such as copper refineries or aluminium works, can take advantage of thermal imaging techniques for plant condition monitoring. Electromagnetic fields in these industries have previously precluded the use of thermal imaging cameras which use distortable CRT displays. The colour viewfinder will also be helpful in applications where the operator needs to set image sensitivity manually. Using a colour palette, it is much easier to ensure that all items of interest remain within the temperature range and do not go into image saturation a condition which is more difficult to spot in grey scale images. The Professional series includes a number of new functions which simplify the camera operation and minimize the time required to conduct a thermographic survey. Of particular help to the operator is the ability to customize the setup of the camera. Various operational parameters can be set at the beginning of a survey, and the status area of the image seen through the viewfinder can be configured to show only those parameters that have a direct bearing on the survey. Recognizing the limitations of thermal imaging systems with pre-defined sensitivity ranges
NDT&E International 1994 Volume 27, Number 3
173
m
=New equipment providing low image contrast, the company has improved the automatic sensitivity selection function called Autosens which appears on its Thermovision 400 series cameras. By allocating the full palette of available colours to the full range of temperatures in the image, the new Adjusted option offers a continuous range of sensitivity values with much greater image contrast. Likewise, the Autolevel function also incorporated on its Thermovision 400 series range has been improved to make even better use of the available colour palette. Whereas previously the level of a chosen spotmeter was set at 50% of the sensitivity range, this can now be preset to 10%, 50% or 90% of the range. For example, if the chosen spotmeter is in the middle of a hot spot whose temperature is at the very top of the sensitivity range, it is now possible to set the level to about 90% of the range, so there are more colours available to differentiate between the background temperatures.
isotherm for the ironbow palette), and will allow users to switch between =F and "C as req u ired. Other new features introduced include an image integration function which enhances the quality of images affected by noise for example when viewing very cold objects or when using narrow band filters. The camera can be set to integrate up to 256 images in powers of two. Integration continues until the specified number of images has been collected by the camera, at which point the average is computed and then presented either through the viewfinder or remotely on the PC.
Agema Infrared Systems Ltd, Arden House, West Street, Leighton Buzzard, Beds, LU7 7DD, UK
image processing and analysis resources for X-ray microanalysis has been launched by Oxford Instruments Microanalysis Group. It includes a comprehensive set of image processing libraries. The system is integrated with Link ISIS and offers fully automated image analysis. ISIS additionally includes complete stage control. Through its 'learnt scripts' ability it can, for example, move the stage, collect and pre-process an image, segment it, carry out a variety of post-processing functions to analyse and classify particles and then both store and display the results, without the need for an operator.
Image processing and analysis
The system allows the operator to assume full control through its point-and-click interface. Labbook, data, report and experiment data management system, is included as well as easy printing and clipboard facilities.
An IMQuant system for Link ISIS, which includes comprehensive automated
Extensive image processing and analysis libraries are incorporated. Functions include
A new temperature difference function built into the camera allows operators to read off differences in temperature from a predefined reference. This function will be useful for electrical engineers who often only need to compare the temperature of a hot spot with the normal operating temperature of a component or its surrounds. The reference value can be taken from an isotherm or spot meter reading, the ambient temperature value or an arbitrary figure input during set-up. The camera will also automatically choose the best isotherm colour for a chosen colour palette (eg a green
174
IMQuant image processing and analysis resource from Oxford Instruments Microanalysis Group
N D T & E International 1994 Volume 27, Number 3