Imaging Sensors
Infrared Range Sensors
Infrared Range (IR) sensors are used in a variety of applications, including temperature sensing, video surveillance and motion detection. The video surveillance market utilizes infrared sensing technology for motion-based detection to improve facility security at night. Thermal cameras utilizing IR technology help airport staff quickly screen passengers to detect fever. Most recently, infrared range sensors are used to detect people’s body temperatures as a security and safety measure in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.
Security Cameras
CCTV and IP security cameras are being installed in public areas to prevent crime and increase safety while thermal cameras are used for boarder and facility security at night.
Due to sun exposure and heat generated by surrounding components, the operating temperature of security cameras can be as high as 90°C. Lack of airflow, outgassing and thermal noise are other thermal challenges that needs to be taken into consideration when designing cameras for outdoor environments.
Thermoelectric Cooling for Security Cameras
Introduction
The use of outdoor cameras has seen a massive influx with the rise in security monitoring by government and private security agencies. Security cameras are installed with an objective to reduce crime or to improve public safety. CCTV and IP security cameras are installed on every corner in cities, outside hotels and retail stores, all around entertainment venues, stadiums and other commercial and industrial properties. Thermal cameras (infrared sensing) are now often used to improve facility and boarder security at night.
Peltier Cooling for Digital Light Processors
Introduction
Digital light processors employ a laser light source and millions of tiny mirrors to produce vibrant, high-resolution images for a wide variety of industries and applications. It is critical to maintain an optimum operating temperature during use to prevent degradation of the digital light processing technology. Active cooling solutions utilizing thermoelectric coolers can provide digital light processors thermal management in a wide range of high temperature applications.
Thermoelectric Cooling for CMOS Sensors
Introduction
For nearly 50 years CCD (charge-coupled device) sensors and CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) sensors have competed on cost and performance in a wide range of digital imaging applications. Peltier coolers (thermoelectric coolers) have cooled both technologies when the requirement demanded high-resolution images. Design engineers opted to use CCD’s for astrophotography, super-resolution microscopy, x-ray crystallography, and spectrophotometric assays. On the other hand, CMOS sensors made inexpensive digital photography a reality.
Cooling Solutions for Autonomous Systems
Introduction
Advances in autonomous technologies, such as smart headlights, autonomous systems for collision avoidance, and infotainment systems, require enhanced thermal protection of critical electronics to ensure optimized performance. These emerging intelligent autonomous systems are increasingly complex while decreasing in size and weight. Packing more functionality into smaller footprints has increased the heat flux density and thermal challenges in autonomous systems.