Does a SWIR camera sensitive to thermal energy?

[sam1275]

Hi everyone.
Today I found one of my old collection and decided to give it a try, this is the camera: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/usb-to-pci-adapter/msg614754/#msg614754
I tried to find a connector for it in that post, and didn't success, so I just connect the video output to a monitor, and... it works! It boot up and display a big "Indigo system" logo, then the image shows successfully
But... I bought it as a SWIR camera, and now, it act like a thermal camera...
It don't see through glass and not respond well to light shadows, but it show thermal very well, I put my hand on the table and it clearly shows the print after I take my hand away. It also have a shutter that automatically do the NUC, and do have effect on images. I don't have a SWIR light source so I cannot test very well.
So... for you guys opinion, is it a SWIR camera? I think SWIR camera can only see thermal with very high temperatures, and they work by photon so shouldn't need NUC. So do I actually got a thermal imaging camera?
Thank you.

[joe-c]

what you describe sounds like a thermal camera.

i ask google...

Code: [Select]

In 2003, FLIR acquired Indigo Systems,
a leading developer and supplier of a wide range of infrared imaging products,
including cooled and uncooled infrared detectors, camera cores, and finished cameras. http://www.flir.de/about/display/?id=55679

i think yes 

[Fraser]

Sam1275,

My comments....

1. That is an Indigo compact thermal camera, likely originally deployed in a thermal CCTV application.
2. The camera contains a microbolometer and is LWIR
3. SWIR is a thermal wavelength as well.
4. SWIR cameras are normally cooled by Liquid Nitrogen or a Sterling Cooler. The Sterling Cooler takes around 5 to 10 minutes to get the die down to -196C
5. The presence of a FFC shutter indicates a microbolometer sensor array.
6. For info there are three wavelengths associated with Thermal imaging.... SWIR, MWIR and LWIR. These are very different wavelengths to those used for IR vision in CCTV etc. Those wavelengths are commonly called Near IR (NIR) and cannot resolve a thermal scene unless its temperature is very high indeed. A CCD imaging sensor can resolve targets in excess of 400C.

I hope you enjoy using your Indigo thermal camera

Fraser

[Fraser]

Without more pictures I cannot be certain but it looks like the Indigo UL3 VOx sensor based Alpha Series or possibly an OMEGA series camera.

Take a look here......

http://www.dtic.mil/get-tr-doc/pdf?AD=ADA461318

Look familiar ?

[Fraser]

Looking at the one rear picture you have provided, I believe you have the Indigo UL3 Alpha thermal camera. This uses a VOx Microbolometer with 160 X 120 pixels. It incorporates a thermo electric temperature stabiliser (Peltier type) and is a LWIR camera as already stated. The zuS lilitary document I referenced provides some insight into the UL3 Alpha series and the later Omega series.

There was a spin-off Alpha NIR camera that was not thermal. It was designed for detection of NIR energy from lasers etc. Such a camera would not produce a thermal image of a target at ambient temperatures.

The rear multi pin connector provides access to the cameras data I/O port but I have no details of the data format, or command sequences that it responds to. It operates in a fully automatic 'best image' mode when not under remote control. As such it makes a great thermal CCTV camera or observation camera on a UAV. This was its use in the military.

Fraser

[Fraser]

It has been a good day and I am feeling helpful so I have dug the user manual for the Alpha camera out of my thermal camera data archive.
FLIR no longer hold this manual on their web site.

This user manual should give you plenty of useful information 

Enjoy 

Fraser

[Fraser]

I just read the user manual.

The good news is that the camera can be controlled via standard RS232 from a PC. The connector on the rear of the camera is a standard type an not bespoke. Likely from AMP but I do not have the exact type ID.

I do not have the PC software in my archive but FLIR Customer Services may be able to help on that front. You can send commands to the camera from a terminal program and the command set is included in the manual.

It is no surprise that this cameras control is similar to the PHOTON, and TAU that followed it.

Fraser

[Fraser]

Aux I/O connector detail for you......

Manufacturer : 3M

Types

Camera side: 10226-1210VE

Cable/PCB side:

Solder Cup  10126-3000VE
PCB Mount  10126-5212VC
IDC Cable    10126-6000EC

The mating connector for the camera is available from Digikey and Mouser:

http://www.digikey.co.uk/product-detail/en/3m/10126-3000VE/3M1703-ND/703370

http://www.mouser.co.uk/ProductDetail/3M-Electronic-Solutions-Division/10126-3000VE/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMvPYQC1fAPULIWn7tZtP4mautIvC96%252bGuA%3d

I think that is enough help from me for now....enjoy playing with the camera.

Fraser

[Fraser]

Hmmm, I may be wrong about the model of your camera 

Having done some background reading on the Indigo Alpha NIR model, it is fitted with an Indium Gallium Arsenide (InGaAs) detector array. Such an array IS capable of detecting thermal energy in the SWIR area of the spectrum. The InGaAs sensor works in the 0.9um to 1.7um wavelength region.

You COULD have the Alpha NIR thermal camera. The remote control commands may be the same though.

I will advise further in due course.

Fraser

[Fraser]

Nope, I was right first time. Your camera does not have the correct case design for the Alpha NIR model.

The Alpha NIR user manual is attached so you can see for yourself. 

Fraser

[Fraser]

OK no joy finding the Alpha control Software so FLIR is likely the best next point of call.

I think I have done all I can for you on this particular camera so no more from me.

Fraser

[sam1275]

what you describe sounds like a thermal camera.

i ask google...

Code: [Select]

In 2003, FLIR acquired Indigo Systems,
a leading developer and supplier of a wide range of infrared imaging products,
including cooled and uncooled infrared detectors, camera cores, and finished cameras. http://www.flir.de/about/display/?id=55679

i think yes 

Thank you.

[sam1275]

Wow, thank you very very much Fraser!!! I didn't expected that much info, you are amazing

Here's the front photo I just taken:


All 3 sides (top, left, right) looks exactly the same, flat, black with no marks or logos. It's still not the same looking with Alpha, but maybe just different versions...

I've heard that objects only emit SWIR if it's very hot, or maybe I'm wrong...

My camera surely don't have a cooling system, it show the picture after only 5-10 secs after power on.

I read the user manual and it seems no way to adjust the FFC trigger temperature interval, sometimes it have a heavy white (hot) ring around the picture when looking at low delta temperature scene, and I have to wait the next NUC...

Thank you again for the massive help!

Sam

[sam1275]

Umm, so seems I got a "new" thermal camera in my collection (and lose a SWIR camera)

I love TICs from the first time I know them, and maybe last forever, I feel just incredible when looking through them

I never thought I'll get so many TICs... Here are they:

MSA evolution 4000           320x240 VOX
Bullard eagle eye 6            320x240 BST
Flir i5 - hacked                  120x120 VOX
Indigo Alpha                     160x128 VOX
L3 thermal eye 2620AS      160x120 a-Si

Feel free to share what TICs you have guys.

[Fraser]

Sam,

Your camera certainly looks like an ALPHA with the tripod mount attached to its bottom. Take a look at the attached picture and compare. The camera to the rear is the ALPHA, with an OMEGA in the foreground. The lens is different but they look the same to my eyes.

SWIR is radiated just the same as MWIR and LWIR. An item does not have to be very hot to radiate SWIR. I have used cooled SWIR FLIR PM550 cameras to view targets at very low temperatures, well below ambient.

Fraser

[Fraser]

Sam,

You asked, so here is my current collection..... 49 cameras in total at last count 

I have duplicates of many of these cameras, hence the 49 total.

AGEMA 880

DEWALT / IRISYS DCT-416

EEV P4428
EEV ARGUS 1
EEV ARGUS 2
EEV ARGUS 4

FLIR PM570
FLIR PM575
FLIR PM695
FLIR SC500
FLIR SC3000
FLIR E2
FLIR E4 (Upgraded to320x240 + enhanced menus)
FLIR One Generation 2 Android
FLIR MS224 upgraded to SCOUT II PS32
FLIR HS324 Commander

FLUKE / IRISYS VT02

INFRAMETRICS PM280
INFRAMETRICS ThermaSnap 525

IRISYS IRI 1011

ISG Talisman (Pyro vidicon version)
ISG Talisman (Wasp BST version)

MIKRON /NEC Avio MikroShot / F1S

NEC Avio TH7102W
NEC Avio TH7302W
NEC Avio TH9100

RAYTHEON 300A
RAYTHEON CADILLAC Deville Night vision

SATIR MinIR80

TESTO 880

Fraser

[sam1275]

Hi Fraser.
Thank you very much.
I thought that tripod mount was a heat sink embedded on the enclosure...
Your collections are really great!
Sam

[Fraser]

Sam,

I can totally understand you believing that the tripod adapter is a fixed part of the camera and a heat sink. That is what it looks like.

The Alpha User manual comments on the tripod adapter plate in section 5. I have attached a grab of that section for your reference. The tripod plate may safely be removed if not wanted in a particular application.

Fraser

[sam1275]

Sam,

I can totally understand you believing that the tripod adapter is a fixed part of the camera and a heat sink. That is what it looks like.

The Alpha User manual comments on the tripod adapter plate in section 5. I have attached a grab of that section for your reference. The tripod plate may safely be removed if not wanted in a particular application.

Fraser

Thank you very much, I appreciate your help.

[Fraser]

Sam,

You are most welcome. It was a pleasure to help.

Thank you for your thanks...... On some occasions I hear nothing back from those I assist. That can be somewhat disappointing.

Hope you enjoy playing with the Alpha. It is a nice little camera.

Frase

[Bill W]

The front photo posted is not an Alpha, it is an Omega.  The Alpha is a small lens aperture with shutter in front while the picture posted shows a conventional lens element.  So the good news is that it is a better camera and the 30mm lens will be quite narrow FoV.

Not sure if the control software will be the same though.

There is a big warning in the quick start guide that 'do not connect power and Aux I/O breakout box at once' which is a bit stronger than the warning as a footnote in para 8.2 of the manual!

Bill

[Fraser]

Hmmmm, not sure I agree regarding the Omega ID. The military document I referenced and the image I extracted shows the Alpha to be a closer match to the OP's images than an Omega. The Omega appears to have a different front plate around the lens. The Omega is a very different size and weight so it would be easy to be certain by just measuring the OP's camera.

Go on Sam, put us out of our misery and compare the dimensions of your camera with those in the manual.

I would be happy to be proved wrong as the Omegais indeed a better camera. The pictures just do not tally however. This demonstrates the importance of dimensional and weight data when trying to ID an otherwise bland looking camera.

Fraser

[Fraser]

Pictures of Indigo UL3 Omega front attached. Very different to the Alpha and OP images.

IIRC the Indigo Omega has a single multipole connector on the rear and no video or power connectors.

Size comparison:

Alpha: 1.7" x 1.7" x 3.0"

Omega: 1.4" x 1.3" x 1.9"

Weight without lens

Alpha: 186g

Omega: 102g

Fraser

[Fraser]

For information, the Indigo OMEGA was renamed the ThermoVision Micron by FLIR and is designated the A10 model.

I attach the user manual for the Micron. It is identical to the original OMEGA.

As I remembered, the OMEGA has a single rear connector.

Having revisited this, I still believe the OP's camera to be an Alpha and not an Omega model.

Fraser

[sam1275]

Thank you all!
My camera is 76x43x43 mm, so it is an alpha.