Modeling Thermal Cameras
Posted: 24 May 2012, 17:25
Has anyone had any experience modeling thermal cameras with VideoCAD. Any tips would be appreciated.
Thermal cameras are subject to the same optics laws as cameras of visible light. But sensor size can be nonstandard.
For example here are parameters of a thermal camera:
17µm Pixel Size (640 x 480)
Sensor size 10.9mm x 8.2mm
Germanium Lens 14.25mm - Viewing angle 41˚H and 31˚V
Germanium Lens 35mm - Viewing angle 17˚H and 13˚V
Germanium Lens 50mm - Viewing angle 12˚H and 9˚V
You can specify sensor size in mm in the Sensor format box via asterisk 10.9*8.2 (or in the Sensor and distortion box)
Then specify 14.25mm lens focal length and get 41.9˚H and 32.1˚V. You can correct focal length to get exact 41˚H and 31˚V
Then specify 35mm lens focal length and get 17.7˚H and 13.4˚V.
Then specify 50mm lens focal length and get 12.4˚H and 9.38˚V.
Thus thermal cameras can be modeled in VideoCAD according the same rules as visible light cameras.
You can specify resolution and set B/W mode.
But difference of object's themperature and thermal contrast is not modeled. Therefore image from thermal camera model in VideoCAD will look like image from an usual camera. You can model the field of view and resolution only.