Flir E4 Thermal imaging camera teardown

[pomonabill221]

So I am kinda a security nut, I wanted to see some folks thoughts on incorporating this into a security system. I would just want a warning triggered on movement and then if the movement continues map it against some thermal profile to hopefully rule out small critters. I saw someone post a histogram based on the thermal profile and that might do the trick

My camera is not here yet but, am I crazy or do you guys think this is within reach?

One thing that I have noticed with the E4 (+) and probably other TIC's is that they do calibrate randomly (sometimes several times a minute, sometimes less... all due to temperature change), so this would be detected as motion unless you did some scene "crunching" to detect calibration cycles versus movement...
OR you just live with the change due to cal cycles.

[Taucher]

So I am kinda a security nut, I wanted to see some folks thoughts on incorporating this into a security system. I would just want a warning triggered on movement and then if the movement continues map it against some thermal profile to hopefully rule out small critters. I saw someone post a histogram based on the thermal profile and that might do the trick

My camera is not here yet but, am I crazy or do you guys think this is within reach?

My gut feeling is, that you're way better off with normal PIR detectors. There are some really nice ones available - even with dual sensor setup to eliminate false alarms, small animal compatibility etc. Those devices are rugged and made for permanent use - if you want to use a FLIR E4 outdoors, then you'll need a new enclosure and so on ... that will ruin your day.

If a PIR detector is not suitable (relfections from street-traffic etc) then take a look at radar sensors - a good setup and they will ignore the cat, but detect any human

Sometimes a "simple" solution is just superior to a more complex one

[vapid2323]

So I am kinda a security nut, I wanted to see some folks thoughts on incorporating this into a security system. I would just want a warning triggered on movement and then if the movement continues map it against some thermal profile to hopefully rule out small critters. I saw someone post a histogram based on the thermal profile and that might do the trick

My camera is not here yet but, am I crazy or do you guys think this is within reach?

My gut feeling is, that you're way better off with normal PIR detectors. There are some really nice ones available - even with dual sensor setup to eliminate false alarms, small animal compatibility etc. Those devices are rugged and made for permanent use - if you want to use a FLIR E4 outdoors, then you'll need a new enclosure and so on ... that will ruin your day.

If a PIR detector is not suitable (relfections from street-traffic etc) then take a look at radar sensors - a good setup and they will ignore the cat, but detect any human

Sometimes a "simple" solution is just superior to a more complex one

Thanks! Yeah, you might be right perhaps I might play around for the fun of it. Thanks for the advice

[Rasz]

unfortunately the lens of flir E40 at macro distances (0,4m) is only sharp in the center

crop captured images before throwing them at super resolution algo
your result image has ghosting on the edges, is that the result of soft edges in source data?

[OrBy]

Going back to pages 14x of this thread there was some talk on .image.targetNoise enabled/disabled and the mk value being changed from 135 to 5. I was re-reading some of it and didn't seem to come away with the best understanding of it. My question is - would it not give a clearer image if this was disabled or set to 0?

[Taucher]

targetNoise ... would it not give a clearer image if this was disabled or set to 0?

My opinion (as stated above): yes

[OrBy]

targetNoise ... would it not give a clearer image if this was disabled or set to 0?

My opinion (as stated above): yes

Wow that was fast. Followup Q - likely the best way of doing this is to re-role the e8.cfg editing:

.caps.config.image.targetNoise.enabled bool true
.caps.config.image.targetNoise.targetNoiseMk int32 5

should I just use

.caps.config.image.targetNoise.enabled bool false
.caps.config.image.targetNoise.targetNoiseMk int32 0

or just edit one or the other?

[Taucher]

e8.conf
.caps.config.image.targetNoise.enabled bool false
.caps.config.image.targetNoise.targetNoiseMk int32 0

[OrBy]

e8.conf
.caps.config.image.targetNoise.enabled bool false
.caps.config.image.targetNoise.targetNoiseMk int32 0

Thanks Taucher! I also had the chance to install BETA3 tonight. Lots to play with tomorrow now 

[mikeselectricstuff]

Going back to pages 14x of this thread there was some talk on .image.targetNoise enabled/disabled and the mk value being changed from 135 to 5. I was re-reading some of it and didn't seem to come away with the best understanding of it. My question is - would it not give a clearer image if this was disabled or set to 0?

There is nothing special about 5 - the only reason it's 5 in my  template e8.cfg file is that I made 3 versions to test, with 135 (original value), 35 and 5  to compare the difference - I left it at 5 as I assumed there would be minimal difference  between 0 and 5, and a small amount of noise can reduce visible banding.
 

[tomas123]

I posted here a sample for stacking images
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/flir-e4-thermal-imaging-camera-teardown/msg363213/#msg363213


Testo published a nice paper for SuperResolution (super-sampling and deconvolution)

http://www.testosites.de/export/sites/default/thermalimaging/resources/downloads/Background_article_SuperResolution_EN.pdf
edit 17.08.2015: dead link, use attachment

you can see this effect on the pins of the LQFP64 (pin-distance: 0.5mm)

single image (see left side of chip - pins are different blurred)


stacked image (all pins are sharp)

[daves]

stacked image

Yet better result you should get by little shift every photo.

[tomas123]

 

I used a tripod and moved the cam a little while recording.

I record a RAW movie with Flir E40 with this commands (a batch script)

Code: [Select]

rset .image.services.rtrecord.filename \StorageCard\001.seq
rset .image.services.rtrecord.count 90
rset .image.services.rtrecord.frequency 30
rset .image.services.rtrecord.active true
delay 5
rset .image.services.rtrecord.store true

- with .image.services.rtrecord.active start the record (90 frames with 30 fps)
- the clip is stored in memory
- the command .image.services.rtrecord.store save the movie clip from memory to flash

I can't use a counter larger  as 160 frames -> the Flir E40 goes to out of memory

Code: [Select]

\>memory
           69% memory load.
     94,957,568 bytes total physical RAM.
     29,454,336 bytes available physical RAM.

after 160Frames = 24MB
\>memory
         98% memory load.
      94,957,568 bytes total physical RAM.
      2,727,936 bytes available physical RAM.

I haven't yet tried this with Flir E4

rls gives the same switches

Code: [Select]

.image.services.rtrecord: (6)
rw--rw------1- 0 root   root   <a> action                  "RECORD"
                 ["RECORD" "PLAYBACK"]
rw--rw------1- 0 root   root   <b> active                     false
rw--rw------1- 0 root   root   <i> count                         16
                 [2, 1000]
rw--rw-------- 1 root   root   <a> filename        "\Temp\default.seq"
rw--rw------1- 0 root   root   <d> frequency                     10
                 [0.01, 60]
rw--rw------1- 0 root   root   <b> store                      false

you can select a frequency of [0.01, 60] 

[calle]

Just got my Flir e4 today, hacked and ready to do some work!

Bought at Proffsmagasinet, Stockholm, Sweden
Modell    E4 1.1
S/N        639109**   ( leaving a few numbers out due to possible warrantyvoid.. )
Firmware 1.19.8

Thanks all you clever nerds whose work i prey upon

edit: just found my cal-date
December 23 Estonia

[daves]

I just rewrote Tomas123 flir.php for batch processing and without need of PHP. Its standalone EXE app. Only for Windows users.

Any one interested in testing and giving feedback before I will release public version ? I the other words, looking for tester
It is very first version I quickly put together today.

[Fraser]

Nice work 

[randy]

Guys I am not a teck guy. I just want to know what does "Make sure there is exactly one CRLF at the end of the file" mean. It is written in the description to hack e4 to e8. Thanks in advance.

[Taucher]

Guys I am not a teck guy. I just want to know what does "Make sure there is exactly one CRLF at the end of the file" mean. It is written in the description to hack e4 to e8. Thanks in advance.

That's a linefeed-style (PC) - if unsure try my EzCRC01 (see footer)

[Taucher]

I just rewrote Tomas123 flir.php for batch processing and without need of PHP. Its standalone EXE app. Only for Windows users.

Any one interested in testing and giving feedback before I will release public version ? I the other words, looking for tester
It is very first version I quickly put together today.

I vote for "post the code" - no need to be shy!

[mrflibble]

Guys I am not a teck guy. I just want to know what does "Make sure there is exactly one CRLF at the end of the file" mean. It is written in the description to hack e4 to e8. Thanks in advance.

CRLF == end of line on a regular PC editor (aka notepad). Press enter at end of line and you just added a CRLF.

[pomonabill221]

WOW has there been tons of research on the configuration files!!!
I took a look at the addmenu beta 3/design_ui_z3.xml and have a couple of questions about it.
1) can the section  <ui_model type="EmissivityMaterialSettingsModel" name="emissivityMaterialModel">
    <ui_model_item type="SettingItem" label="ID_EMISS_CONCRETE" value="0.95"/>
    <ui_model_item type="SettingItem" label="ID_EMISS_WATER_FROST" value="0.98"/> ....
be resorted alphabetically buy moving the lines around?

2)can I change the power options timers from
  <!--Submenu: Power Options-->
  <ui_model type="AutoPowerOffSettingsModel" name="autoPowerOffSettingsModel">
    <ui_model_item type="SettingItem" ID="POWER_OFF" label="ID_SETUP_OFF" radio="true"/>
    <ui_model_item type="SettingItem" ID="POWER_5_MIN" label="ID_SETUP_5_MIN" radio="true"/>
    <ui_model_item type="SettingItem" ID="POWER_20_MIN" label="ID_SETUP_20_MIN" radio="true"/>
  </ui_model>
to other times, such as 15 min and 60 min by replacing the values/

3) Is the backlight brightness for low/medium/high predefined in hardware?  I would like to change the low and medium levels if possible.

One more... where is the Flir logo "color" setting?  I wouldn't mind trying a very faint image being displayed.

Don't know if it is dooable, but when powering down it might be fancy to pop up a message to remind the user to close the lens cover, or is the power button control the power section of the camera.  Was wondering because a short push of the power button puts the camera in sleep for a while, but a long push (over 5 seconds) turns the camera off.

Thanks!!!!

[mikeselectricstuff]

Don't know if it is dooable, but when powering down it might be fancy to pop up a message to remind the user to close the lens cover, or is the power button control the power section of the camera.  Was wondering because a short push of the power button puts the camera in sleep for a while, but a long push (over 5 seconds) turns the camera off.

Thanks!!!!

I suspect the long button to power down may be a hardware, or very low-level software thing, just like on a PC. It would be good to have a way to tell if it had gone to sleep or power-off, but I suspect this would need to be done at a lower level than we're playing at.

[Taucher]

...fancy to pop up a message to remind the user to ...

I suspect the long button to power down may be a hardware, or very low-level software thing, just like on a PC. It would be good to have a way to tell if it had gone to sleep or power-off, but I suspect this would need to be done at a lower level than we're playing at.

Well, assuming it's windows I'd guess there's a powermanagement-API that we could try to hook, add an extra daemon to the startup-bat to wait and intercept the API call, then display a message and shut down after a timeout... but I'd be the first one wanting to remove that annoyance

Again a low-tech variant is probably more efficient: place a nice, visible sticker inside the storage-case next to the Ex's resting space.
Label it "Attention: remove battery / deep-sleep active?" - and the beauty is: one can even customize the look

[Taucher]

....
1) can the section  <ui_model type="EmissivityMaterialSettingsModel" name="emissivityMaterialModel">
    <ui_model_item type="SettingItem" label="ID_EMISS_CONCRETE" value="0.95"/>
... be resorted alphabetically buy moving the lines around?

2)can I change the power options timers from
  <ui_model type="AutoPowerOffSettingsModel" name="autoPowerOffSettingsModel">
    <ui_model_item type="SettingItem" ID="POWER_OFF" label="ID_SETUP_OFF" radio="true"/>
...
to other times, such as 15 min and 60 min by replacing the values/

3) Is the backlight brightness for low/medium/high predefined in hardware?  I would like to change the low and medium levels if possible.

4) One more... where is the Flir logo "color" setting?  I wouldn't mind trying a very faint image being displayed.

@ 1): just resort them and see what happens - I think they were sorted by alphabet before I messed with them - anyway "never" used

@ 2+3): I find the default values are just fine, but take a look at .power.setting (below) values below (telnet, command rls). You can replace the default settings by a new "model" that changes the wanted value directly - anything with ID_ is a pre-defined placeholder (defined in the language-files) and usually pre-associated with some value(in facet_ui_qml.dll), but the registry most times allows for entry of numeric values - best idea: first test by using rls/rset over telnet.

Define a SettingsValueModel, change the ID to something unique, label it, set min, max and step (better don't allow 0 as it would turn off the backlight), define resource="..power.settings.trueBacklight"
... then add that model-name to a menu entry where you like it - don't add it inside a RADIO list - you can take my humidity settings as example.

Strings:
AUTO_POWER_OFF:     ID_SETUP_OFF    ID_SETUP_5_MIN    ID_SETUP_20_MIN
DISPLAY_INTENSITY:   ID_SETUP_LOW    ID_SETUP_MEDIUM    ID_SETUP_HIGH
Low, Medium, High here are direct values inside the registry, which on change sets the true value (see below) - the situation is different with the auto-power-off settings.

.power.settings: (12)
 acOffTime                   1140 <- would be 19 minutes + 55 sec + 5 sec = 20 minutes
 acSysIdleTime                 55
 acUserIdleTime                 5
 battOffTime                 1140 <-- same here
 battSysIdleTime               55
 battUserIdleTime               5
 dumpActive                  true <-- write statistics, probably better get turned off in some .rsc.. but might have side-effects
 laserAllowed                true <-- useless
 laserEnable                false <-- useless
 screenSaverEnable          false <-- useless
 subjectiveBkl           "medium"  <-- allowed: ["low" "medium" "high"] .. sets the "trueBacklight" value
 trueBacklight                 40   <= 40% PWM, this is the value you'd want to fine-tune for better backlight control


@4) this has been discussed with another user already -  it's a ressource file manipulation (RCC) - I prefer not having the logo on, as it's no longer a "pure" FLIR ... not to forget that the logo takes away visible image pixels which were hard-earned

[pomonabill221]

Don't know if it is dooable, but when powering down it might be fancy to pop up a message to remind the user to close the lens cover, or is the power button control the power section of the camera.  Was wondering because a short push of the power button puts the camera in sleep for a while, but a long push (over 5 seconds) turns the camera off.

Thanks!!!!

I suspect the long button to power down may be a hardware, or very low-level software thing, just like on a PC. It would be good to have a way to tell if it had gone to sleep or power-off, but I suspect this would need to be done at a lower level than we're playing at.

hhmmm... yes probably correct... for as little as I know about what the E4 is doing and what the files do, I thought I might ask rather than play around... YET...  I am learning though!  Thank you.