Solved - Anyone have experiences with SightLogix cameras? - PathfindIR inside

[cejoba]

Hi, I found this interesting listing: https://www.ebay.com/itm/125602925016?
Good price for a 320x240 sensor, but the rear connector is strange, and I cannot find any document other than a simple datasheet. Any ideas?

[Fraser]

That looks to be a thermal camera with integrated target detection hardware and software. The connector is just a common AMP multipole waterproof type.

As to which thermal core is fitted, sadly I cannot help. It could be something as straight forward as a FLIR TAU, or it could be an custom integrated camera core solution such as found in AXIS thermal CCTV cameras.

This is a risk but it could pay off if the thermal camera can be separated from the target detection hardware and provides a video signal you can make use of. As to whether you will be able to control the cores settings….. that is unknown.

Fraser

[ArsenioDev]

If you do end up getting this thing, I'd be very interested in the backend control stuff, apparently has pretty interesting software on the linux host inside.

[cejoba]

If you do end up getting this thing, I'd be very interested in the backend control stuff, apparently has pretty interesting software on the linux host inside.

I'm not sure if I'll get it because I don't know what core is inside... But sure, if I (or anyone in the forum) gets it, we would post a tear down.
However I think the software may not be as interesting as you expect, because this camera itself may just provide video output, and all the image analyse work might be done elsewhere. Just a guess though.

[cejoba]

Okay I got one... the unit is much bigger than I thought.
First I was met with a bunch spider nests and dead spiders as pictured.
Then I unscrewed the screws which are so tight that I broke my skin just by holding the screwdriver.
I also released the pressure valve (yes the whole thing is pressurized...)
Now I'm still struggling to open it because all the gaps are glued.

[cejoba]

It's a PathfindIR core inside.
2 pics attached.
I'm now trying to get power in - video out, any ideas?
The core have a 12-pin connector, and only 10 pins are connected to the Sightlogix's main board.

[cejoba]

These chips in photo have thermal paste to the metal case, so they are on the other side.

[cejoba]

The Flir core is working!
I guessed the pinout from other ebay listings.
Look at the photo.

Pin 1,2,6 are GND.
Pin 7 is +12v in.
Pin 12 is composite video out.

The picture quality is not good though, both brightness and contrast are low, there's even visible color gradient that I've never seen on other cores.
But it's fully working for $300.

[ArsenioDev]

These chips in photo have thermal paste to the metal case, so they are on the other side.

I'm intrigued to get dumps of that board for target track/detection, there's something I'm working on reversing from another DSP in that same family and would be helpful to do comparison with these.