Infrared Imaging—Television in the Dark

Television cameras convert reflected visible light into electrical signals, process them, and display the image on a video monitor. Infrared (IR) cameras collect long-wave radiated light and convert it into electrical signals that can be displayed on a remote TV screen. IR cameras, therefore, do not require any source of illumination to produce an image because the subject itself is the light. This article is intended to serve as an introduction to infrared video and the electromagnetic spectrum it occupies. Also discussed are basic IR concepts, a history of IR technology, the future of IR imaging, applications of IR technology to television, and other commercial uses of the technology.

Print ISSN

0036-1682

Published

1991-05

Content type

Original Research

DOI

10.5594/J00630