An infrared thermal imaging camera is a non-contact temperature measurement instrument that images and analyzes the heat (temperature) distribution on the surface of an object. It can quickly detect thermal defects in objects.In the electronics industry, it is widely used in the design and development, manufacturing, testing, and fault detection of electronic devices.
Infrared thermal imaging cameras significantly enhance engineers’ efficiency by allowing them to “see” heat distribution, which is faster and more accurate than relying on experience and intuition.This article provides a detailed explanation of the application of handheld infrared thermal cameras for electronics to help you understand this.
The Applications of Handheld Thermal Camera for Electronics
1. Integrated Circuit Testing/Semiconductor Testing
In the electronics industry, testing the internal temperature of chips is a very important task. Due to the complex internal structure and small size of chips, traditional temperature measurement methods can easily change the chip’s temperature by physical contact, thus affecting the temperature measurement accuracy.
However, infrared thermal imaging camera can do precise temperature detection in a non-contact manner. The generated infrared thermal images visually display the heat distribution across different areas, reducing potential errors associated with traditional contact-based measurements and effectively improving the efficiency and accuracy of chip temperature measurement. This allows engineers to more accurately understand the operating state of the chip, and promptly identify and resolve potential issues, thereby improving the reliability and stability of the product.
Specific Applications:
- Thermal Analysis and Design Optimization: During the chip design phase, infrared thermal imaging cameras can help engineers analyze the thermal distribution within the chip. This aids in identifying hotspot areas, optimizing layout and thermal design to ensure the stability and performance of the chip during operation.
- Process Control and Quality Inspection: In the chip manufacturing process, infrared thermal imaging cameras can be used to monitor temperature distribution during processing to ensure the quality and performance of each chip. They help detect uneven temperature distribution, preventing the occurrence of overheated or undercooled areas, thereby improving production efficiency and product quality.
- Performance Evaluation and Verification: After chip development is completed, infrared thermal imaging cameras can be used for performance evaluation and verification. By monitoring temperature changes under various workloads, critical information about performance and stability can be obtained.
2. Circuit Board Design Optimization and Fault Detection
Common Circuit Board Faults
Common circuit board faults typically include short circuits, open circuits, or poor contact.
In the case of a short circuit, the current on the circuit board is larger than normal, causing a temperature rise in the corresponding components, which appears as a noticeable anomaly in the infrared thermal image. When there is an open circuit or poor contact, the current through the component is almost zero, resulting in a lower temperature compared to normal operation, which is also clearly visible on the thermal image.
Therefore, based on these principles, an infrared thermal imaging camera can conveniently identify fault points on a circuit board.
So how does a handheld infrared thermal imager help with circuit board optimization? Next, let’s take PCB circuit boards as an example to explain this point.
PCB Circuit Boards
Where is the fault in the PCB circuit board? Traditional manual and contact-based diagnostics often require extensive experience. They are inefficient, and are prone to misdiagnosis or missed detections.
However, using a thermal imaging camera like Raythink RM620 for full-screen temperature measurement can capture each thermal image with up to 300,000 temperature data points. This allows for a more intuitive observation of the temperature distribution on the entire circuit board surface. The temperature data on the thermal image allows users to instantly identify temperature anomalies with the naked eye and effectively identifying potential faults.
An infrared thermal imaging camera can also record the overall temperature rise and diffusion process of a circuit board, such as in instances of instantaneous short circuits and circuit breakdowns. The recorded video can be analyzed repeatedly, providing various tools like trend charts, 3D graphs, and numerical matrices, which aid in optimizing PCB design. It can also perform high-speed sampling to capture thermal imaging videos and full-process temperature data changes of extreme tests like rectifier bridge pulse breakdowns and fuse overload blowouts, thereby enhancing debugging efficiency.
3. Production Equipment Maintenance and Troubleshooting
Production equipment is prone to faults during long-term high-load operations. Infrared thermal imagers assist maintenance teams by capturing hot spots and heat distribution data during the operation of electronic manufacturing equipment. This enables the early detection of anomalies, precise localization of issues, and rapid repairs. Such proactive maintenance not only minimizes losses due to equipment downtime but also extends the lifespan of electronic production equipment, ensuring consistent and efficient manufacturing processes.
Conclusion
From optimizing circuit board design and detecting faults in integrated circuits to ensuring the reliability of electronic components and maintaining production equipment, handheld thermal cameras provide excellent efficiency and precision. By enabling non-invasive, real-time thermal analysis, they help engineers and technicians identify issues early, improve product quality, and enhance operational efficiency.
If you need a handheld infrared thermal camera for the electronics field, click on our product pages to choose the product that suits you best!
