REVIEW: Dianyang Technology CA10 Circuit Board Thermal Analyzer - Repair / R&D

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Dianyang Technology CA-10 Thermal PCBA Analyzer

User Review June/July 2021

Hardware Version 1.1.0
Software Version  1.0.2

Introduction:

PCBA thermal analysis and profiling

In the fields of electronic research, development and repair the thermal imaging camera can offer an insight into circuit and component behaviour that is otherwise challenging or time consuming to achieve with other test equipment. When designing electronics there can be issues with component cooling and casing designs that need to be addressed for longevity of the product. In the field of electronics repair the thermal profile of a PCBA can reveal components that are in thermal distress, high currents passing through conductors or an unexpected operating state, such as parts of a circuit not operating or operating when they should not. Modern electronics can use the smallest of SMT components in high density PCB layouts that challenge the repair tech if a component causes a low impedance on a power supply rail. The thermal imaging analysis of such a PCBA may reveal the source of the low impedance or short circuit through the thermal signature that is created.

Historically generic thermal imaging systems have been used or adapted for use as PCBA analysis tools. This often involved arranging a suitable mounting system and modification of the cameras close-focus distance to achieve the required clarity in the thermal scene. Whilst such adaption is capable of producing good results, the solution can be cumbersome and the analysis software limited in functionality suitable for PCBA thermal profiling.

In recent years there have been some thermal imaging solutions specifically designed to serve the needs of these who need to carry out thermal analysis of PCBA's. Whilst such equipment can be invaluable to the technical operative in their work, it has traditionally been an expensive investment. Less expensive dedicated PCBA thermal analysis solutions have been produced but these are often limited in their capabilities by low resolution and/or imaging core performance.

Dianyang Technology has released the CA-10 PCBA Thermal analysis system to meet the needs of both R&D and Repair technicians. The system was developed after research was completed into what the intended customer base needed and wanted from such an imaging system. I am specifically using the term "system" rather than just 'camera' and a PCBA thermal analysis solution needs to be far more than just a camera. It should provide a thermal imaging camera of suitable performance, coupled with an ergonomic mounting system and an analysis software package capable of providing images required by the intended user. Dianyang Technology believe that the CA-10 fulfils all of these requirements and is a complete PCBA analysis solution. This review will present the authors experiences whilst testing the CA-10 system and any comments deemed of interest.


Summary:

The Dianyang CA-10 PCBA thermal analysis system is, without doubt, a well crafted solution that will appeal to those needing such a capability for Electronics R&D or Repair activities. The system uses quality components yet manages to maintain a list price that could be afforded by many individuals or small businesses. The required financial investment is now easily offset by the efficiency gains of PCBA thermal profiling and inspection.

In the relatively limited range of dedicated PCBA thermal imaging solutions, the CA-10 shines as a well engineered and ergonomic design that provides the required imaging to enable the user to make informed decisions. It is the view of the author that any modern R&D or Repair section should equip themselves with a thermal imaging capability as such has never been more affordable and offers much to the user. The CA-10 would be well worth serious consideration if seeking such a PCBA thermal analysis capability.

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CA-10 system Description:

The Dianyang Technology (DYT) PCBA thermal analysis system is a dedicated solution that has been designed to meet the specialist needs of those who need to thermally profile a printed circuit board assembly. As such the system closely follows the design of another PCBA inspection tool, namely the optical microscope.

The system uses a solid metal base to provide stability and a working area on which a PCBA may be placed. A vertical pole is securely mounted to the base and in harmony with a Z axis adjustment system positions the camera head at the desired working height above the PCBA. The camera is equipped with a manual focus lens that may be used in harmony with the Z axis controls to achieve proper system focus. 

System connectivity to the host PC is accomplished using a standard USB umbilical cable and this also provides power to the camera.

The image collection and analysis software is installed on a standard PC that is using Windows 7 or 10 software. The PC and software provide the user with the required imagery and analysis functions.   



CA-10 Published Specifications:

Resolution: 260 x 200 pixels
Frame Rate: 25Hz
NETD: 70mk@25C
Focus Distance: 2mm to Infinity
Measurement Temperature range : -10C to +120C (potentially higher temperatures in the future)
Measurement accuracy: +/- 2C +/-2%
Interface to Host: USB C / USB 2
Operating systems supported: Windows 7 and Windows 10

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Unboxing:

The DYT CA-10 is delivered in a very neat cardboard box that is similar to those used for laptops and tablet computers. The box is fitted with custom foam inserts to protect the camera system in transit. The transit box is of such quality that it may be used to store the CA-10 system when not in use.

The following items are contained in the box

1. Metal Base plate Qty 1
2. Vertical pole assembly pre-fitted with Z axis adjustment mechanism Qty 1
3. Camera Head assembly Qty 1
4. USB C umbilical cable Qty 1
5. Socket head countersunk screws Qty 4 (2 are spares)
6. Allen Key screwdriver for socket head screws Qty 1
7. Quick start guide Qty 1
8. Inspection certificate Qty 1

No software is provided in the box as this is downloaded direct from the Dianyang Technology Website to ensure that the user has the latest version.

No lens cap for the camera was provided in the box which was a pity as dust and dirt contamination on the thermal camera lens is best avoided where possible.

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Assembly:

Assembling the three main parts of the CA-10 system was a simple matter of attaching the vertical pole assembly to the base plate using two of the provided socket head countersunk screws and inserting the camera head horizontal arm into the Z axis adjustment mechanism. It was then just a case of installing the CA-10 software and connecting the camera to the Windows PC using the USB C umbilical cable.

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Hardware:

The hardware used in the CA-10 design is impressive considering its price point. Anodised grey coated aluminium pervades and gives the system a feeling of quality and stability. The author was pleasantly surprised at the use of so much metal in the design and quality of the engineering employed. it appears that no corners have been cut on the mechanical design front which is good to see.

Starting with the least interesting, but still important part of the hardware, namely  the base plate. This is a two piece construction, a solid anodised aluminium base plate with a rubber sheet attached to it to support and insulate the PCBA under test. The base plate provides a choice of two mounting positions for the vertical pole bracket and two additional holes that are used if the base plate expansion kit is used. The base plate measures 220mm x 170mm but this may be expanded by adding another base plate of the same size alongside it. A pair of securing plates rigidly join the two plates together. This expansion capability is good to see but those who do not need such do not pay for it as the base expansion kit is an optional extra. The underside of the base plate is fitted with good quality low profile rubber feet to help prevent the system sliding around on a surface. 

The vertical pole assembly that attaches to the base plate and supports the camera head is an "all metal" design. The actual vertical pole and its associated bottom bracket are made from anodised aluminium and are of good quality and finish. At the top of the pole there is a removable screw cap that has been beautifully designed. the poles height may be extended by 50% by the attachment of a pole extension kit. This extension has a male threaded end that securely mounts into the female threaded section of the vertical pole. This is an excellent idea but the extension pole is an optional extra as not all users require the extra height.

Mounted on the vertical pole is the Z axis (height) adjustment mechanism. It is not uncommon to find a simple sliding bracket with locking screw on inexpensive digital microscope and some PCBA thermal camera  stands but the CA-10 mounting system is a more refined design in several ways. The mechanism is mostly made from anodised aluminium except where steel or nylon parts are required for performance purposes. A mounting bracket is attached to the vertical pole for course height adjustment. This bracket contains a nylon sleeve that slides easily on the vertical pole and a metal threaded locking knob secures the mount at the required height. In many inferior designs the threaded knob is either plastic or uses a metal thread that marks the vertical poles surface. The CA-10 mechanical design engineer has not only use a quality custom anodised aluminium knob assembly but has also mounted a correctly contoured nylon tip on the bolt to prevent damage to the poles surface. Such good engineering practice is good to see in a product and 'shouts' quality. The pole mount forms part of the fine vertical adjustment mechanism. This fine adjustment may appear unnecessary to some, and I had such thoughts, but have since changed my mind. The fine vertical adjustment mechanism uses a sliding dovetail assembly that is positioned using a good quality lead screw, nut, ball bearing face and metal knob. the whole fine adjustment mechanism oozes quality design and some might say that it is over engineered. The use of a lead screw and nut is not uncommon in mini milling machines where height adjustment needs to be precise. its use in the CA-10 design shows thought and it works very well indeed for fine tuning the height and focus of the system. This vertical (Z Axis) height adjustment mechanism must have been a significant cost to manufacture but this is further evidence of the commitment DYT have to providing a quality product to the customer rather than one heavily compromised by cost reduction changes. I applaud this business philosophy.

The course and fine height adjustment mechanism provides a mounting point for the camera head assembly. The mounting point is similar to the vertical pole mount bracket design and uses a nylon sleeved hole with a nylon tipped threaded metal knob. The camera head assembly is fitted with a horizontal anodised aluminium tubular arm that fits into the vertical pole mount assembly with precision. The sliding horizontal tubular arm is used to set the position of the camera head over the base plate.


The Camera head is arguably the most interesting part of the CA-10 system for the technically minded as it is the 'business end' of the system that collects the thermal data. The mechanical design of the camera head is an excellent combination of simplicity and complexity in good balance. The camera head casing is a neat contoured rectangular casing comprising a top section into which the internal components are secured, and a bottom casing cover that is secured in place by six self tapping screws. The camera head casing is made from ABS plastic but is painted the same colour as the rest of the system so this is not immediately obvious to the user. The camera head provides the user with manual focussing of the lens. The manual focus ring is a two part anodised aluminium assembly of excellent quality and design. Once again the designer elected to go for quality rather than the cheapest option. The first part of the focus ring mounts around the cameras lens barrel and is held in place by three grub screws. This forms a very solid base onto which the second part of the focus ring is attached using two machine screws. The assembly uses flange contouring for self centring alignment of the two focus ring components. A very nice piece of design work and DYT could so easily have elected to use cheaper ABS plastic for the focus ring. The anodised aluminium focus ring gives a feeling of quality to the adjustment.

 
As previously stated, the camera head attaches to the vertical pole assembly using a horizontal tubular arm. Instead of a direct fixed flange connection between the head casing and the tubular arm, the designer incorporated an aluminium knuckle joint that permits the head casing to be tilted in the vertical plane. This is yet another example of the design going beyond the minimum requirement and is welcomed by the author. The knuckle joint is preloaded to provide a good level of resistance to unintended movement, yet is easily angled by the user to suit their needs. The knuckle joint is mounted to the plastic camera head casing using four machine screws. As is good engineering practice, there is a large aluminium 'load spreader' plate on the inside of the head casing and this has been threaded to take the knuckle mounting screws. This approach is far superior to using threaded brass inserts in the plastic casing as found on some products. The load spreader plate will prevent cracking of the plastic at the mounting point even if unreasonable force is applied to the knuckle joint and associated mounting plate. moving to the other end of the horizontal tubular head arm it was good to see that the designer included a standard 1/4" 20TPI threaded hole to increase the cameras versatility. The camera head may be removed from the supplied mounting solution and attached to a different mounting system using the standard tripod thread in its tubular arm. This is a welcome inclusion in the design. Many users of the CA-10 may choose to only use the provided base assembly but DYT have catered for those with special requirements who may wish to use an articulated arm or custom mounting solution.

The CA-10 does not come with any form of lens protection system or lens cap. The author recommends adding a lens cap to the system for fitting when not in use.

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Hardware continued......

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Hardware Continued......

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Hardware continued.......

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Hardware continued......

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DytSpectrumOwl Thermal Analysis Software:

As many readers will already know, a hardware/software hybrid solution can stand or fall depending upon the quality of the parts. If the hardware is of excellent quality yet the software is severely wanting in terms of its performance, the product can fail. Sadly it is sometimes the case that the software is almost an afterthought in product development and starved of resources. 

In the case of the CA-10 the software performance is a critical part of the system as it is used to analyze and display the important thermal information for the users interpretation. Failure to provide the required performance will be unacceptable to most serious users of such a system.

With the above in mind the Author will test the functionality of the provided software and highlight any significant deficiencies so that Dianyang Technology can address them in a future software release.

Installation:

The software is downloaded directly from the Dianyang Technology web site (www.dianytech.com) and is supplied as a single .ZIP file that contains all that is needed for installation on Windows 10. Legacy Windows 7 will require the Host PC to have the required .NET files already present. From the look of the Dianyang Technology web site, the English version of the site appears to be a 'work in progress' and there is no detail of the software download except a download URL. The software version available for download is DytSpectrumOwl V1.0.0 but this has been superseded by version V1.0.2. Software updates are accessed from within the program.

For this review the software was installed on a Circa 2013 HP Elitebook 2170p that contains an i5-3427U 1.8/2.3Ghz CPU and 8GB of RAM with the Windows 7 64 bit operating system.

There is no software licensing procedure as the CA-10 camera is needed for operation. Installation of the software was achieved without incident and the program runs without fuss and appears to be stable. The installed program files are self contained and may be transferred to another computer by simply copying the whole DytSpectrumOwl folder. The installed software uses approximately 56MB of the Host PC's storage.

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The Software 'desktop' layout


At start the Software defaults to the Troubleshooting mode desktop

The Palette button offers the user a choice of 5 colour palette LUT's but these do not include any monochrome palettes which is a pity

The "T mark" button provides a 'text mark-up' capability for the user to annotate images.

The "Rotate" button is self explanatory and offers image rotation and mirroring functions.

The "Compare" button is used to switch between the 2D and 3D image formats. The PC's 'Space' bar offers the same functionality.

"Reset Image" effectively resets the viewed image to its most basis display with no markers or measurements present. This is useful if the image becomes too crowded and the user wants to clear the image of clutter for additional actions.

"Tutorials" is just a shortcut to the PDF User manual / Tutorial document. This document may be saved for reading outside of the program if desired. This PDF file, and others, are present in the "Help" folder of the CA10 software installation.

The Camera symbol provides a thermal image 'Snapshot' function. The image thumbnail to its right provides Image browsing of previously captures screenshots. The storage format is JPEG. Most images produce a file size in the range 200KB to 400KB.

The Video Camera symbol activated the desktop image recording function that records not only the thermal image but also the DytSpectrumOwl desktop. The image thumbnail to its right provides browsing of previous video recordings. The storage file type is MP4. A 10 second video typically produces a video file size of less than 2MB but this is test subject dependant.

The settings are accessed via the Gearwheel symbol and this provides access to settings including Language, Picture and Video file storage location, thermal analyzer parameters, temperature units and sound file settings.


In the image analysis menu bar area there are four headings that may be selected to provide different software functionality. These are... Troubleshoot, 3D Analysis,  Comparison and Circuit Design. Greater detail is provided below to make the functionality of each option clearer to the reader.

Troubleshoot is the most basic option and may be considered the quick start option for fast assessment of a PCB. It provides basic features to identify areas of the PCBA that are emitting thermal energy or appear to be in distress with high temperature readings.

3D Analysis displays can be considered a 'gimmick' in some situations but in this case there is merit in its inclusion in the software. This mode basically creates a 3D thermal image that can often resemble a mountain range ! The 'mountain' peaks are the points on the PCBA that are generating the highest thermal emissions and the 'valleys' are areas of low thermal emission. Intermittent thermal emissions can often be easily identified in the 3D view as pulsing 'mountain' peaks. This feature is provided to aid the user in identifying unusual thermal activity on the PCBA but will take some practice to master. It is a 'no cost' inclusion in the software package and is welcomed by the author.

Comparison mode appears to be a very useful feature for the repair tech or R&D operative who wishes to compare a 'reference' PCBA with one that is under test. The mode basically divides the thermal display screen in half and the two PCBA's to be compared are carefully positioned in their respective halves of the display. A direct comparison may be made between the two PCBA's using regions of interest comparisons and spot temperature measurements. The user may quickly identify any thermal behaviour that differs to the known good reference. sadly there is nit the option to use a stored radiometric reference image file in place of the physical reference PCBA.

"Circuit Design" mode may best be thought of as a mode for technicians who wish to delve deeper into the thermal characteristics of a PCBA. Research and Development techs would likely operate in this mode by default as it offers the greatest thermal analysis capabilities.

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Troubleshooting Mode:


Temperature Measurement

Spot
The temperature of any point on the thermal image may be measured with a spot temperature marker.

Rectangle
This function is often known as the Region of Interest (ROI) Rectangle creation tool.

Polygon
This function is often known as the Region of Interest (ROI) Polygon creation tool.

High temperature

High temperature tracing
When this function is selected it identifies the highest temperature location and value in  the whole thermal scene and any part of it identified by the Rectangle or Polygon ROI functions.

High temperature alarm
A temperature monitoring and alarm function that once configured and enabled will indicate the presence of a temperature in the scene that exceeds to preset threshold. The alarm generates a flashing red border to the displayed scene and an alarm sounds to gain the users attention.   

Image Enhancement

Rectangle Area Inspection
This function creates a thermal image that is monochrome except for a user or system generated ROI rectangle. Within the ROI rectangle the currently selected colour palette is applied. DYT believe that this enhances the user experience when wishing to only analyze a specific area of a PCBA.

Highlight High TEMP area
When this function is enabled the thermal display becomes monochrome with the areas of highest temperature highlighted in colour and with a fixed temperature range applied rather than the usual dynamic (automatic) temperature ranging normally present.

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3D imaging mode:

As has already been stated, this mode produces a colour 'mountain range' like thermal map of the PCBA with the highest peaks corresponding to the highest thermal emission areas of the thermal scene.

Morphological Change mode (who thought up that title ?!)

This mode permits the user to set the upper and lower limits of thermal emissions in the scene that are displayed in the 3D plot. Any area that is above or below the set limits is not shown on the display.

Colour Changes mode

This mode allows the user to set the upper and lower temperature points on the chosen colour palette LUT scale. Temperatures above the upper set point appear white whilst temperatures below the lower set point appear black in the 3D plot.

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Comparison Mode

In addition to the usual Region of Interest tools found in the basic Troubleshooting mode, the Comparison Mode adds the duplication and position matching rectangle ROI so that any rectangle drawn on the left side of the screen is replicated on the right side for comparison. The temperature plots for the ROI may be merged onto one graph or separated for side by side comparison.

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Circuit Design Mode:

This mode adds to features present in the Troubleshooting mode with ROI temperature plotting modes.

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Setup Menu contents

General
Storage
Camera Parameters
Update
About

General

Language
Temperature follow the mouse ON/OFF
Temperature Unit C/F
Alarm Sound - 8 choices
Alarm Duration - Set in Seconds (Default 5)
3D Contrast Level - Range of 1 to 5 (Default 3)

Storage

Picture Folder - Browse to folder
Video Folder - Browse to folder

Camera Parameters

Emissivity - 0.01 -1.00 (Default 0.98)
Distance (M) - 0-5
Humidity (%) - 0-100
Correction - 0.0 - ? (Default 0.0)
Reflected Temperature - User entry (Default 25C)
Ambient Temperature - User entry (Default 25C)
Default - Set to Factory Default

Update

Automatically Check for updates (check box)
Check now (immediate Update search)

About

Shenzhen Dianyang Technology Co. Ltd
www.dianytech.com

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Testing of the CA-10 system


The CA-10 Thermal PCBA Analyzer was used to image the following test subjects for this review:

The Raspberry Pi 3B

The Amazon Firestick TV Mk1 Dongle

Generic AV Bluetooth Transmitter and Receiver

SMT Resistors - 0402, 0603, 0805 and 1206 sizes

Nichrome 'Hot Wire' test target (0.38mm diameter Nichrome wire)

'Lollipop' thermal reference

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Measurement Accuracy confidence test

A portable 'Lollipop' thermal reference target was used to test the CA-10 temperature measurement accuracy. The reference target uses a heated disc shaped emitter plate and a calibrated digital thermometer to produce a known temperature at the emission plate.

The Emission plate reading was +60.0C

The CA-10 measured the emission plate and reported +60.0C

This quick test was passed without difficulty by the CA-10.

The DytSpectrumOwl offers a calibration offset feature in its 'Settings' menu so any calibration error may be managed via that setting

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Troubleshooting Mode

Palettes - Iron, Peacock, Rainbow, Summer, Desert
T Mark - Text or Arrow mark-up
Rotate - Rotate, Flip-H or Flip-V
Compare - No function - used only in 3D mode
Reset- Clears all overlays, ROI's and measurements from the thermal scene

Flying spot temperature always available and controlled by the mouse for instant temperature checking anywhere in the thermal scene.

Spot: Easily applied. The spot may be removed using the mouse left button and the close 'X' that appears.

The spot may be moved using a mouse left button hold and drag to new location process.

Simple to use and effective.


Rectangle: Creation of a rectangular Region of Interest (ROI) using the mouse left button and drag to size process.

As with the Spot the Rectangle mat be removed using the left mouse button and the close 'X' that appears. It may also be moved using the left button hold and drag to new location process

The ROI may be resized using the edge cursors


Polygon: Creation of a polygonal Region of Interest (ROI) using the mouse left button and drag to size process.

As with the Spot the Rectangle mat be removed using the left mouse button and the close 'X' that appears. It may also be moved using the left button hold and drag to new location process

The ROI may be resized using the corner cursors

Note: During testing it was noted that whilst a Polygon and Rectangle could be present in the scene simultaneously, a Polygon does not always complete if it is too close to a Rectangle ROI.

High Temperature Tracing : When activated this function accurately tracks the highest temperature and displays it. The function acts on the whole scene or a Region of Interest.


High Temperature Alarm : This was tested with a threshold temperature of 30C and a target of 34C. The Alarm activated and produced a flashing red border to the thermal scene and an audio alert. The Audio alert continued for the preset period after the thermal target was removed from the scene.

Note: The Temperature Alarm function does not produce a location identifier or temperature measurement in the scene to identify the Alarms origin.


Rectangle Area Inspection : This creates a ROI rectangle at the centre of the thermal scene if no Rectangular ROI is already present. The ROI may be moved and resized using the mouse left button and drag function.

This function will only work with a Rectangular ROI and not a Polygon ROI.

This function may be used at the same time as the Highest Temperature Area function.


The software offers both still image and video recording modes but sadly neither are radiometric at this time. Saved images cannot, therefore, be analyzed using the software. That makes the CA-10 a 'Real Time' thermal analysis tool. Future software development may offer radiometric image saving and this would be a significant and useful addition to the package.

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3D Mode

High Temperature Alarm works as expected

Morphological Change mode works as expected

Colour Changes mode works as expected

Compare Switch - 3D to 2D temporary switch works as expected

The Palette may be Changed to any of the 5 available

Note: There is Photo save function available but the Video save function is present and working.

There are no Spot temperature, Rotate, or Marking functions available in this mode

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Comparison Mode

Spot Temperature measurement is local to each side and is not replicated across to  the RHS

A Rectangular ROI may only be created on the LHS as this is the 'Reference' against which other PCBA's are compared. The Rectangular ROI position is replicated on the RHS.

A Polygon ROI may be created on the LHS in the same way as a Rectangular ROI. It is replicated across to the RHS.

Rectangle ROI Temperature Plotting

This offers merged or separate highest temperature or Average temperature plotting within the Rectangular ROI.

Polygon ROI Temperature Plotting

This offers merged or separate highest temperature or Average temperature plotting within the Polygonal ROI.


High Temperature tracking, when enabled, tracks the highest temperature on each side of the dividing line and the points are independent of each other.

The High Temperature Alarm monitors both sides of the diving line and activates if the temperature threshold is exceeded on either side.

The colour Palette may be changed

The T Mark Text and Arrow mark-up feature is available

The Rotate feature is available.

The 'Compare' button function is not active in the Comparison mode as it is used in 3D mode only.

The photo and video save functions include the overlays


The Comparison mode does not offer the comparison of a saved reference image with the PCBA under test. In light of the current lack of radiometric image saving, this limitation is understandable. the comparison mode is very much a 'real time' tool requiring a physical reference PCBA to be present. The mode remains valid and very useful to some users however. The venerable and much respected Huntron Tracker I-V PCBA fault tracing system required a physical 'known good' reference PCBA when working in comparison mode so this requirement is nothing new.

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Circuit Design Mode

This mode is the same as the Troubleshooting mode but contains some additional temperature plotting capabilities.


Photo saving is provided and works as expected

Video saving is provided and works as expected

Spot Temperature and works as expected

Line ROI (additional feature) works as expected

Rectangle ROI works as expected

Polygon ROI works as expected


Analysis (Additional Mode)


Line ROI Highest or average Temperature plotting works as expected

Rectangle ROI Highest or average temperature plotting of area within ROI works as expected

Polygon ROI Highest or average temperature plotting of area within ROI works as expected

Note: More than one ROI plot in a scene is not supported.

No 'Save' facility is available for the temperature plot.


ISSUE: During an ROI plot, if the mouse left button is clicked anywhere on the DYTSpectrumOwl display outside the plot window the plot window disappears leaving just the ROI. The plot was not recoverable and a new ROI plot had to be created.

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Hot wire Test

A black enamel painted Nichrome wire of 0.38mm diameter is placed within the cameras field of view and the electrical current through the wire is slowly increased whilst the thermal cameras imaging performance is monitored. This replicates the increase in temperature requires from a PCBA copper trace that is required to see the change against background. This information can be very useful when injecting current into a sensitive PCBA that contains a short circuit. Excessive injection current can damage a PCBA with fine tracks. This test is by no means comprehensive or scientific. It is just a simple assessment of minimum detectable wire heating.

Minimum easily detected wire heating occurred at 80mA

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SMT component imaging test

Different sizes of SMT Resistors were connected to test jig and current passed through them to create heat for the thermal camera to image. The distance between the camera and the SMT component was as close as ~10mm

0402 First......

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0603 size......