You have probably never heard of an acoustic camera, how can we see sound? Well today we’re answering the question, what is acoustic imaging?
Let’s face it… most people have never even heard of an acoustic camera, let alone used one. But stick with us, because these devices are not only incredibly clever, but they’re surprisingly easy to understand once you break things down.
So, how can a camera “see” sound?
Well, first, we need to understand how you hear things.
Localising Sounds with Your Ears
When a sound hits our ear drums, depending on the location of the sound source, there will be a delay from when one ears hears the sound and when the other one does. This is caused by the distance between our two ear drums and, while, it is very small delay, gives our brain ‘clues’ on where the sound is coming from.
The brain can then use that information to form an idea of where the sound source is coming from. For example, if there is no delay from the sound, your brain knows that it’s coming from directly in front or behind you, if there’s a slight delay, it knows that it’s coming from one side.
But this isn’t particularly accurate, as when you hear a sound source, there are many different areas where the sound source would be equal distance away.
This is called the cone of confusion and is essentially an area where the brain can’t tell exactly where the sound is coming from.
Picture it like this:
The cone of confusion is like two 3D rings protruding out from your ears, kind of like wearing a party hat with the points facing inwards towards your ears.
Along this cone, there are many different points where the sound is equal distance away from both ears.
We collaborated with Steve Mould in 2023 where he explained how acoustic cameras work, he breaks down how the cone of confusion works and how it can be solved in his video, Acoustic cameras can SEE sound.
Why It’s a Problem
Let’s say a sound is com ing from your right-hand side, it could be above you or below you because the timing and volume difference between your ears is the same in all those cases.
That’s the cone of confusion in action.
Now the brain does have some clever ways of filling in the gaps to help close down the range of potential locations, but we’re not dealing with the human brain here.
For Acoustic Cameras, the solution is simply, to get more ears.
Acoustic Imaging
This is where the acoustic camera comes in.
Instead of two ears like us, these cameras have hundreds of tiny microphones, each one acting like an extra “ear.”
When you add more microphones, those confusing cones start to overlap in a way that helps pinpoint the exact spot a sound is coming from.
So now we know how acoustic cameras measure sound. But how do they turn that into visual data? What is Acoustic Imaging?
Acoustic cameras will take the noise data from those hundreds of microphones, pass it through an algorithm inside of the device and then display a heatmap of the sound source, showing the exact location.
This is then overlayed over visual data that is collected by a regular camera.
Why Use an Acoustic Camera
What makes acoustic cameras so useful is their ability to locate sounds that humans usually won’t be able to hear. This is due to their frequency range.
Frequency is how high or low pitched a noise is. Measured in Hz, it tells us how many times the noise wave cycles in a second.
The problem is, humans aren’t very good at hearing higher frequencies, typically ranging from 20Hz to 20kHz. But acoustic cameras can hear much higher – up to around 100kHz, which is an extremely high-pitched noise.
This high-pitched noise is called ultrasound, The microphones are specialised to pick up this sound, meaning that they filter out the background noise and pinpoint only the important frequencies.
This means that for stuff like gas leaks, electrical issues, loose bolts and more, humans wouldn’t be able to hear them, but the camera can and is able to quickly pinpoint where the issue is simply by looking at the noise source.
The camera is also able to cut out background noise, only focusing on inaudible frequencies. This means that in busy environments like factories and plants it isn’t affected by the amount of noise.
To conclude.
An acoustic camera is a tool that hears sound with lots of microphones, figures out where it’s coming from, and then shows you that sound on a screen like a heatmap.
Whether it’s tracking down noisy machinery or detecting hidden leaks, these cameras give sound a face and make invisible problems visible.
the CRY8124
One of the best and most advanced acoustic cameras in the world is the CRY8124. It is a handheld acoustic imager which means it is portable and easy to use.
It has a host of unique features which make it one of the best cameras money can buy, features such as
Enhanced Leak Detection: With the highest mic count in a handheld device, the CRY 8124 can detect gas leaks up to 200 meters away, meaning you can safely detect gas leaks from a distance.
Background Noise Filtering: Its proprietary HyperVision algorithm isolates target sounds from other noise sources, giving you an extreme level of accuracy even in noisy environments.
Dual Thermal and Acoustic Imaging: The CRY 8124 combines thermal imaging with acoustic detection, allowing simultaneous visuals of thermal and ultrasonic data. This is especially useful in hot environments, where identifying temperature patterns aids in troubleshooting.
Operating up to 10 hours with replaceable batteries, the CRY 8124 is designed for continuous use in large facilities. Wireless data transfer and advanced reporting software simplify documentation, allowing for seamless sharing of inspection data.
You can find out more about the CRY8124 on our website
To find out more check out the CRY8124 or speak with our team
