Smartphone thermal camera: Bringing "temperature visualization" into daily life

In the decades since the birth of infrared thermal imaging technology, this black technology that can convert temperature into visible light images has long been limited to professional fields such as industrial inspection and military reconnaissance. However, with the miniaturization and consumerization of thermal imaging modules in smartphones, ordinary people can also see the "temperature code" of the world through the lens of their mobile phones.

Through thermal imaging cameras, users can visually find water seepage areas in the wall and locate blockages in floor heating pipes. Some home users even use it to detect abnormal circuit board temperatures and avoid fire risks in advance. According to data from the National Fire Protection Association, about 30% of residential fires are caused by circuit failures. Thermal imaging technology makes preventive maintenance simple and efficient.

Innovator in health management

In the health field, thermal imaging can assist in monitoring the distribution of body surface temperature. Sports enthusiasts use it to observe muscle strains, and breastfeeding mothers use it to check breast health. A 2020 Tokyo University study confirmed that thermal imaging technology can detect early breast abnormalities with an accuracy rate of up to 78%. During the epidemic, some airports even used thermal imaging equipment for rapid temperature screening.

A new perspective on outdoor exploration

Outdoor enthusiasts call mobile thermal imagers "night vision enhancers." They can penetrate fog to find animal tracks and help search and rescue teams locate hypothermic people. The U.S. Forest Service has begun using thermal imaging drones for wildfire monitoring, with a temperature sensitivity of up to 0.1°C.

Democratization of industrial applications

Professional testing equipment that originally cost tens of thousands of yuan can now achieve basic functions through mobile phone external modules. Electricians can quickly locate short-circuit points, and auto mechanics can intuitively check the engine's heat dissipation. Our company's mobile phone thermal camera Q3 has a resolution of 160x120 pixels and a temperature measurement range of -20℃ to 400℃.

With the advancement of MEMS technology, the cost of thermal imaging modules has dropped from thousands of yuan to hundreds of yuan. This democratization of technology is reshaping our perception of the world - when temperature becomes visual data, the once hidden laws of thermodynamics are unfolding a new cognitive picture to ordinary people through smartphone screens. In the future, when AR technology and thermal imaging are deeply integrated, we may truly achieve a perception upgrade of "what you see is what you feel".