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Products => Thermal Imaging => Topic started by: radziorr on June 17, 2023, 08:41:15 pm

Title: Digital video output from Flir Tau 2 camera
Post by: radziorr on June 17, 2023, 08:41:15 pm

Hi!  ;D
I'm in possession of 640x512 30Hz Tau 2 core (from my mechanically damaged DJI XT camera/gimbal) and would like to use it as i.eg. USB camera in other project. Initial idea was to purchase Flir VPC module for it, but then I discovered that you take analog video signal directly from 50-pin hirose connector (the white on on the back of the camera), so purchasing this VPC module would be a waste of money.
Ok, just add some CVBS to USB video grabber to it and mission complete, but then I came across Tau 2 Electrical Interface Description Document (attached) which explains digital (CMOS and LVDS) video formats that camera can spit out.
I was struggling to find any LVDS interface, but there is plenty of CMOS->USB modules on the market - like those that you can pair with i.eg. OV2640 CMOS cameras.
Have anybody of you ever tried to grab digital signal instead of analog one from Tau 2?
Would the digital video transmission benefit in any way an image quality?

Title: Re: Digital video output from Flir Tau 2 camera
Post by: ArsenioDev on June 18, 2023, 02:01:11 pm

You need a fairly fast digitizer, probably a Cypress EZUSB either 2 or 3 will do well.
Digital full chain is fantastic as it will not have any of the losses converting to analog and then back to digital, keeping the video crispy the whole way and allowing you to even get ratiometric (if supported) data vs just level.

Title: Re: Digital video output from Flir Tau 2 camera
Post by: NCG on June 18, 2023, 03:24:10 pm

I found ready made USB 3 and Gige backs for Tau2 module and used the USB 3:

https://workswell-thermal-camera.com/usb3-gige-modules-flir-tau2-sensors/

Had both Linux and Win API and a test application, works well (pun intended but really does work well). Makes the camera singular USB 3 unit, no hassle with extra power, control or anything else.

Title: Re: Digital video output from Flir Tau 2 camera
Post by: radziorr on August 12, 2023, 02:48:49 pm

Thanks guys for the replies!
Unfortunately those modules from workswell are too expensive for nice-to-have feature (>1k€), I'll try my luck with Cypress EZ USB :-+

Title: Re: Digital video output from Flir Tau 2 camera
Post by: matman1 on October 10, 2023, 06:45:04 pm

Quote from: radziorr on August 12, 2023, 02:48:49 pm

Thanks guys for the replies!
Unfortunately those modules from workswell are too expensive for nice-to-have feature (>1k€), I'll try my luck with Cypress EZ USB :-+

What did you end up doing?  As I'm in the same boat with a Tau2 that I'm trying to pull video out of digitally into UVC.