High-end Infrared Camera with Lens

申请人已经建立了一个在世界范围内享有良好学术声誉的红外实验室。该实验室的主要信任之一是通过申请人NSERC发现赠款资助的研究计划«热成像无损评价»（TNDE）。在TNDE实验中，样品被热刺激（加热），热响应由红外相机拾取，从而能够提取材料结构，热性能等信息。TNDE现在用于先进飞机复合材料等的检测。目前，由申请人监督的15名HQP参与了该研究计划。我们的实验室配备了从近红外到长波红外的各种红外相机，还有一个中波冷却红外相机。这最后一台相机--来自靛蓝的Phoenix--是我们实验室的主力。它是在2004年购买的。经过14年的优质服务和几代HQP的参与（43硕士和博士在他们的研究对他们的文凭使用凤凰），这台相机需要更换。由于一些无法解决的内部问题（靛蓝公司已不再运营），该公司目前采用“间歇性计划”。如果我们的凤凰号发生致命故障，这些HQP的研究项目将处于严重危险之中。新的冷却中波红外相机具有增强的性能，现在在市场上，特别是更好的空间分辨率，热灵敏度，高帧速率，快速接口（例如：GigE）与开放软件（如Matlab兼容性），光谱滤波。这最后一个功能是有趣的，为特定的应用程序选择受限的光谱带。例如，我们目前在文化遗产应用中的TNDE研究将有可能将相机操作限制在1.6-2.3微米（一些常见的油漆颜料在这个波段是透明的，可以“看穿”）。提供了两个报价，选择的一个符合NSERC研究工具和仪器计划的预算，具有关键规格：冷却锑化铟1280 x 1024红外探测器矩阵，105 Hz的全帧速率，外部触发，光谱过滤能力，GigE接口上的16位数据流，便于访问和操作图像的Matlab例程。冷却IR检测器是优选的（相对于未冷却IR检测器），以获得较低的检测器热噪声，从而获得更好的热灵敏度。申请人目前无法获得任何其他赠款或预算，可用于购买所要求的仪器。我们选择了市场上最好的规格，以确保新相机将提供优质的性能，为未来几年的凤凰自2004年以来所做的。这对于HQP将与之相关联的研究计划非常重要，以便他们在国际研究界留下自己的印记。

Applicants have developed an infrared (IR) laboratory of excellent academic reputation worldwide. One of the main trust of this laboratory is the research program «Thermography Non Destructive Evaluation» (TNDE) funded through applicants NSERC Discovery grants. In TNDE experiments, specimens are thermally stimulated (warmed) and thermal response is picked up by an IR camera enabling to extract information such as material structure, thermal properties, etc. TNDE is now used in inspection for advanced aircraft composites, etc. Our TNDE program will be supported by the requested equipment. Currently 15 HQPs supervised by the applicants are involved in this research program. Our laboratory is equipped with a variety of IR cameras from near IR to long wave IR and also a middle wave cooled IR camera. This last camera - our Phoenix from Indigo - is the workhorse of our laboratory. It was purchased in 2004. After 14 years of excellent service and generations of HQPs involved (43 MSc and PhD in total used the Phoenix in their research toward their diploma), this camera needs to be replaced. It now operates on «intermittent schemes» due to some internal troubles that have not been not possible to fix (Indigo company is no longer in operation). In case of fatal breakdown of our Phoenix, research projects of these HQPs would be in critical jeopardy. New cooled middle wave IR cameras with enhanced performances are now available on the market, notably better spatial resolution, thermal sensitivity, high frame rate, fast interface (ex: GigE) with open software (such as Matlab compatibility), spectral filtering. This last feature is interesting to select restricted spectral bands for particular applications. For example our current TNDE studies in cultural heritage applications would gain of having the possibility to restrict the camera operation in the 1.6-2.3 micron (some common paint pigments are transparent in this band enabling to «see through»). Two quotations are provided and the selected one fits within the budget from the NSERC Research Tools and Instruments Program with key specifications: cooled Indium Antimonite 1280 x 1024 IR detector matrix, full frame rate of 105 Hz, external triggering, spectral filtering capability, 16-bit data stream on GigE interface, Matlab routines for easy access and manipulation of the images. Cooled IR detector are preferred (with respect to uncooled IR detector) to get lower detector thermal noise and hence better thermal sensitivity. Applicants have currently no access to any other grant or budget that could be used to purchase the requested instrument. We selected the best available specifications on the market to insure the new camera will offer premium performances for the years to come as the Phoenix has done since 2004. This is important for the research programs the HQPs will be associated to in order for them to make their mark in the international research community.