Glossary
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Glossary of Thermography Terms
Peak – Hold
A feature of an instrument whereby an output signal is maintained at the peak instantaneous measurements for a specified duration.
Photo – Detector (Photon Detector)
A type of infrared detector that has fast response, (on the order of microseconds), limited spectral response and usually requires cooled operation; photo–detectors are used in infrared radiation thermometers, scanners and imagers.
Pixel
Abbreviation for picture elements. In infrared technology a pixel is a focal plane array element, for scanning systems it is defined by the SRF function or rather associated with a sample, for spot radiometers by FOV.
Planck, Max Karl Ernest Ludwig
German physicist who incorporated quantum physics into the blackbody spectral radiance equation, giving rise to blackbody curves.
Pyroelectric Detector
A type of thermal infrared detector that acts as a current source with its output proportional to the rate of change of its temperature.
Pyroelectric Vidicon (PEV), also called Pyrovidicon
A video camera tube with its receiving element fabricated of Pyroelectric material and sensitive to wavelengths from about 2 to 20 μm; used in infrared thermal viewers.
Pyrometer
Any instrument used for temperature measurement. A radiation or brightness pyrometer measures visible energy and relates it to brightness or colour temperatures. An infrared pyrometer measures infrared radiation and relates it to target surface temperature.
