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N o n - c o n t a c t  T e m p e r a t u r e  S e n s o r

PS-2197

2

Sample Rate

By default, the sensor collects data at the rate of 10 

samples per second. This rate can be changed in the 

software. 

Attaching the Sensor Handle

The included sensor handle allows the sensor to be held 

in a clamp or other device. Attach the handle to the 

sensor as illustrated in Figure 1.1.

Figure 1.1: Attaching the sensor handle

Collecting Data

Click Record or press Start in the software. The comput

-

ing device begins to collect data.

About the Sensor

Field of View

The sensor’s field of view is ±35°, as illustrated in Figure 

2. The object or surface being measured should fill the 

field of view.

Figure 1.2: Field of view

How the Sensor Calculates Temperature

All objects emit infrared radiation. The radiated power per 

unit area of an object is given by the Stefan-Boltzmann 

law:

I

 = 



T

4

Where 

T

 is the objects’ absolute surface temperature, 

and 

 is the Stefan-Boltzmann constant. The emissivity, 

, is a property of the object’s surface and can range from 

0 to 1. An object with 

= 1 is described as a blackbody.

Consider a blackbody of temperature 

T

o

 whose surface 

can be approximated as an infinite plane, and a flat 

detector surface of area 

A

. The surfaces are parallel to 

each other. Because radiation from an infinite plane 

propagates as a plane wave, the power flow from the 

object to the detector (

P

od

) equals the radiation emitted 

by a part of the object surface whose area equals the 

detector’s area, regardless of the distance between the 

object and detector.

P

od

 = 

A

T

o

4

The detector itself also radiates in accordance to the 

Stefan-Boltzmann law. If the detector’s temperature is 

T

a

then power radiating from the detector is

P

a

 = 

A

T

a

4

Therefore, the 

net

 power absorbed by the detector due to 

radiation is

P

 = 

A

(

T

o

4

 

 

T

a

4

)

A thermopile in the sensor produces a voltage, 

V

, which 

is proportional to 

P

. The above equations combine to 

give

V

 = 

k

(

T

o

4

 

 

T

a

4

)

Where 

k

 is a constant.

35° 35°

0.00

0.25

0.50

0.75

1.00

-80°

-60°

-40°

-20°

20°

40°

60°

80°

Angle, Deg

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