Metrological characterization and calibration of thermographic cameras for quantitative temperature measurement

Abstract. We present the metrological characterization and calibration of three different types of thermographic cameras for quantitative temperature measurement traceable to the International Temperature Scale (ITS-90). Relevant technical specifications – i.e., the non-uniformity of the pixel-to-pixel responsivity, the inhomogeneity equivalent temperature difference (IETD), the noise equivalent temperature difference (NETD), and the size-of-source effect (SSE) – are determined according to the requirements given in the series of Technical Directives VDI/VDE 5585. The measurements are performed with the camera calibration facility of the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt. The data reference method is applied for the determination and improvement of the non-uniformity, leading to an improved IETD for all three cameras. Finally, the cameras are calibrated according to the different procedures discussed in the VDI/VDE 5585 series. Results achieved with the different calibration procedures are compared for each type of camera and among the three cameras. An uncertainty budget for the calibration of each camera is given according to GUM (ISO, 1995) and VDI/VDE 5585.