What does IFOV stand for in infrared thermography?

• A. Instantaneous Field of View
• B. Instantaneously Field of View
• C. Infrared Field of View
• D. Integrated Field of View

Answer: (B)

IFOV stands for Instantaneous Field Of View. In infrared thermography, this is the angular size of the area on the target that one detector element “sees” at any given moment. That footprint on the scene is what each pixel in the thermal image represents—the temperature reading is effectively an average over everything within that area. The distance to the target and the lens determine how large that footprint is: closer distances or a smaller angle give a smaller area and higher spatial resolution, while a larger footprint reduces resolution. So understanding IFOV helps explain why some areas blur together or how the image’s detail changes with distance. The standard term uses the word Instantaneous, not Instantaneously, and the other options don’t match the established terminology.