TEMPERATURE GUN (Infrared thermometer) and how they work.
If you were to head outside right now, though, in most parts of the world you really shouldn’t chances are high, that you will be held at gunpoint. Don’t worry contrary to other times. This forehead gun might help.
A temperature gun, also known as a laser or non-contact thermometer, is an infrared thermometer that measures the temperature of an object from a certain distance originally meant to measure the temperature of moving objects and inaccessible surfaces.
Temperature guns (Also called forehead thermometer) have found their way into hospitals and in recent months they have become ubiquitous. Temperature guns are being utilized at airports to screen passengers by shopkeepers, to check incoming customers in driveways and every other possible area.
But how do these guns work? Aren’t we supposed to stick a thermometer under our armpits or insert it beneath our tongues to measure our body temperature. Well, not anymore. Infrared thermometers take advantage of the fact that all objects, including humans, at a temperature above absolute zero emit heat in the form of thermal radiation.
This is a concept known as blackbody radiation being a subset of electromagnetic radiation. Thermal radiation comprises more than a single wavelength. It includes radio waves, infrared waves and visible light.
The type of thermal radiation emitted depends on the source temperature. A typical infrared thermometer has the following parts: a laser, a converging lens, an IR sensor, thermo-pile an ambient reference temperature sensor, an amplifier and other electronic components to convert and display the results in numeric values.
Infrared radiation, like visible light, can be reflected, absorbed and concentrated. Thus IR radiation emitted by an object or a human is first focused onto the thermo-pile inside the temperature gun using a converging convex lens.
Next is a thermo-pile, an electronic device that converts thermal energy into electrical energy. The thermo-pile is made by stacking several thermocouples in either a series or parallel configuration.
The temperature of the thermo-pile increases with the amount of radiation incident on it. However, the opposite side, the one facing the other side of the gun of the thermo-pile stays at a slightly lower temperature, as infrared radiation is not directly incident on it.
This difference in temperature leads to the development of a voltage difference and thus electricity thermoelectric effect. The electrical reading is then amplified using an amplifier. Ultimately, the electrical reading is passed through to a typical data acquisition circuit and the final temperature reading is displayed on an LED panel in Celsius or Kelvin.
An ambient sensor present near the thermo-pile helps compensate for any thermal radiation entering the temperature gun from the atmosphere itself. The most important application of a temperature gun in recent times has been for public safety.
Temperature guns allow for easier, faster and more secure temperature checks of a greater number of people in places like airports. They have previously been employed to check travelers for fever during epidemic events like Ebola and SARS.
Now the technology is being used to verify potential cases of COVID-19 using a temperature gun reduces the risk of cross-contamination and spreading disease due to its non-contact approach. Also, the temperature readings are obtained at a much quicker pace than traditional methods.
However, a temperature gun should only be used to screen patients, not diagnose them.
Finally, Bluepar wish you stay safe, and keep healthy.
