What Is an Infrared Thermometer?
In an increasingly digital and accurate world, the use of infrared thermometers is becoming as commonplace as the use of light bulbs. From heavy industry, to baking, to the medical field, infrared thermometers are everywhere. Despite their prevalence, few people---even those who use them on a daily basis---understand what they are or how they work. Understanding how thermometers eschewed mercury in favor of infrared detection can give you an idea of the direction our technology, and our society, is going. Does this Spark an idea?
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Basic Principle
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In general, infrared thermometers use a series of lenses to collect infrared light---energetic light that is often associated with heat. The infrared light is detected by sensors in the body of the thermometer and measured. Factoring in the ambient temperature and reading the differences, the thermometer produces a digital readout of the temperature of the object in either Celsius or Fahrenheit, depending on the model or preference of the user.
Industrial Uses
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In the increasingly sophisticated world of manufacturing, some materials are heated or cooled in tightly controlled conditions, making conventional monitoring difficult, if not impossible. Because the infrared thermometer does not need to touch the object and calculates temperatures in seconds, it has become indispensable in the manufacture of plastics, metals and ceramics.
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Cooking Uses
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A smaller version of the industrial thermometer, the cooking infrared thermometer sometimes (but not always) uses a laser beam to detect the temperature. Because heat bends light, the diversion of the laser beam will tell the on-board computer how hot a cooked item is, usually to within a fraction of a degree. The advantage of the infrared thermometer is that it does not pierce the surface of the object being cooked and can be used quickly, allowing for more even baking or cooking.
Medical Uses
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Jacob Fraden is credited with turning infrared thermometer technology to medical use when he invented the infrared ear thermometer. Fraden would later adapt these "point and shoot" thermometers for veterinary use as well. Basically, the handheld device has an even more limited range of detectable temperatures than the cooking version, allowing it to very precisely and very accurately note the temperature of a person by measuring the infrared energy given off through the ear canal, a more reliable and less manipulatable area to take the temperature.
Additional Adaptation
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As the technology that makes infrared thermometers becomes cheaper, some interesting adaptations have taken place. For instance, Nuvo Vino has produced a handheld wine temperature thermometer for the wine enthusiast to ensure their favorite vintage is served at the proper temperature. Hammacher has taken this one step further, incorporating the infrared thermometer into the handle of a wine key or corkscrew.
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