AGA Thermovision 680

[bangbang99]

Liquid nitrogen seems less of a problem when I look forward to attach AGA IR lense 680 Ge 633/1:2,5/2 (telescopic) to the scanner unit and see what happen  . So I am trying to power on my AGA 680 scanner unit without display and control unit   .
Pinout of the connectors on the rear panel after almost a day-long digging inside the camera:

DISPLAY UNIT
A  (ACCESSORIES pin E) - HORIZONTAL TRIGGERING PULSE
B - VIDEO OUT
C  (ACCESSORIES pins H, A) - BLACK LEVEL (?)
D  (ACCESSORIES pin N) - POWER SUPPLY +50V (?)
E - NC
F - TO MOTORS M1, M2, M3 (200 Hz 115V ?)
G - TO MOTORS M1, M2, M3 (200 Hz 115V ?)
H - TO MOTOR M3 (200 Hz 115V ?)
J - TO ACCESSORIES pin J
K - TO ACCESSORIES pin K
L - TO MOTORS M1, M2 (200 Hz 115V ?)
M (ACCESSORIES pin F) - VERTICAL TRIGGERING PULSE
N - COM
P (ACCESSORIES pin P) - COM
R - COM
S - NC
T - TO MOTOR M3 (FOCUSING DIRECTION)
U - TO MOTORS M1, M2 (200 Hz 115V ?)
V  (ACCESSORIES pin R) - POWER SUPPLY -50V (?)

The motors are:
M1 - V. Scan
M2 - H. Scan
M3 - Focusing

Can anyone revile more detailed info about THV680 system (schematics diagrams)?

[bangbang99]

Another lens:

[bangbang99]

Camera unit:

[bangbang99]

Details:

[bangbang99]

Boards (conditioning circuit board for horizontal and vertical scanning prisms position sensors, triggering output signals board):

[bangbang99]

Some pages from AGA Thermovision 680 Operating Manual:

PS: The were two systems:
AGA System 680 (2-5 µm)
AGA System 680 LW (8-13 µm)

Unit which is discussed and lenses are LW type

[bangbang99]

...continue

[bangbang99]

Thermovision microscope:

[bangbang99]

... continue

[bangbang99]

Telescopic lens:

[bangbang99]

AGA 680 Bayonet:

[bangbang99]

I performed a little test with my Flir E4 (hi-res) without original lens which I just lean against the AGA lenses (8 degrees and 45 degrees FOV).


1) Test object

[bangbang99]

2) Flir E4 with original lens at distance ~150mm

[bangbang99]

3) Flir E4 with AGA 8 deg fov lens at distance ~2m

[bangbang99]

3) Flir E4 with AGA 45 deg fov lens at distance ~50mm

[bangbang99]

Another object. Original E4 lens at distance ~300mm (top) vs AGA 8 deg. lens at distance ~2m (bottom)

[bangbang99]

Extension ring. Part of the assembly possibly can be used as an adapter for IR imager. Just think about connection of old AGA 680 lenses with something modern...   

[Chanc3]

Very interesting breakdown! Thanks for sharing. I must say, I do find it highly amusing seeing such a small handheld camera with massive lens on the front!  Reminds me of a retro laser pistol!

[bangbang99]

I am struggling now with this one:

[bangbang99]

Trying to get something like a minimally sharp image putting E4 on AGA 2 deg fov lens.

Experimental setup:

[bangbang99]

Object 1.
Distance ~20m

[bangbang99]

Object 2. TV antenna
Distance ~60m

[bangbang99]

Object 3. Construction crane
Distance ~1.5km

[Fraser]

The 680 lenses were large diameter to suit the prism scanning system employed in that particular camera. They will be VERY high quality and if you consider that Germanium, from which their lens elements are made, is worth around £1 per gram, they have quite a high scrap value. I personally would never scrap such lenses as they are too good for that.

I use Inframetrics lenses with my FLIR PM series cameras and and experimented with the E4. Those lenses invert the image though.

Your 680 camera may really belong in a Museum, but the lenses are suitable for use with modern cameras. You just have to live with the bulk and weight 

The AGA 680 comes from the early days of thermal imaging when fine engineering was required and cost was less important than having the imaging capability. This is why it is built like a tank and contains much fine engineering in its build. The motors alone would have been very expensive parts, let alone the Dewar and its associated detector. The bad news is that, having used this type of scanning camera, it produces an image inferior to your E4. Its resolution will be quite limited, say around 128 TV lines, so around half of standard VHS tape quality. It will also be fussy about settings and getting a good picture takes some careful adjustment of the controller.

I own the AGEMA 880 which is a descendant of the AGA 680, as AGA became AGEMA, who then were bought by FLIR. The 880 was likely the best of its type and still produced images that are quite limited in terms of detail. Creating an image using horizontal and vertical scanning mirrors or prisms limits what can be achieved. Hence why the staring FPA was such a breakthrough in thermal imaging technology. 

Fraser   

[Fraser]

Just for interest, I have taken some pictures of my AGEMA 880 which, as i said, is a direct descendant from the AGA 680.

I have included a CD in some pictures to provide size reference.

The AGEMA 880 is a little smaller than the 680 and uses two scanning mirrors, as opposed to two rotating Germanium prisms as found in the 680.
There is also quite a lot of control electronics located within the 880, unlike the very limited electronics found in the 680. The miniaturisation of the detector,motors and all other mechanical parts enabled the 880 to be a portable camera, albeit, for static use due to the power requirements and controller unit.

I have the complete tested and functional system, including power supply, controller with built in monitor and the Husky portable computer that was used for ISO thermal calculations etc. It is fully working but I have no source of Liquid Nitrogen or means to store it so it remains dormant in my care.

Fraser