Optikos has released the BBS-200 Blackbody Source, a reference source of infrared radiation similar in geometry to the primary standard of the National Physical Laboratory (UK). The blackbody is designed to emit the maximum possible flux at any given temperature and is used used to make a range of important measurements in the 2-14 µm thermal wavebands. It is particularly useful for calibrating thermal imagers and radiometers. The BBS-200 Blackbody is heated and cooled by a recirculating water bath connected to it with insulated hoses with self-sealing quick-disconnect connectors. An important feature of the BBS-200 is the incorporation of a motorized shutter into the design. The shutter closes off the cavity while the blackbody is changing temperature, thereby shortening the settling time and minimizing proximity heating of the instrument being calibrated.
Optikos
Wakefield, MA
www.optikos.com
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PRESS RELEASE
Optikos Corporation announces the BBS-200 Blackbody Source
Wakefield, MA. – Optikos Corporation's newly BBS-200 Blackbody Source is a reference source of infrared radiation similar in geometry to the primary standard of the National Physical Laboratory (UK). The blackbody is designed to emit the maximum possible flux at any given temperature. It is used to make a range of important measurements in the 2-14 µm thermal wavebands and is particularly useful for calibrating thermal imagers and radiometers.
The BBS-200 Blackbody is heated and cooled by a recirculating water bath connected to it with insulated hoses with self-sealing quick-disconnect connectors. In an improvement over similar designs, the BBS-200 features a double-helix water jacket in which water is circulated in the cylindrical heat exchanger from the front to the back and from the back to the front simultaneously so as to minimize thermal gradients along the cavity. Additionally, the BBS-200 features for the first time a separate water jacket for heating and cooling the reentrant cone at the base of the cavity, thereby improving both the uniformity and ramping rate of the source over similar designs.
One of the most important features of the BBS-200 is the incorporation of a motorized shutter into the design. The shutter closes off the cavity while the blackbody is changing temperature, thereby shortening the settling time and minimizing proximity heating of the instrument being calibrated. Although the shutter may be opened and closed by hand, using the motorized control allows lengthy calibrations to be carried out automatically. When used to calibrate the RAD-900 Infrared Radiometer, the ACCURad (Automated Calibration Control Utility) facility in the ScanIRR software application takes full advantage of this feature as well interfacing to the digital reference thermometer and the recirculating waterbath.
The BBS-200 Features:
• Very high effective emissivity from re-entrant cone geometry with high emissivity coating.
• Double-helix water jacket for high uniformity and stability.
• Closed loop control system.
• Minimum central hot spot design.
• Precision Platinum Resistance Thermometer.
• Removable motorized aperture shutter with manual override.
• Similar to NPL low temperature primary standard.
Optikos Corporation, an ISO 9001 certified company, is the world's largest manufacturer of equipment for the measurement of optical image quality. For over 25 years, Optikos has been a leading provider of optical product development services helping development, design, and industrial product firms bring their visions to reality. Today, Optikos also manufactures sophisticated electro-optical assemblies for a wide variety of clients serving the life sciences to aerospace, government and industrial markets.
Headquartered in Wakefield, MA, Optikos is a privately held engineering consulting and manufacturing firm founded in 1982. Visit www.optikos.com for more information.