The road to cheaper and smallerυ μεγέθους θερμικές κάμερες ασφαλείας ανοίγει η δουλειά ομάδας γάλλων ερευνητών, που ανέπτυξαν κάμερα IR (thermal infrared) with a silicon lens.
The new lens, which is made of a much cheaper material than those currently used today, has the thickness of a nail less than a No. 2 pencil. Although its analysis is not high, it is able to indicate the presence and some general characteristics of a person.
The researchers presented the results of their research in a paper published in the OSA (Optical Society) Optıcs Letters. The potential applications of this technology are more focused on its field monitorings, allowing in the long term the development of cheaper security systems, especially for domestic use.
"It could detect people in a room, or the corner of a street, or a dark alley," says Tatiana Grulois, a PhD candidate at the French aerospace laboratory ONERA, where the prototype was developed, in collaboration with researchers from the French company ULIS, the Institut d'Optique and the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). The new camera has a wide field of view of 130 degrees and very good performance in low light conditions. It is effective over a wide range of infrared light wavelengths (7-14 micrometers), exhibiting great sensitivity to temperature differences.
The researchers estimate that their lens may revolutionize the field of infrared security cameras (Thermal Infrared). "In recent years, great efforts have been made to reduce the price of uncooled long-wavelength IR detectors," Grulois notes. "Thanks to the small thickness of the lens, this work paves the way for inexpensive unconventional materials that were not 'traditionally' used."
Until now materials such as silicon could not be used in such lenses επειδή μεγάλο ποσοστό του φωτός απορροφούνταν αντί να περνά μέσα από το υλικό. Οι γάλλοι ερευνητές ωστόσο έκαναν τον φακό πολύ λεπτό, στρεφόμενοι σε έναν ιδιαίτερο τύπο φακού, τον αποκαλούμενο φακό Fresnel, παραλλαγή του οποίου usesin lighthouses and cinema/theatre halls.
Thermal Infrared naftemporiki.gr
