Using its internet of things (IoT) thermal imaging sensor, Optimet has developed a thermal Wi-Fi camera that the company says is 35% less than the lowest cost comparable thermal image sensor. The thermal imaging is also used in a computer vision-enabled thermal imaging device, called the HemaVision that the company expects to offer at a sixth of the price of typical thermal imagers. The imaging system automatically enhances images for the diagnosis of building and equipment problems.
HemaVision uses both a thermal sensor array and a visible light sensor array (basically a regular camera). With a unique shutterless 82×62 thermal diode array, Optimet claims the HemaVision has the best thermal sensitivity in its class and is the best option for a computer vision-enabled imager.
Hema Vision camera utilizes 82×62 Heimann Sensor GmbH thermal sensor based on the new “thermal diode array technology.” Hema Imaging writes: “Heimann Sensor GmbH is a developer and manufacturer of thermopile arrays for thermal sensing and other infrared sensors, and leads the world in thermopile array technology and now are the experts in thermal diode array technology.”
It should be fairly cheap to fit the consumer camera bill, so exotic materials like CMT are probably not an option. So, I wonder how do these “thermal diodes” work?
Product specs:
- 82×62 thermal diode array, one-time factory calibrated
- 40×31.5° thermal imaging field of view (side-to-side, top-to-bottom)
- Stable image – no nonuniformity correction (Note: other imagers need a shutter, ours does NOT!)
- Frame rate up to the ITAR-TASS regulations limit of 9 frames per second
- WiFi connectivity to smartphone or WiFi network
- Pixel temperature accuracy +/- 2°C
- Thermal measurement range: -4°F to 450°F
- Easily updated and modified python script-based computer vision platform
- Computer vision/image processing is user-reconfigurable
- Device is physically user-reconfigurable: snap apart, attach to mounts, tripod, grip, etc
- Open source software and hardware
Benefits:
- Quickly identify problem spots with several available applications
- You don’t have to be a programmer to easily modify application scripts
- Connect to smartphone or computer to enable additional features, such as object recognition and remote operation
- Store thermal images with various colormaps or transparent overlay on camera images
- Store video stream of either thermal or transparent overlay on camera video
- Reconfigurable computer vision platform includes multiple algorithms to select from