Thermographic camera

Abstract

The invention relates to a thermographic camera comprising at least one infrared radiation detector and at least one adjusting device that supplies control and/or supply voltages required for operating the thermographic camera. In order to design a thermographic camera in which the temperature-induced drift of the electronics can be compensated while the cost of parts is reduced, a storage medium in which at least one temperature-related characteristic curve is stored is provided on the thermographic camera, and the thermographic camera automatically compensates a temperature-induced drift of the at least one adjusting device on the basis of the characteristic curve. The invention further relates to a method for operating such a thermographic camera.

1 . A thermographic camera, with at least one infrared radiation detector and with at least one adjustment device, which generates and provides control and/or supply voltages necessary for the operation of the thermographic camera, characterized in that a storage means is provided on the thermographic camera in which at least one temperature-dependent characteristic curve is stored, and in that, based on the characteristic curve, the thermographic camera automatically compensates for a temperature-induced drift of the at least one adjustment device. 
     
     
         2 . The thermographic camera according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the infrared radiation detector is formed by a bolometer, in particular a bolometer with a focal plane array (FPA) having a plurality of individual sensors (pixels). 
     
     
         3 . The thermographic camera according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the detector amplification can be regulated by an analog change of the control voltage, the control current or the integration time of the adjustment device, or digitally by a coding that can be processed by a processor. 
     
     
         4 . The thermographic camera according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the storage means holds one or more characteristic curves, each associated with one or more adjustment devices. 
     
     
         5 . The thermographic camera according to  claim 1 , characterized in that at least one temperature sensor is provided in the area of the adjustment devices of the camera in order to determine the ambient temperature/component temperature of the adjustment devices. 
     
     
         6 . A method for operating the thermographic camera, in particular the thermographic camera according to  claim 1 , characterized by the following method steps:
 a. a one-time performance of the calibration process comprising the steps:
 i. placing the thermographic camera in a temperature-stabilized environment; 
 ii. determining the control and/or supply voltages provided by the adjustment device or devices; 
 iii. repetition of step ii at different temperatures; 
 iv. determination of a characteristic curve from the voltages determined in the step or steps ii; 
 v. storage of the characteristic curve in a storage means provided on the thermographic camera; 
   b. the performance of one or more measurements using the compensation of the control and or supply voltages based on the characteristic curve determined in step a.