HDR Func­tion

Enables Gapless and Error-Free Thermography of Objects with Extremely Large Temperature Gradients and Temperature Changes

When measurement objects experience temperature changes of several hundred Kelvin within a very short time, thermography becomes a challenge. After all, neutral density filters have to be changed very quickly, for example by means of a filter wheel, in order to avoid measurement errors due to understeering or drive into saturation. A conventional solution comes up against its limits. Therefore, InfraTec has developed the High Dynamic Range (HDR) function for the infrared camera series ImageIR®. Thus you master the error-free and uninterrupted measurement of highly dynamic thermal processes.

Thermography with ImageIR series - HDR feature - Picture credits: © iStock.com / Vershinin M
infraTec thermography glossary - HDR Feature of ImageIR series

HDR Mode Over­view

  • Fast filter wheel with up to six positions for maximum flexibility for demanding measuring tasks

  • After selecting a calibration range, automatic start of the filter wheel revolution and composition of the thermogram

  • Wide single measurement ranges with spans selectable up to 1,500 K

  • Fullframe recording with (640 × 512) IR pixels and an IR frame rate of 350 Hz (ImageIR® 8300 hp)

Little Christmas Experiment with Thermal Camera ImageIR® with HDR Function
InfraTec ImageIR - HDR feature candle
Little Christmas Experiment with Thermal Camera ImageIR® with HDR Function
InfraTec ImageIR - HDR feature candle

Chal­lenges in Meas­uring High Temper­at­ures

If very high temperatures are to be measured with an infrared camera, it must be taken into account that – for physical reasons – high intensities of infrared radiation occur. These can temporarily or permanently deteriorate the properties of the camera's detector pixels to such an extent that the temperature measurement is severely distorted or even the pixels are irreparably damaged. To attenuate these excessively high intensities, special neutral density filters are therefore placed in front of the camera's detector. They allow measurements on hot objects up to the upper end of the temperature measurement range, depending on the attenuation of the filter. At the same time, however, they also limit the usable temperature measurement range downwards. To measure temperatures in a very wide temperature measurement range, it is therefore necessary to change neutral density filters with different – but overlapping – usable temperature measurement ranges.

This is usually done in stages and the neutral density filters are changed for each individual measurement range. HDR eliminates the need to interrupt measurements to change filters. The function allows continuous recording of measurement scenarios with extremely varying temperatures and thermal analysis of targets that experience extremely rapid temperature changes over a very wide range. HDR therefore enables error-free thermographic recordings even with large temperature differences and changes.

Down­load HDR White­ Paper

Download the HDR white paper to get further information how it works and what the benefits are.

InfraTec ImageIR HDR Flyer

How HDR Works

The starting point of the HDR function is the ability to switch between individual images using neutral density filters, even at high frame rates. This is implemented in the ImageIR® series with a fast filter wheel. Designed for such tasks, it rotates at more than 5,000 revolutions per minute. With up to six filter positions, the wheel offers maximum flexibility to adapt the camera measurement ranges to the respective measurement task. When recording in HDR mode, several thermograms with different integration times and different filters are recorded very quickly one after the other and combined to form an overall image with a high dynamic range.

To activate the HDR function, it is sufficient to select a previously defined calibration range. Then the rotation of the filter wheel and the assembly of the thermogram starts automatically. The measurement range can cover a span of up to 1,500 K. The frame rate of the camera is synchronous to the rotation speed of the wheel and can reach up to 350 Hz using ImageIR® 8300 hp.

A separate integration time and corresponding temperature calibration is stored for each position of the individual neutral density filters. The filters attenuate the signal of the measured objects in the desired temperature range, which reliably avoids interference effects. In this way, users obtain precise measurement results and highly dynamic images over a very wide temperature range.

Camera Series ImageIR® 8300 hp

Infrared camera ImageIR® 8300 hp Series from InfraTec

InfraTec-icon-detector-640x512
Detector Format

Large detector enables highest sensivity

InfraTec-icon-1-2-MegaPixel
MicroScan

(1,280 × 1,024) IR pixels by genuine camera hardware

640x512
IR-Frame Rate

Analysis of extreme temperature changes and gradients in full frame

measurement accurancy 1%
Measurement Accuracy

Highly accurate and repeatable measurements

InfraTec Icon 10 GigE
10 GigE Interface

High-speed, long-distance interference proof data transmission

InfraTec Calibration
HighSense

Flexible setting of temperature measurement ranges/integration times beyond calibration ranges

InfraTec icon HDR
HDR

Facilitates the analysis of objects with extreme temperature gradients

Associated Features

Significantly extended temperature range using the MIT function

Multi Integration Time (MIT)

To measure temperatures spanning more than one calibration range requires the acquisition of multiple thermograms with different calibrations. This can be achieved by using our Multi Integration Time feature (MIT). This function increases the dynamic range up to 16 bit and significantly extends the temperature measurement ranges.

HighSense for thermographic camera series ImageIR®

High­Sense – Always the Optimal Camera Setting

Thanks to HighSense, ImageIR® users have the option of setting up individual measuring ranges based on the factory calibration that best suit the respective task. Depending on the measuring task, the required temperature range can be selected and the optimum integration time for this purpose is calculated – or one decides to proceed in reverse order. Thus, the calibration can be retained even in the case of changed integration times.

MicroScan feature ImageIR

Micro­Scan – Quad­ruple the Image Format

Behind the function is a fast-rotating MicroScan wheel, which is integrated into the camera. It ensures that four different individual exposures are taken per wheel revolution, which are offset laterally by half a pixel each. In this way, thermography achieves a new quality due to thermal images providing a quadrupled spatial resolution.

InfraTec glossary - Rotating filter- und aperture wheel

Separate Filter & Aper­ture Wheel – Spec­tral Ther­mo­graphy

The combination of a separate filter and aperture wheel, allowing a total of 35 freely selectable combinations, is prerequisite for a universal application in measurement tasks with high object temperatures and in the field of spectral thermography. The neutral density filters used for signal attenuation or the combination of spectral filters and apertures reliably prevent interference effects.

Thermografie-Kameraserie ImageIR® mit neuer 10 GigE-Schnittstelle

10 GigE Inter­face for a Strong Increase in Output

The 10 Gigabit Ethernet interface of the high-end camera series ImageIR® opens this extremely fast transmission standard with a NIC specially developed by InfraTec. This works with optical or electrical transceiver modules that are easy to change and are called SFP+.

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

Further Glossary Items relating to HDR Func­tion

InfraTec thermography - High-speed Mode

High-speed Mode – Increase Frame Rate and Sens­it­ivity

Due to the binning technology, infrared cameras have two speed modes – the standard mode and the high-speed mode, in which the frame rate increases more than three times. The field of view remains constant in both modes, so the scene captured by the camera does not change. In high-speed mode, the thermal resolution also increases by a factor of two.

HighSense for thermographic camera series ImageIR®

High­Sense – Always the Optimal Camera Setting

Thanks to HighSense, ImageIR® users have the option of setting up individual measuring ranges based on the factory calibration that best suit the respective task. Depending on the measuring task, the required temperature range can be selected and the optimum integration time for this purpose is calculated – or one decides to proceed in reverse order. Thus, the calibration can be retained even in the case of changed integration times.

MicroScan feature ImageIR

Micro­Scan – Quad­ruple the Image Format

Behind the function is a fast-rotating MicroScan wheel, which is integrated into the camera. It ensures that four different individual exposures are taken per wheel revolution, which are offset laterally by half a pixel each. In this way, thermography achieves a new quality due to thermal images providing a quadrupled spatial resolution.

Significantly extended temperature range using the MIT function

Multi Integration Time (MIT)

To measure temperatures spanning more than one calibration range requires the acquisition of multiple thermograms with different calibrations. This can be achieved by using our Multi Integration Time feature (MIT). This function increases the dynamic range up to 16 bit and significantly extends the temperature measurement ranges.

Thermal image during ignition of an airbag  Image Small

Window Mode (Subwin­dowing) – Capture of Rapid Sequences

The thermal imaging camera can be operated in full, half, quarter and sub mode. With the camera control software, it is possible to use the extended subwindowing function. Using click-and-drag, freely definable sections can be set up quickly and conveniently. A defined sub-frame of the detector is picked out to achieve these extremely high refresh rates.

Thermografie-Kameraserie ImageIR® mit neuer 10 GigE-Schnittstelle

10 GigE Inter­face for a Strong Increase in Output

The 10 Gigabit Ethernet interface of the high-end camera series ImageIR® opens this extremely fast transmission standard with a NIC specially developed by InfraTec. This works with optical or electrical transceiver modules that are easy to change and are called SFP+.

Thermography Cameras using HDR Func­tion*

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 hs

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

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