Theory and Method
Every component on a powered circuit board dissipates some energy as heat, and a shorted or leaking component typically runs hotter than its neighbors on the same board. The QualiTCA™ 25A captures this pattern with a 256×192 microbolometer array covering the long-wave infrared band, converting the infrared radiation each component emits into a temperature value for every pixel and displaying the result as a thermal image of the board.
A fixed focal length keeps the setup simple: the camera reads accurately at a working distance of 100mm to 150mm without any adjustment, which suits the stand-mounted design and one-click leakage checks. Snapping on the macro magnification lens shortens that working distance to about 30mm for a closer view of a single component or trace, at the cost of some measurement accuracy, since the optics trade absolute calibration for magnification.
Point and line measurement modes give a spot or profile reading, surface measurement averages a defined region, and 3D thermal field analysis renders the board's temperature data as a height map so a technician can spot a component that stands out from its surroundings. Comparing this reading against a second, known-good board in double board comparison mode turns a single abnormal reading into a clear before-and-after difference.
