What is an IR lens?
IR Lenses are optical lenses that use specific substrates or anti-reflection coatings to maximize performance for applications operating above 700nm including thermal imaging, FLIR, or spectroscopy. The infrared spectrum refers to 700 – 16000nm wavelengths.
What are IR lenses made of?
IR camera lenses are made out of substances like germanium, or other materials with low absorption in the infrared spectrum.
What is a germanium lens?
Germanium lenses are optical lenses made of polished germanium. These lenses are rugged and resistant to corrosion, and are ideal for harsh environments and applications where there is constant exposure to the elements.
Can a normal camera see infrared?
Household items like TV remotes also use infrared light to communicate without wires. And while our naked eyes can’t pick up on infrared light, the sensors in your phones and digital cameras can — essentially making the invisible visible.
Can IR go through plastic?
Most transparent plastics are infrared transmitting. These grades are opaque to visible light and allow infrared light through. Unlike glass, you can put all our IR grades in front of DVR’s, cable boxes, DVD players etc. and your remote control, wireless router etc. will still work.
What is germanium used for?
In addition to its applications in electronic devices, germanium is used as a component of alloys and in phosphors for fluorescent lamps. Because germanium is transparent to infrared radiation, it is employed in equipment used for detecting and measuring such radiation, such as windows and lenses.
Why is germanium used in thermal camera lenses?
Germanium is often used as a substrate for infrared longpass filters as it naturally blocks the UV and visible wavelengths.
How do I convert my camera to infrared?
You can convert your camera to only receive infrared light by replacing the IR blocking filter with one which instead blocks visible light. This makes your camera an IR-ready tool — you can easily use it like you would normally, except it will capture infrared images.
Can iPhone camera pick up infrared?
iPhone cameras that use LiDAR include front-facing lenses that are sensitive to infrared light. That means you can use an IR filter with them to create infrared photos.