Multi-Purpose Thermal Imager PCE-TC 3

IPU 40108 Page 2 of 29 Contents: 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................... 32 GETTING STARTED.............................................................................................................................. 32.1 UNPACKING......................................................................................................................................... 32.2 POWERING THE PCE-TC 3. ..................................................................................................................... 42.2.1 Using Battery Power – Inserting the Battery .............................................................................. 42.2.2 Using AC Mains Power .............................................................................................................. 42.2.3 Battery Charging......................................................................................................................... 53 OPERATING THE PCE-TC 3 THERMAL IMAGER ........................................................................... 53.1 HARDWARE ......................................................................................................................................... 53.2 SWITCHING ON THE PCE-TC 3............................................................................................................... 63.3 INFORMATION SPLASH SCREEN ........................................................................................................... 63.4 USING THE PCE-TC 3 THERMAL IMAGER.............................................................................................. 73.4.1 Focusing ..................................................................................................................................... 73.4.2 Screen Display Items .................................................................................................................. 73.4.3 Buttons........................................................................................................................................ 83.4.4 PCE-TC 3 Hot Button Operation .................................................................................................... 93.4.4.1 Hot Button 1 – Zoom..............................................................................................................................93.4.4.2 Hot Button 2 – Freeze/Save ....................................................................................................................93.4.4.3 Hot Button 3 - Direction Buttons Control. ..............................................................................................93.4.4.4 Hot Button 4 – Auto / Manual ................................................................................................................93.4.5 Directional Buttons................................................................................................................... 103.4.6 Image Adjustment..................................................................................................................... 103.4.6.1 Level and Span Definitions...................................................................................................................103.4.7 Menu Operation and Functions................................................................................................. 113.4.7.1 Measurement Settings...........................................................................................................................113.4.7.2 Camera Settings ....................................................................................................................................123.4.7.3 Image Browser Menu............................................................................................................................123.4.7.4 Clock/Calendar Settings........................................................................................................................123.4.8 Using the Laser Pointer ............................................................................................................ 133.4.9 Advanced User Functions......................................................................................................... 133.4.9.1 Brightness & Contrast Definitions ........................................................................................................133.5 TECHNICAL ....................................................................................................................................... 153.5.1 Field Of View ........................................................................................................................... 154 THERMAL IMAGE TRANSFER FROM PCE-TC 3 TO A PC ....................................................... 164.1 SD CARD........................................................................................................................................... 164.2 USB CABLE....................................................................................................................................... 165 USING THE PCE-TC 3 THERMAL IMAGER WITH A PC........................................................... 175.1 PC REQUIREMENTS ........................................................................................................................... 175.2 INSTALLATION OF SOFTWARE ONTO PC ............................................................................................ 175.3 OPERATING “PCE-TC SERIES IMAGER” PC SOFTWARE .................................................................... 175.3.1 Menus and Toolbar ................................................................................................................... 185.3.1.1 Menus ...................................................................................................................................................185.3.1.2 Toolbar..................................................................................................................................................276 EMISSIVITY LOOKUP TABLE ......................................................................................................... 287 CUSTOMER FEEDBACK.................................................................................................................... 29IPU 40108Page 12 of 29 • Reflected T – When the emissivity is set to values less than 1.0, measurement accuracy can be further improved by setting the reflected temperature compensation. The reflected temperature is the temperature being “seen” by the object being imaged. The value entered must be within the range -20ºC to 200ºC or equivalent in °F or K. • Spot X - Toggle the second temperature cursor (SPX) display on/off the screen. When SPX is displayed the temperature difference (?) between SP+ and SPX is also displayed. • Area – This removes the temperature measurement cursors from the image, and instead displays a small rectangle in the centre of the image. The cursor measurement readout changes to display the maximum and the minimum temperature within the rectangle. When a saved image is browsed in area analysis mode, the average temperature for the rectangle ( x¯ ) is also displayed. • Temperature Units – Select between degrees Celsius, degrees Fahrenheit and Kelvin. 3.4.7.2 Camera Settings • Colour Palette – The user can select one of four possible colour options. They are Rainbow, Ironbow, Greyscale (monochrome) or HC Rainbow (high contrast). • Auto Power – Turns the imager off if it has been left on without a button press for 20 minutes. • Factory Settings – For the convenience of the user, many settings are persistent, i.e. the settings and values are remembered when the PCE-TC 3 is switched off. Selecting the factory settings function restores the imager to its factory default settings. • Image only - This option displays the image and the hot button labels only. • Brightness & Contrast – This option selects whether the advanced user function of brightness and contrast control is available on hotkey 3 when in auto mode (see Section 3.4.9.1). • Cursor Reset – Select this option to restore the cursor (or 2 cursors) to their default positions. 3.4.7.3 Image Browser Menu • This browser shows a list of file numbers found on the SD memory card, starting with the most recent image. It is possible to scroll through the list and choose to view images or to delete image files. 3.4.7.4 Clock/Calendar Settings • Set Clock – The clock can be set so images are saved with the time and date of image capture. • Date Format – choose between dd/mm/yy or mm/dd/yy. • Time Format – 12 Hour / 24 Hour clock IPU 40108Page 14 of 29 Edit the Contrast Edit the Brightness Default contrast Default brightness Increasing the contrast uses more of the outer colours of the colour palette i.e. black and white in the rainbow example. Increasing the thermal brightness uses more of the upper half of the colour bar. Reducing the contrast uses less of the outer colours of the colour palette, and uses more of the centralcolours i.e. green and yellow in the rainbow example. Decreasing the thermal brightness uses more of the lower half. See the examples in Figure 18 for more information. Figure 19: These 6 figures show the effect of increasing and decreasing the auto mode’s brightness andcontrast. The practical advantage of this is that the user can completely control the appearance of the image without having to adjust the level and span manually when viewing different scene temperatures. NOTE: The brightness and contrast can be reset back to the defaults by pressing hot button 4 to manual mode, and then hot button 4 again back to auto mode. IPU 40108Page 15 of 29 3.5 Technical 3.5.1 Field Of View The IRI 4010 has a 20° x 15° Field of View, and a 160 x 120 (19200) pixel detector. Figure 20: Field of View Figure 21: 19200 Pixel Array 120 pixels 160 pixels IPU 40108Page 17 of 29 5 Using the PCE-TC 3 Thermal Imager with a PC 5.1 PC Requirements The PC should be IBM compatible running MS Windows XP or 2000, with a CD drive, and a USB port or an SD card reader. The “PCE-TC 3 Series Imager” application can be used for analysis of images previously saved onto an PCE-TC 3 SD card, or for downloading a live thermal image from the PCE-TC 3 via a USB cable. 5.2 Installation of Software onto PC The software is supplied on a mini CD-Rom. 1. Insert the supplied mini CD-Rom into the PC’s CD-Drive. 2. Double click on ‘My Computer’ and then on the CD-Drive. 3. Double click on ‘TC 3 PC Setup.exe’. 4. Follow the on screen prompts to complete the installation. NOTE: • The PCE-TC 3 Series Imager software will by default be installed into the following path: C:\\\\Program Files\\\\PCE\\\\PCE-TC Series Imager • The above path and name can be changed during the installation, but it is advisable to leave it as thedefault. The installation will also put a ‘Shortcut Icon’ onto your PC’s desktop to allow quick and easy start-up of the software. 5.3 Operating “PCE-TC Series Imager” PC Software Launch the PCE-TC Series Imager program from the Desktop icon, Figure 24: Desktop Icon or from: ? START/PROGRAMS/PCE/PCE-TC Series Imager Alternatively it is possible to run the program by using Windows Explorer to find .iri files on your PC and then double-clicking an .iri file icon: Figure 25: .Iri File Icon The application executes and it looks like Figure 26, with the options window visible, and with empty frames for the image, colour bar and thermal histogram. The application window includes the file name if the file has been saved; otherwise it reads “Untitled”. IPU 40108Page 20 of 29 2) Save – saves the iri file with the same name it had previously. If it was previously unsaved, the Save As… window appears. 3) Save As… – images are saved using a similar window to the “Open” window in Figure 28, but a file name must be entered. 4) Revert – restores an image file back to its last saved state. 5) Excel Output… - save a 160 x 120 array of temperature data (assuming emissivity = 1) in comma separated variable format for use with Microsoft Excel and other spreadsheet applications. 6) Recent Files – a list of recently opened iri files appears here for easy selection. 7) Exit – closes the PCE-TC Series Imager application. 5.3.1.1.2 Edit The Edit menu contains the following features: • Copy • Copy to Bitmap 1) Copy - This copies a screen capture of the application window or the thermal image into the Windows clipboard. This picture can then be pasted into a picture editor or Microsoft office document. 2) Copy to Bitmap – This saves a screen capture of the application window or the thermal image as a bitmap image using a dialogue box similar to Figure 28 above. 5.3.1.1.3 View The View menu enables the following features, most of which are also available on the toolbar: • Toolbar • Status Bar • Measurement Cursor List • Measurement Cursors • Hot & Cold Cursors • Area Select • Blue Isotherm • Red Isotherm • Profiles • Options 1) Toolbar – This toggles the display of the icon toolbar below. Figure 31: Toolbar 2) Status Bar – This toggles the display of the status bar, which includes the temperature value and pixel position of the pixel under the mouse cursor when the mouse is over the image. It also displays the difference between the midpoints of the isotherms if both the isotherms are enabled. Figure 32: Status Bar IPU 40108Page 21 of 29 3). Measurement Cursor List - This toggles the display of the measurement cursors list shown in Figure 33, which includes the spot measurement, pixel position, and the difference between measurement cursors 1 and 2. It also displays the hottest and coldest measurements in the scene, their difference, and the average temperature for the image. Also shown are the maximum, minimum and average temperatures for the area analysis box (if selected in the view menu). Figure 33: Measurement Cursor List Measurement cursors are added to the image by double-clicking in the location that the cursor is required. When the mouse cursor is moved over a measurement cursor the mouse cursor appears as a hand. When thishappens the measurement cursors can be moved around by dragging them, and can be removed by double clicking them. 4) Measurement Cursors – This toggles the display of the measurement cursors on the thermal image. This does not delete the cursors; it temporarily hides them. Figure 34: A Measurement Cursor 5) Hot & Cold Spot Cursors – This toggles cursors over the hottest and coldest measurements in the thermal image. The values of these (and the difference) are shown in the measurement cursors list. Figure 35: Hotspot Cursor IPU 40108Page 22 of 29 6) Area Select – This toggles a rectangular area over the centre of the image. The maximum, minimum and average temperatures for this area are then displayed in the measurement cursors list, allowing measurement by area analysis. The area’s position can be moved in conjunction with the zoom & pan control (see Figure 36). For more information on the zoom & pan control see Figure 40. Figure 36: Area Select 7 & 8) Isotherms – This toggles the two isotherms which can be used to highlight areas of the same temperature in the image. A red and/or blue semi transparent block appears on the histogram which can be moved and adjusted in the same way as the image span selector. Every object in the image with a temperature within the range of the isotherms appears either red or blue in the image. Use of the greyscale colour palette is recommended whilst using the isotherms. Figure 37: Dual Isotherms IPU 40108Page 23 of 29 9) Profiles – This toggles the 2D profile view which is used to display a graphical representation of the temperature values along the selected vertical and horizontal lines. Figure 38: 2D Profiles To the left of the image is a thermal intensity plot which corresponds to the vertical cross section through the image. Below the image is a similar plot that corresponds to the horizontal cross section. The cross sections can be moved by dragging them either independently or by dragging the intersection. The short green intensity plot lines on the thermal intensity plots can be moved to analyse temperatures in the plots. Double-click an intensity plot line to make the corresponding cross section line-up with it. 10) Options – This toggles the display of the options window. The options window has four tabs across the top and it can be embedded in the application window or in a free-floating window, depending on whether or not “Dock Options” is ticked in the “Tools” menu. Click the tab labels to select each tab. Figure 39: Options Tab Labels The Display tab is shown below: Thermal Intensity Plots Cross SectionsIntensity Plot LinesIPU 40108Page 24 of 29 Figure 40: Display Tab In the Display tab, it is possible to: • Adjust the span of the image manually (by typing) • Adjust the span of the image automatically • Select one of four colour palettes • Select whether to display the image at its original resolution or to interpolate the image to 320 x 240 or 640 x 480 • Select zoom factor from x1 to x4 • Select which area of the image to zoom by dragging the green box in the pan control using a mouse The Cursors tab is shown below: Figure 41: Cursors Tab In the Cursors tab, it is possible to: • View the temperature values of the measurement cursors, and also their pixel numbers from the origin (bottom left of image) and the emissivity value associated with the cursors. • Delete cursors from the image by selecting them in the “name” column and clicking “remove”. Multiple cursors can be removed simultaneously by using the standard Windows selection methods with the Ctrl or Shift buttons. IPU 40108Page 25 of 29 The Settings tab is shown below: Figure 42: Settings Tab In the Settings tab, it is possible to: • Select °C, °F or K • Adjust the reflected temperature correction • Adjust the target object emissivity • Adjust the required capture time and date • Add comments to the image The Properties tab is shown below: Figure 43: Properties Tab This tab displays important file information. IPU 40108Page 28 of 29 6 Emissivity Lookup Table Below is a list of approximate emissivity values for a range of materials for making more accurate temperature measurements. NOTE: Emissivity values often vary with temperature and wavelength so this table is included as a guide only. 1.000000 = Black body 0.980000 = Carbon filed surface 0.980000 = Frost crystals 0.980000 = Skin human 0.970000 = Slate 0.960000 = Water distilled 0.960000 = Ice smooth 0.950000 = Soil saturated with water 0.950000 = Carbon candle soot 0.940000 = Glass polished plate 0.940000 = Paint, oil 0.930000 = Brick red 0.930000 = Paper white bond 0.920000 = Concrete 0.920000 = Soil dry 0.910000 = Plaster rough coat 0.900000 = Wood planed oak 0.900000 = Glazed earthenware 0.890000 = Snow, granular 0.880000 = Glazed Silica 0.870000 = Cuprous Oxide at 38°C 0.860000 = Emery Corundum 0.850000 = Snow 0.850000 = Stainless oxidized at 800°C 0.840000 = Oxidised Iron at 500°C 0.830000 = Cuprous Oxide at 260°C 0.820000 = Snow, fine particles 0.810000 = Brass, unoxidised 0.800000 = Glass, convex D 0.790000 = Steel oxidised 0.780000 = Copper heavily oxidised 0.770000 = Cotton cloth 0.760000 = Sand 0.750000 = Unglazed silica 0.740000 = Oxidised iron at 100°C 0.730000 = Coating No. C20A 0.720000 = Basalt 0.710000 = Graphitised carbon at 500°C 0.700000 = Red Rust 0.690000 = Iron sheet heavily rusted 0.670000 = Water 0.660000 = Black Loam 0.650000 = White cement 0.640000 = Iron cast oxidised 0.630000 = Lead oxidised at 1100°F 0.620000 = Zirconia on inconel 0.610000 = Cu-Zn, brass oxidised 0.580000 = Inconel sheet at 760°C 0.560000 = Smooth white marble 0.550000 = Al anodised chromic acid 0.210000 = Iron cast polished 0.200000 = Brass rubbed 80 grit emery 0.160000 = Stainless steel 18-8 buffed 0.090000 = Aluminium as received 0.070000 = Steel polished 0.050000 = Aluminium polished sheet 0.050000 = Copper polished 0.030000 = Brass highly polished IPU 40108????Page 29 of 29 7 Customer Feedback If you have had any technical issues or feedback with regard to your PCE-TC 3 Multi-Purpose Thermal Imager, please complete the details below and send it back to PCE at the address on the front page of this manual. Name: Company Name and address: Contact Details: PCE-TC 3 Thermal Imager Serial Number: (This can be found printed under the “slots & sockets” cover) PC Software Version installed: Software version number can be found whilst software is running from: PC – Help/About PCE-TC Series Imager Description of Technical Fault: All brands and product names are acknowledged and may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.