Whether Hot or Cold - Stable Camera Operation—Even in Extreme Temperatures
Reliable image quality, even in fluctuating temperatures and adverse environmental conditions. Find out what really matters when it comes to the operation, connection, and temperature management of your camera.
What does "temperature" mean?
In order to create a basis for discussion, we will first present the various temperature specifications and evaluate them.
The operating temperature - also referred to as the "housing temperature during operation" - is most frequently found in the individual camera manufacturer's manuals. You will also often find information on the storage temperature.
But where are these temperatures actually measured and what does the temperature data actually mean? What does this mean in concrete terms for the application?
Normally, the operating temperature is the maximum temperature that the camera housing may reach at a defined point when retracted in order to ensure trouble-free operation.
This does not mean that it corresponds to the ambient temperature or the internal temperature of the camera. The operating temperature has no direct relation to the maximum or minimum possible ambient temperature.
Furthermore, the specification of any temperature sensor mounted inside the camera has no direct significance with regard to the operating temperature. There are dependencies here that are not necessarily linear and depend on the internal and external structure of the camera as well as the materials used. Only controlled measurements can provide information on this.
Dealing with high temperatures
One of the biggest challenges in operating industrial cameras at high ambient temperatures is to avoid overheating. The maximum operating temperature of a camera must not be exceeded, otherwise both reliable operation and the service life of the camera are jeopardized.
The heat generated in the camera system is mainly caused by the power dissipation of active electronic components. Certain components, such as the Phy in GigE cameras or the FPGA, generate considerable amounts of heat during operation. Other components, on the other hand, behave passively or neutrally in terms of the thermal balance.
With compact camera designs and high component density, the removal of this waste heat is becoming increasingly challenging. Inadequate thermal management can lead to the following problems:
Degradation of image quality
Accelerated aging of electronic components
Failure of critical system components
Shorter service life of the overall system
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