Part 2.......
OK, so we left off where I had researched the four Patents that were listed as applying to the Core. What was the significance of what I found then ?
The Patents were filed in the name of "Lockheed Martin Thermal Imaging Inc."
So what ? you might ask. Well I have come across Lockheed Martin Patents on thermal cameras previously

I now had a very good idea who manufactured the mystery core

I knew these Patents and I suddenly recognised them as having been associated with a core I had previously worked on. I also had an inkling that I knew the OEM from the PCB stack design. A picture was forming......
With these pieces of critical information I went back in my thermal camera teardown picture archive and quickly identified the likely core family. In fact better than that, I found the data sheet for the same core

Luck was on my side this day.
So who made the core and is it complete ?
The core is made by the Venerable BAE Systems and it is their SCC500 model. I previously found that core type in the SCOTT Eagle fire fighting camera. The auction core is complete and comprises a stack of 4 PCB's.
So now I knew the identity of the thermal imaging core, could I actually drive it without the FLUKE main board ?
The simple answer is yes. The SCC500 is a self contained core that is remote controlled via RS485. It only requires configuration using simple commands and can be set up to operate in 'full auto' mode, or any other mode really, as soon as power is applied. I own the complete document set for the SCC500, including its command set

It is possible to treat the core as a remote controlled thermal camera using just a simple PC terminal program or other application that sends commands to the camera via the RS485 link. An Arduino could easily do such to make a remote control keypad. In its full auto mode the core is actually a complete headless thermal camera that outputs either digital or analogue video to a computer or composite video display. Quite a useful little core then.
The SCC500 was intended to be a highly configurable thermal imaging core that needs very little in the way of other support electronics. Its intended usage was Military weapon aiming sights and missile guidance ! It was popular in the thermal imaging Industry due to its high performance and ease of integration into a system.
The SCC500 core has a distinctive three point support system for its 4 PCB's and this is what quickly identified the mystery core for me. I had just needed to confirm that it was the same model of core.
Within minutes of identifying the core as an SCC500 I had returned to the auction and purchased it.
I had ignored this little imaging core for days and though keenly priced, no one else seemed interested in the poor thing. As already stated, this was likely because it presented a significant risk of being a paperweight unless identified and data on it acquired. Without clear OEM identification, the core was of little interest to many hobbyists. As stated, even I kept ignoring it.
Well now this poor little Orphan thermal imaging core is joining my family

Oh and the SCC500 cores true resolution is 160 x 120 pixels and this is settable in the configuration options so it is only FLUKE hobbling it to the lesser 128 x 96 via the firmware or factory configuration.
Today was a good day for both me and the unloved Orphan imaging core

I attach the pictures of the SCC500 Core used in the SCOTT Eagle camera. Ignore the different lens and microbolometer mounting method. The SCC500 is very versatile and the microbolometer may be located remotely from the PCB 'stack'. I include a picture of the SCOTT core with its rear mounted accessory control PCB removed to reveal the cores rear PCB and its Patent stickers. I then include teh auction cores similar picture showing the same PCB ..... Core identity established

Fraser