MARCH 26, 2009--The RAD-900 infrared radiometer, manufactured by Optikos and distributed by Armstrong Optical, allows users to measure radiometric temperature and spectral radiance. The system operates in the both the MWIR and LWIR bands and may be used to carry out both 1-D and 2-D source radiance measurements when installed on the ASB-920 angular scan base. Through its calibration, the RAD-900 provides traceability to national standards and to the International Temperature Scale. The instrument provides accurate radiometric calibration for a thermal target generation system by measuring the radiometric temperature difference of the target as a function of the physical temperature difference. It has an absolute accuracy of less than 0.1°C and serves as a cavity blackbody transfer standard for calibrating IR sources. The minimum resolvable temperature difference (MRTD) of 0.002°C and angular resolution (instantaneous field of view) of 1 mRad/0.05°C make it suitable for measuring uniformity and temperature stability; calibration of collimated IR test targets; and calibration of radiometric vs. physical temperature differences for collimated thermal targets with first and second order fitting.
Armstrong Optical
Northampton, UK
www.armstrongoptical.co.uk
-- Posted by Carrie Meadows, Vision Systems Design, www.vision-systems.com
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PRESS RELEASE
Testing times for the infrared
The RAD-900 Infrared Radiometer, manufactured by Optikos Corp of the USA and distributed by Armstrong Optical Ltd allows users to make precise measurements of radiometric temperature and spectral radiance. The system operates in the both the MWIR and LWIR bands and may be used to carry out both 1D and 2D source radiance measurements when installed on the ASB-920 Angular Scan Base.
Through its calibration, the RAD-900 provides traceability to national standards and to the International Temperature Scale. Most thermal Target Generators are factory calibrated to provide precise physical temperature differences between their foreground and background. However the reflective or refractive collimators with which they are typically paired can attenuate the radiation from these target generators, making the thermal contrast of the target appear smaller than the physical difference. The RAD-900 provides an accurate means of performing a radiometric calibration for a thermal target generation system by accurately measuring the radiometric temperature difference of the target as a function of the physical temperature difference. In this role, it is an essential component of a complete thermal imager testing laboratory.
With a NIST traceable radiometric calibration the RAD-900 has an absolute accuracy of less than 0.1ºC and serves as a cavity blackbody transfer standard for calibrating infrared sources. The minimum resolvable temperature difference (MRTD) of 0.002ºC and angular resolution (Instantaneous Field of View) of 1 mRad / 0.05ºC make the RAD-900 applicable to a wide range of measurement requirements including:
Uniformity and temporal stability testing of infrared sources
Absolute calibration of collimated infrared test targets
Calibration of radiometric vs physical temperature differences for collimated thermal targets with first and second order fitting
The RAD-900 has been designed with input from the many RAD-600 and RAD-800 users around the world and features many enhancements to the original systems:
Tool-free interchangeability of objective optics using proprietary bayonet mount
Tool-free interchangeability of detectors (3-5µm MWIR and 8-12µm LWIR)
12 position motorised filter wheel for broad and narrow-band filters
Automatically compensates for changes in ambient temperature
Built-in infrared verification source for checking the calibration status
Boresighted camera and visible laser to aid in the pointing of the radiometer at the target region
of interest and for the placement of the radiometer entrance pupil within the collimated beam.
No external electronics control unit
Power is supplied from a single low voltage unit and all control is carried out from a laptop or desktop computer via a single USB cable
According to Ian Johnstone, Sales & Marketing Director of Armstrong Optical: ".....for anyone involved with the design and testing of infrared optical systems the RAD-900 is an invaluable tool for ensuring optimum operation and the achievement of design specifications."
Armstrong Optical Ltd, founded in Northampton in 1997, are known throughout the metrology market as suppliers of a wide range of systems for the measurement of parameters such as shape, form, finish, distance, vibration etc as well as supplying high-precision optical components and optomechanical assemblies for all wavebands, thermal imaging cameras and optical test instruments.
Armstrong Optical Ltd., 31 Caxton House, Northampton Science Park, Kings Park Road, Northampton NN3 6LG United Kingdom
email: [email protected], Web: www.armstrongoptical.co.uk
