Is anyone familiar with FLIR?

[bcr226]

How does it work and what does it pick up?

Basically, does it pick up visible light or is it heat signatures only?

Mike

[kruser79]

FLIR, in whatever form it takes, uses a grid of detectors to sense heat signature, send it's signal to a "deciphering" unit which puts these signals together in the form of a monitor signal. What made this really possible in our line of work was the breakthrough in downsizing the equipment needed. Twenty years ago, they were ecstatic that they could make it small enough to fit in a tank. Today, it fits on your face (ala Javelin).
What makes it so much better than any ambient light amplifier is that it works no matter where, or what, you're looking at. Daytime, nighttime, it doesn't matter. You can pick out a dude sitting in camo in the heat of the day, even when you can't see him with the naked eye (or scope for that matter). The detectors ability to differentiate within just a degree or two makes it very precise, with a crisp, clear picture. I remember training video showing a man, standing in front of a wall, smoking a pipe. You could see when he inhaled that his cheeks got warmer than the rest of his face. Then they blew our minds when he put his hand on the wall, and left a heat "handprint" on it!

[Ironside]

That was interesting. Thanks

[bcr226]

So basically, it picks up the variations in heat only. How does it do this?

Sorry for the apparant stupidity, Yes, this is all leading up to something...

Mike

[se0sea]

I saw once when they demostrated it a few years back,that it can pick up a heat signature on a road where possible enemy vehicles were recently. they could then track where they went.

what an awesome tool. now they can wear it on their helmuts?

[kruser79]

The detector grid is supercooled. I'm not sure how each detector "reads" heat, but it is along the same lines as a photodiode-controlled transistor. It isn't simply on or off, but reads in varying degrees. In the case of a photodiode it's light, but with these detectors, it's heat.
Now you've got me wondering, where could this all be going? Lol.
Some of the scopes in use today use it, although the average Joe won't get it to bang around just yet. But the Javelin control unit uses it for target detection and locks the target signature through the FLIR in the missile head.
So I guess they've miniatureized the heck out of the technology....

[bcr226]

how about false heat like from reflected light or from dispersed light on mist?

Mike