This is a very quick post to show those who may be interested in what is inside the casing of a HIKVISION DS-2TE127-G4A Reference Blackbody.
The DS-2TE127-G4A was created to assist with Fever Screening that used thermal imaging cameras. The Reference Blackbody produces an accurate thermal signature in the cameras field of view that is used by analysis software to improve the cameras thermal measurement accuracy.
The Reference Blackbody must be accurate and stable in order to meet the specified medical role. As such these units can be very well made using known quality components and were very expensive. The HIKVISION unit is such a design and is well designed using quality parts.
The specification for the HIKVISION Reference Blackbody is as follows:
Temperature range: Ambient +5 Celsius to +50 Celsius
Temperature Resolution: 0.1 Celsius
Temperature Accuracy: +/- 0.1 Celsius
Temperature Stability: +/- 0.1 Celsius
Effective Emissivity: 0.97 +/- 0.02
Aperture diameter: 70mm
Power Supply: 100Vac to 240Vac
Power Consumption : 20W
As can be seen, the specification is more than adequate to test the measurement accuracy of a thermal imaging camera or IR thermometer
Inside the units casing there is a well designed layout of components comprising the following main elements:
1. MeanWell LRS-50-24 24V 2.2A Switch mode Power Supply
2. OMRON E5CC high quality PID temperature controller
3. OMRON G3NA-D210B Solid State Relay
4. Custom heater assembly incorporating a coated Aluminium emission plate and KAPTON insulated foil element heater.
The unit is cooled with a small fan.
The temperature to which the PID temperature controller may be set is limited in its settings. These limits may be changed if desired and the design of the heater assembly appears good for at least 100 Celsius if required. I recommend a maximum temperature of 80 Celsius however. The temperature range "as supplied" of Ambient +5C to +50C is still enough for a normal "2-Point" calibration
To the pictures: