FLIR mariner Operator's Manual page 41

8 – Infrared Technology
in infrared, only varying intensities of radiated energy. The infrared imager
converts this energy into an image that we can interpret. Several detector
®
technologies exist; the sensor in the ThermoVision Mariner is of the latest
solid state design, offering long life and fully automatic image
optimization (contrast and gain). True thermal imagers should not be
confused with infrared illuminator cameras that are often presented as
simply "infrared cameras." There are hundreds of low cost infrared
illuminated cameras on the market at prices below $100. These cameras
do not produce the same image because they do not detect heat. They
operate in wavelengths near visible, and require an IR illuminator to
provide an image. IR illuminators have very short range, and require a lot
of power to see beyond 5 meters.
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