Thermal products specialist HIKMICRO has launched its new Mini smartphone module, which attaches easily to a phone to enable users to quickly see temperature discrepancies, including heat leaks in walls, roofs and underfloor heating, and abnormal temperatures, such as overheating appliances. This means they can help building owners maximize energy efficiency and reduce bills.
Revolutionary technology
The revolutionary module is equipped with an uncooled focal-plane thermal sensor made of high-sensitivity vanadium oxide (40 mk), which can detect thermal differences between 5°C and 100°C. This means that small details of temperature difference can be detected. It's this detail that makes the module the market leader. Its sensitivity and accuracy mean that it can be used to quickly detect temperatures in a number of situations - even in a veterinary application to see temperature anomalies in animals, which would normally be more difficult to measure. Accuracy is +/- 0.5°C in its optimum temperature range of 30°C to 45°C, and outside this is still relatively low at +/- 2°C.
The Mini module is also high-resolution (160 x 120), offering good-quality images. A fast, state-of-the-art frame rate of 25 Hz (frames per second) ensures smooth video display on the phone's screen.
Weighing in at just 26 g, the module's lightweight design means it works perfectly connected to an Android smartphone with a USB-C connector. It uses power from the phone itself, so there's no need for a separate charger.
Simple and efficient
The HIKMICRO Viewer application makes the module easy to use, and features intelligent functions to enable users to adjust image views and share them. These include three measurement presets and seven color palette options. Images can be saved in JPEG or MP4 format. The application can be downloaded from the Google Play Store.
The module will prove useful for electricians, plumbers, builders, heating engineers - in short, anyone who needs to quickly and regularly check temperature measurements in the field. It can help them inspect insulation, solve HVAC problems, check electrical equipment and search for subjects in the dark or hard-to-reach places.
"Climate change has made thermal efficiency an important issue, and our Mini module can help users quickly find leaks in a variety of scenarios," says Belkacem Seni, HIKMICRO's Business Development Manager for Southern Europe. "It can also be used to check the thermal properties of devices, such as electrical junction boxes to detect overheating before it becomes a potential fire hazard. This revolutionary new product can give all smartphone users the chance to see the world in a different light."
The Mini is priced at €249 (excluding VAT) and will be available from various suppliers across Europe.