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......

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0805 size......

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1206 size......

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Raspberry Pi 3 Model B running Raspien in idle state

During testing the various larger IC's were seen to having changing thermal output and one in particular was pulsing hotter and cooler. A video of this effect is included at the end of the test pictures.

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Raspberry Pi 3B continued....

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Raspberry Pi 3B continued....

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Raspberry Pi 3B continued....

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Raspberry Pi 3B continued....

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The video of the R-Pi 'pulsing IC 

The file is MP4 in a ZIP file to enable upload here.

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Amazon Firestick TV Dongle Mk1

These particular TV Dongles are well known fro running rather too hot for their own good. There are blue heat pads thermally coupling some areas and IC's to the casing but as the casing is plastic, metal has had to be added in one area to aid cooling. The coling remains inadequate however and a metal casing woul dbe neeeded to significantly imptrove this aspect of the desigm Look at the temperatures on teh IC's after only a short period of being powered and not even actively streaming data.

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Firestick continued......

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Firestick continued......

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Firestick continued......

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Firestick continued......

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Firestick continued.......

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Firestick continued......

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Firestick continued........

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A couple of videos of the firestick showing one IC pulsing in standby and another showing internal activity that is cyclic with different areas of the IC 'lighting up' 

First the pulsing IC

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Now the video of activity inside an IC. You will see a hotter area at the botton left of the IC, then two areas at the top becoming active and then a 'flash' of energy as the left around to teh top top of the IC caused by an increased thermal output for just an instant before dropping back to the hotter botton left area. The 25fps frame rate really helps to capture such events 

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A generic self powered Bluetooth Audio transmitter and receiver 

These are used to demonstrate the comparison function of the software......

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AV TX/RX Continued.....

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Conclusion:

The CA-10 system provided good performance in keeping with the claimed specification and capable of good real time analytical work on PCBA's for the purposes of R&D or Repair.

The CA-10 PCBA Analysis thermal camera was originally conceived as a thermal imaging tool for the buoyant Mobile Phone Repair Industry. Real time thermal analysis was the overriding requirement, rather than 'offline' deeper thermal analysis as might be found in a Research and Development environment. Dianyang Technology recognises the potential use of the CA10 for Repair and R&D activities and has included features in the analysis software package that are useful in both applications. The absence of Radiometric file saving is a pity but not a showstopper in the authors opinion.

As Dianyang Technology continue to develop their DYTSpectrumOwl software package, we may see additional functionality added to provide greater support for more advanced R&D activities. As it stands, the CA-10 offers an excellent real time PCBA thermal analysis capability with both versatility and accuracy being demonstrated in the testing.

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But this is not the end !

I will be adding a Technical Annex to this review for those who desire such information on this product.

I will also be adding thermal analysis pictures from more electronic equipment as I get around to testing it with the CA-10

This thread will be updated with further posts regarding the CA-10 and its imaging capabilities as and when possible.

I will also be making comment on where the CA-10 DYTSpectrumOwl software may be enhanced to make the CA-10 and even more powerful thermal imaging tool for R&D work. As already ststed, the CA-10 was designed for simple use in real time to repair electronics rather than use in complex R&D tasking. The software dictates much of what teh CA-10 is and can do so Dianyang Technology may decide to enhance the software for more advanced tasking of teh demand is present in the marketplace.

Please feel free to make comments and suggestions now that I have posted thos review as I feel sure Dianyng technology will read this thread and note comments made on their product.

My thanks to Dianyang technology for supplying the CA-10 review sample.

Fraser

[Fraser]

Technical Annex:

Annex A:

Technical Description

The CA-10 uses a self contained thermal imaging core with USB output to a PC Host that is    running proprietary software. Power is supplied    from the USB cable and controlled via a custom DYT power control    PCB in the camera head. The software application running on the Host PC controls the camera core and processes the thermal data coming from it.

The imaging core detail researched by the Author but not confirmed by Dianyang Technology. E&OE



The Imaging Core Specifications

   Imaging Core - A domestic Chinese core of advanced design.
   Pixel Type : 12um VOx Microbolometer with a 'thermal enhancer' on top of each pixel
   True Resolution : 256 x 192 Pixels
   Frame Rate : 25fps
   NETD: <60mK with f1.0 lens
   Lens Field Of View : 42 x 32 Degrees
   Flat Field Correction : Solenoid operated FFC shutter
   Measurement Range: -20C to +120C with potential for higher temperatures.
   Measurement accuracy : Better than +/-3C or +/-3%
   Image enhancement: Multi Level DDE
   Environmental operating temperature range: -15C to +60C (for Core)

[Fraser]

Annex B:

The Camera Head

The camera head of the CA-10 contains a miniature thermal imaging core that communicates with the Host PC via USB.
Power for the imaging core is supplied by the USB link and managed by a custom Dianyang power control PCB.

The cameras manual focus lens is extended out to a manual focussing ring for user operation. The manual focus ring is a two part design with the rear section mounting around the cores lens barrel. This is secured in place using three grub scres at 120 degree spacing. The front section of the focus ring is attached to the rear section with two machine screws and centralised through teh use of shaped mating flanges. The Lens barrel and focus ring components are made from anodised aluminium and are of good quality.

I attach some pictures of the camera head design.

[Fraser]

Annex C

Mechanical dimensions of the CA10 components

Base Dimensions: 220mm x 173mm x 5mm
Vertical pole diameter: 16.95mm
Vertical pole total height: 240mm above desk height
Vertical pole top screw thread: TBC
Vertical pole fine height adjustment range: TBC
Camera head horizontal arm diameter: 11.88mm
Camera head horizontal arm length: 135mm
Camera head horizontal arm rear screw thread: 1/4” 20TPI (standard photographic tripod thread)
Camera lens focus ring outside diameter: 44.18mm (for an external fitting push-on lens cap)
Camera lens focus ring inside diameter: 25mm (for an internal fitting lens cap)

[Fraser]

Alternative mounts for the CA-10 Camera head:
 

The CA-10 camera head assembly may be attached to any mount system that provides a standard 1/4" 20 tpi tripod male screw thread. This feature increases the versatility of the system and may assist some users who have special deployment needs.

I provide two examples of mounting systems that I will be using with the CA-10 camera head.

One is a neat little tabletop ball head tripod and the other is a compact articulated arm that is designed for use with disability aids and iPads etc. I was fortunate enough to find two brand new Latitude arms at only £13.50 each but sadly their normal price is nearer to $400    Similar articulated arms are available at far more reasonable prices though. The unit I have is beautifully made and uses a standard Manfrotto Superclamp to which the manufacturer has added their own articulated arm. The length of the arms are perfect for this application and the Manfrotto clamp is excellent quality. The Manfrotto clamp retails at around £25 in the UK.

[Fraser]

For those who have not seen it, this thread may also be of interest........

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/use-of-a-thermal-camera-for-pcba-thermal-profiling-and-repair/

Fraser

[Fraser]

Now that I have uploaded the review on the CA-10 I will expand my comments a little to cover aspects of the CA-10 system that I feel are worthy of discussion but not really needing to be included in the formal review. No system is perfect and the CA-10 is no exception, but it is a very good design with only minor niggles and I found no "showstoppers". I will happily use this camera in my daily repair work.

So what shall I discuss first ?

Well there is no doubting the thought that went into the mechanical design of the CA-10 system. The electronics used within its camera head are also of good quality and an area that I would like to expand upon a little. The core that is used in the CA-10 is one of the new offerings coming out of China. For this reason I am interested in its performance when compared to the likes of the FLIR Lepton and Seek Thermal cores. As indicated in my review, I am impressed with the imaging that this core produces and found it more than adequate for the task of PCBA imaging at close range. I was also impressed with the CA-10's temperature measurement accuracy. The one surprise I had was the narrowness of span that the imaging core and software would select when looking at a flat field test plate. The core produces low noise imagery with a span of just 1 Degree C ! I found this hard to believe considering the use of 12um pixels in the core. The images did not lie though. The cores manufacturer has clearly worked hard in the area of image noise reduction and they use the 'thermal enhancer' grids on top of the pixels to improve sensitivity. This is a system used to good effect in the 12um Pixel DRS Talisman cores that also produce excellent imagery. With regard to the noise reduction systems used within the core or its associated software, there is likley a price to pay for such in terms of image definition but I saw no impact on the high frame rate. As can be seen in the images collected from my testing of various PCBA's and the SMT resistor test, there is no doubt that the CA-10 can image the smallest of SMT components with relative ease. The lens is capable of focussing at very short distances and I found that this was a distinct advantage over my other thermal imaging cameras, even when fitted with a supplementary lens. Using a standard lens at such close focus distances is guaranteed to produce some optical effects and the image can suffer from geometric distortion but this is a tool for imaging and measuring PCBA's so such distortion is of little or no consequence. The lens focus system feels solid in the fingers and appears built to last.

At the very small temperature spans that the core elects to use when viewing a flat field, I did note a thermal radient across the flat scene. The far left side of the display was 1 Degree C cooler than the far right side. This level of error falls well within the stated measurement tolerance of the core and CA-10 system and should not be considered a fault. My investigation of the phenomenom suggests that it is related to the FFC flag system design within the very confined environs of the imaging core. This temperature gradient did not cause me concern or interfere with the testing of the PCBA's as the provided images demonstrate.

The CA-10 communicates with the host PC via USB C cable but will happily operate on my USB 2 ports. The PC does some (all?) of the image processing and there is a small amount of delay in the system that needs to be considered when adjusting the cameras focus. I quickly got used to this however and focussing became quick and simple after some practice. I tended to use a combination of course height setting, folowed by fine height setting to frame the PCBA correctly and then fine adjustment of the lens focus. In some cases I used the fine height adjustment as a fine focus control as well. After a little use, the setup and focus of the CA-10 became second nature to me and good imagery was quickly achieved. 

I carried out an environmental temperature test on the CA-10 camera head by placing it in a fridge for an hour at 5C. I was pleased to see that the camera behaved normally as it measured a PCBA and gradually came up to the room ambient temperature of 24C. Those who work in cold labs need not worry about the CA-10 misbehaving 

[jmw]

Wow, thanks for the review - since the company posted about it and said you were doing a review, I've been checking back now and then to see if you had finished. Have you checked in with Dianyang and asked if they might do any specials for EEVBlog members? 

Could you comment more on your experience with the software? How smooth & fast was the UI, did it have bugs/crashes, missing features? When using a system that relies on PC integration, the quality of the software is critical. It would nice if the software side was open/hackable and not tied to Windows, but nothing's perfect. Is the software at least a "good citizen" in the Windows ecosystem (i.e. has a installer, an uninstaller that works, signed executables, doesn't require administrative privileges for normal operation)?

[Fraser]

Ok, to cover your questions in the order asked…….

The UI is smooth and fast with no glitches experienced during testing. The niggle I had was with the temperature Plot screens disappearing if I clicked any other function or anywhere on the desktop that was not within the plot box.

I experienced no crashes with the software during extensive use on a Windows 7 OS but I will need to load it on my Windows 10 laptop to comment on the stability with that OS. I thought I found a bug in that the user cannot take a photo of the 3D screen which I thought odd. DYT confirmed that this was deliberate however as they saw no use for that display beyond real time analysis. As previously stated, there is a small time lag between changes in the thermal scene and those changes occurring on the computers display. This is not uncommon with Dongle type thermal cameras that use a USB link and Host computer for the image processing. The delay was not enough to concern me and I was able to operate the manual focus without issues as you just have to do it slowly to allow the display to catch up with the focus changes.

As for missing features….. this is an area that we can explore further in this thread. DYT are aware that there are features not present in the CA-10 that might be present on the more expensive PCBA analysis thermal cameras. They want to produce an affordable PCBA thermal analysis camera that can be used for any tech but the focus was on real time analysis of mobile phone and similar technology. In that scenario the thermal camera is often used to identify anomalous behaviour in IC’s and discrete components, such as shorted MLCC capacitors of minute size. DYT included the Circuit Design mode to serve users wishing to create plots of temperatures within an ROI. This is why I was disappointed that he plots could not be saved. I used screen captures to save plots and they worked well, but are not ideal. Yes there are functions missing from the DYTSpectrumOwl software that I would like to see added if DYT want the unit to be that best that it can be for R&D applications. I will create a wish list here so that DYT can consider my, and other forum members comments when considering future Software updates. I have already suggested a separate advanced user mode so that the current customer base who desire simplicity of use are not confused by more advanced R&D functionality. It will be for DYT to decide whether they wish to add more advanced functionality to the software package but this thread is the place to let them know your thoughts on the matter. As it stands, the software is a very useful PCBA thermal analysis tool that performs its duties very well and is an invaluable aid to repairing modern electronics. It is not, however, an advanced Research and Development system, more of a basic R&D solution that meets the less demanding needs of some designers and R&D techs. We must not forget that this unit retails at less that $800 and that is very cheap in terms of R&D camera systems.

With regard to open software, I believe that is unlikely to happen. The reason is simple, the DYTSpectrumOwl software has taken a lot of development to get to its current state and DYT are invested in improving it further within their business model. The Software is what turns a generic thermal imaging core into a PCBA analysis tool and DYT are targeting that niche market with the CA-10 system. The DYTSpectrumOwl Software is their advantage over other manufacturers of thermal imaging equipment. That advantage would be lost if the software were to be made open for the user base. I have enquired about the potential for Android, Linux and MAC DYTSpectrumOwl versions and these are unlikely to be released as DYT has found that Windows is dominant in their intended market place and even Android would present significant development challenges due to the variations in users Android configurations. The CA-10 appears to be a ‘Windows only’ solution but for the cost of a cheap used Windows laptop or tablet PC the CA-10 can have its own dedicated host PC for very little additional investment.

The DYTSpectrumOwl software installer is…… interesting… it is partially in Chinese ! That said, I had no issues installing the software on my PC. I will be raising the Chinese text in the installer with DYT as this needs to be corrected. The software seems non invasive as once it has been unpacked into a folder, the user can move that folder anywhere they wish, including another PC and just run the .EXE file for normal operation of DYTSpectrumOwl. No uninstaller is required as the software does not deeply integrate with the OS  It just sits on top of the OS and runs within its own little World  With regard to the software being a “Good Citizen” in the Windows ecosystem…….. in short, the DYTSpectrumOwl is not Signed and Windows does ask the User if they wish to run the software each time it is started. I attach a picture showing the “unknown” Publisher status. This is not an issue for me but others who require signed executables will need to consider their options. The software runs within its own little ‘bubble’ and even saves its images and videos within its own file structure. The photo and video replay functions are handed off to the Resident Windows programs for such file types and so avoids integrating an additional media player function into the DYTSpectrumOwl software. To my eyes, DYT have created a software package that is as non invasive of the Windows structure as possible  I like that approach and, of course, the DYTSpectrumOwl software could be moved to a USB stick and run from there if desired.

More from me later on the features that would be nice to see added to DYTSpectrumOwl if DYT wish to further enhance its capabilities. I have high hopes for this product. It is already an excellent repair aid but it could be so much more as the hardware is of excellent quality and performance. DYT have no interest in turning the CA-10 into a ‘generic’ thermal imaging camera, even though it’s current functionality is adequate for that anyway, but they appear keen to produce a refined niche product at an affordable cost to the Repair and development sectors of the marketplace. I am certainly very pleased with what they have already achieved with the CA-10 and it’s associated Software. DYT will need to be convinced that the demand exists for any additional functionality to be added to the Software as such development takes time and money. We likely all have our own ‘wish lists’ but DYT are a business and need to see a return on their investment by increased sales.

As a final comment… I am so pleased that DYT elected to go down the path of using a domestic Chinese thermal imaging core. This has enabled good communications (same language) between the cores OEM and DYT. The Chinese thermal imaging technology development, driven by the current Pandemic, appears to have resulted in some significant improvements in the available miniature 12um pixel imaging cores performance. Good to see. And let us not forget…. The CA-10 offers internationally shipped 25fps image refresh…. A significant advantage over <9fps when capturing rapid changes in the thermal scene as I witnessed with the Amazon Firestick tests

Fraser.

[Fraser]

I have just been compiling a ‘wish list’ for R&D features that would be nice to have provided by the DYTSpectrumOwl software but I started to feel uneasy about it. DYT have made their ideas behind the CA-10 system clear to me and a key factor was to serve the very popular mobile phone repair industry around the World. That industry is a huge market for DYT to tap into and modern electronics can sometimes be far quicker to repair if the tech has access to a suitable thermal imaging system. By suitable I mean an affordable unit that is easy to deploy and use whilst producing the required imagery. The Circuit Design mode was included to provide a temperature plotting capability that can be useful in some  more involved scenarios. It is not a high end R&D analysis mode however and so lacks features and functionality that I have used in $150K+ thermal camera systems like my FLIR SC4000 and FLIR ResearchIR MAX 4. That is a ~$800 Vs $150K comparison that would be totally inappropriate and unfair to the CA-10 system …. Much like comparing a Ford Focus to an Aston Martin Vanquish car !

It is all too easy to create a huge ‘wish list’ of features without considering the core market that the CA-10 is targeting and the additional complexity with development costs associated with advanced R&D analysis functions that are found in the likes of FLIR ResearchIR. ResearcherIR 4 MAX can cost many thousands of Dollars alone so can we really expect DYT to produce an equal product within the current $800 retail price of the CA-10. If I am honest I do not know but I would hate to create any sort of negative atmosphere around the excellent CA-10 by producing a demanding and unrealistic ‘wish list’ of features that are not currently present in the DYTSpectrumOwl software. This will need some thought in my part. There may be some features that can be easily implemented at little cost and maybe those are the ones that should be highlighted. I can start the list with my desire for Radiometric file saving and the inclusion of Monochrome palettes. I have versions of the DYTSpectrum Owl software that contain a huge list of LUT palettes, yet only 5 have been made available to the user. That might be worth expanding or providing a facility to set a few custom palette selections from the long list provided. Having said that I only missed the monochrome palettes during my tests. I used the Hottest Area function to produce a Monochrome Palette across most of the PCBA but a dedicated Monochrome palette would have been better. Before anyone asks why Monochrome is useful…. The human eyes and brain processes colour and monochrome images differently.

Well that is enough from me. Just some food for thought.

[Fraser]

A fun and useful little ‘hack’ that Bill W told me about ages ago……….

If you source a lens with the same, or almost the same optical characteristics as the Objective fitted in a thermal camera and you mount the additional lens reversed in front of the objective as a supplemental lens …….. you get a thermal microscope  That is to say, if you have a core with 12um pixels the size of pixel on the target item will also be ~12um  The focus distance will be approximately the back focus distance of the second (supplemental) lens so likely less than 10mm in most cases. If you added such a reversed lens to the CA-10 you would gain a true thermal microscope capability with all the advantages of a solid ‘microscope like’ stand. Time for me to experiment with some of my spare lenses maybe 

The supplemental lens will cause a measurement error due to transmission losses etc but thankfully DYT provide a calibration offset option in the setup menu 

Fraser

[Fraser]

Discount on the CA-10 system ?

I did not answer this question earlier, and I am not affiliated with Dianyang Technology, but I believe I can say that the CA10 BoM is not an insignificant cost to produce. The imaging core is a 'bought-in' component and the metal mounting system is complex and looks expensive to produce. I doubt that there is much that can be done on the discount front but it may be worth contacting Dianyang Technology to discuss such matters ?

Fraser

[Fraser]

I just test fitted the CA-10 camera head to the Latitude articulated arm and attach some pictues of the assembly.

The use of an articulated arm would permit the use of the CA-10 camera in otherwise inaccesible areas of equipment. Imagine wanting to image a PC motherboard without removing it from its casing. The articulated arm would reach over the sides of the casing and hold the camera head steady over the required area of the PCBA. As users of optical microscopes in electronics know, it is an advantage to have the option to use a 'long reach' mount for those occasions when such is needed. Working on large PCBA's as found in a Sony PS5 or XBox for instance, can challenge the reach of conventional desk mounting systems. I found the Latitude articulated arm to be both very solid and very steady so it is perfect for the CA-10 head. In a perfect world the CA-10 mounting arm would be removeable from the head to reduce bulk, but that is not the case so we have to work with what we have. The knuckle joint at the head will allow the mounting arm to be rotated 90 degrees vertical so that the articulated arm can lower the head into more confined areas, such as inside a PC casing. For anyone buying the CA-10 system, it would be worth considering the purchase of a well made articulated arm as well. Such will increase its versatility at relatively low cost 

The web site for the Latitude arm is here but the price is eye watering  I have not found it under another brand so suspect that it is a custom Ablenet Inc product.

https://www.ablenetinc.com/latitude-with-super-clamp/

The Latitude articulated arm has a female 1/4" 20TPI mount so I bought a common photographic 1/4" male to 1/4"  male coupler to mount the CA-10 camera head to the arm mounting.

[Fraser]

My new lab PCBA thermal workstation 

The compact stand is just a cheap Monitor stand from Amazon. It is currently discounted from £17.99 to £8.99 and made of Bamboo wood. Fits my requirements perfectly though  It acts as a solid base for the articulated arm and a convenient elevated stand for the CA-10 system. I can even place a laptop on the lower shelf when it is not needed.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Monitor-Smartphone-Notches-Computer-Projector/dp/B08BHKP2D5/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=monitor+stand+bamboo&qid=1625412536&sr=8-3

Fraser

[Fraser]

As previously mentioned, some of the installation process showed Chinese text which added some fun to the process but it was easy to work out. I have just screen captured the screens that you may see connected with the installation of the DYTSpectrumOwl software. I have used an online translator and attached the translations.

I have informed DYT of this oversight and hopefully it will be corrected soon. Choose the wrong option and you will delete the software installation so random button pressing is not advisable.

I just checked and deleting DYTSpectrumOwl does not delete the CA10 folder or the saved images 

Fraser

[jmw]

Yikes. Unfortunately that makes the CA-10 a no-go in my book, but good to know now as I was initially quite excited about it. It seems to be a common problem that industrial equipment manufacturers do not consider software as a "value-add" and deliver equipment with brilliant mechanical design and excellent finishes, and software that is ... a turd. Privilege escalation prompt on startup, unsigned binaries, and saving files within the program directory structure are signs of sloppy software engineering. I've seen this with Hikvision software and the only way I feel comfortable running it is from within a VM. Malware is no joke. There's no reason a program that takes data from a USB peripheral and displays it on the screen needs administrative privileges, and I expect software that runs this way will stop working in future versions of Windows as Microsoft tightens the screws on platform security. Buyer beware.

[Fraser]

The software deletion process translation.......

Use the Setup file again for uninstall........

[Fraser]

jmw,

Whilst I understand your concern about the way the software may be configured, I do think some common sense measures mitigate the risks to a manageable level.

Solution: Just run the software and CA-10 as a dedicated tool that is not connected to a network or the Internet. Used laptops are cheap and plentiful.

[jmw]

That's a reasonable take; either use a dedicated device or a VM.  If they had an Android version, putting it on some cheap tablet would be a good solution too. Longer term, I'm worried the proprietary software won't be maintained and will break with some future Windows update, but with the rate technology is progressing, something better may be available by then and it may still be worth if it gives you several years of service.

[Fraser]

jmw,

If you are running on a standalone laptop with no network connectivity, there will be no updates to break it 

In the repair world ~$800 will not scare people, it is when a camera costs them $8K that they worry about how long it will take to pay for itself. We have seen with Alex at NorthridgeFIX how quickly some faults can be found using a thermal imaging camera. That time saved frees him up for other paying repairs so I presume the camera is paying its way ? In his case though he is using an expensive FLIR E60 that does not have a very close focus capability. I own an E40 upgraded to E60+ specification and it can be a cumbersome beast with shallow depth of field and not ideal for PCBA inspection.

Sadly there is very little choice in the market where PCBA thermal inspection is concerned. Hence why DYT created the CA-10. I own an ETS320 and it is far from perfect with a fixed focus lens and what is a standard E8 chassis grafted into a different case format. FLIR really dropped the ball on that design  Not cheap either.

[Bill W]

I have enquired about the potential for Android, Linux and MAC DYTSpectrumOwl versions and these are unlikely to be released as DYT has found that Windows is dominant in their intended market place and even Android would present significant development challenges due to the variations in users Android configurations.




With regard to the software being a “Good Citizen” in the Windows ecosystem…….. in short, the DYTSpectrumOwl is not Signed and Windows does ask the User if they wish to run the software each time it is started. I attach a picture showing the “unknown” Publisher status. This is not an issue for me but others who require signed executables will need to consider their options.

Thanks for the review, DYT seem a somewhat better type of Chinese company.

As regards the quoted above:

Might be worth investigating MAC using one of the many "translator/emulator" softwares often used by MAC folks for WIN-only software.

While using a program directory is really quite negligent these days, if the software is moved to a benign section of the PC not policed by Windows (folder of a second hard drive say), does it still trigger the warning on each use ?

Bill

[Fraser]

Bill,

I will check.

I neglected to make clear that the DYTSpectrumOWL software offers user selectable locations for image and video saving. I assume it defaults to the software directory in order that the software is portable and can be moved within the computers directory structure or to other computers.

Dianyang Technology have the very welcome desire to offer the market quality thermal imaging products, with good specifications, at an affordable price. They look for areas of the market that are poorly catered for and try to fill the void with a good product. Having previously communicated with a member of the DYT team it was clear that the company wants to become known for producing quality products and they put the extra effort into the design as a result. Good to see and I hope we see more products from this company.

Fraser

[Fraser]

DYT have confirmed that the software installer for DYTSpectrumOwl was compiled with the wrong language kit. This will be corrected.

Fraser

[JimM]

With regard to open software, I believe that is unlikely to happen. The reason is simple, the DYTSpectrumOwl software has taken a lot of development to get to its current state and DYT are invested in improving it further within their business model.

But wouldn't DYT be able to sell more CA-10 units if they had open software so that a third party could develop software for Linux and Mac?

[Fraser]

I honestly do not know. DYT have their view on the matter and only they can comment on offering open source software. Marketing can be a complex field and I am certainly not qualified to comment 

[Bill W]

But wouldn't DYT be able to sell more CA-10 units if they had open software so that a third party could develop software for Linux and Mac?

I would suggest that there may be too much risk to the main sales.
Yes, they'd win a handful of orders from a few enthusiast cranks, but get a lot of support requests.

They'd risk copycat products using their software, as such an open source would also be open to reskinning for Windows OS.  The use of a common China core is no barrier, their main sales points are mechanics (with associated cost, so someone would do a cheaper, tackier, nastier version in that special bendy Chinese plastic) and their software which no doubt had a significant a cost to develop.

Bill

[Fraser]

Bill_W,

I agree with your comments and love your description of the plastics used on some cheap clone Asia sourced products 

[Fraser]

I am working mobile at the moment and have brought the CA-10 kit with me 

Coming very soon …….. thermal imaging of a 3.5” hard disk drive PCB, demonstrating setting several temperature marker positions and quickly comparing drive PCB’s thermal profile 

Plus maybe some ‘Ant action’ ! 

Watch this space

[Dianyang]

Hi All,

First I would thank for Mr. Fraser's very detail evaluation of our CA-10 PCBA thermal analyzer!

And I would like to answer some questions,

1.   Regarding Apple and Linux, actually we know these 2 OS has a lot of users, but now we don't have enough human resource to develop these version software, and we don’t have Apple computer, we know nothing about Apple OS, maybe later we need to hire one engineer to develop it if CA-10 sell good enough.
2.   Regarding Android equipment, we will consider to develop the Android application in the future.
3.   Regarding white hot and black hot color palette, we are considering to add these 2 color in the future, and maybe more palettes.
4.   Regarding to open the SDK, this is possible but maybe the next generation product. the traditional thermal camera only provides central, max and min etc., general features, we want to let the thermal camera more useful and more easy to use, if you have any requirement and we consider that is possible to develop, we will add it to our new version.
5.   Regarding the bugs like Chinese text etc., we will fix it for the next version.
6.   The image with raw data, we will release this version in the near future, then the users could save all the thermal information in the picture files.
7.   Regarding the mechanical design, actually this cost us 7 months to R&D and produce, the CNC is a very hard job for thermal company, we want to provide a cost-effective product, but not a cheap and bad plastic one, so we changed the design and made samples again and again, and thanks for god, finally we made it.

We will keep investment on this product and will release new version software soon to enhance R&D in the thermal design, also we will release new type products on PCBA analysis, hope you will like it.

If you want to try this product, please go to Amazon url to buy it, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098JSNSC4?ref=myi_title_dp.

Thanks for your support on our product, and hope to hear more suggestions!

Adel Chai
Key Account Manager
adel@dianytech.com

[Fraser]

And now for something completely different ! ........ Insects and invertebrates under the CA-10 camera 

First an Ant, fresh from the garden.....

Size: Pretty small ! Approx 4mm nose to tail
The bottle cap that I am using to contain the insects and invertibrates has an outside diameter of 39.5mm

[Fraser]

Now a Woodlouse, also fresh from under a plant pot in the garden 

Look at the detail that is seen in the antennae and legs plus some video of him in action !

Size of Woodlouse : approx 10mm nose to tail
The bottle cap that I am using to contain the insects and invertibrates has an outside diameter of 39.5mm

[Fraser]

A Beetle is next under the CA-10 

There is video of this chap as well 

Size: Beetle is approx 10mm from nose to tail.
The bottle cap that I am using to contain the insects and invertibrates has an outside diameter of 39.5mm

[Fraser]

Beetle videos......

[Fraser]

Back to Electronics 

First a simple Thomson USB ADSL broadband modem that is in standby as I have not installed its driver. Note the hottest component on the PCB is a small regulator. Also note the thermal energy visible from a SMT resistor and PCB track feeding the regulator. I have applied the range of available colour Palettes to show how they display this simple scene. Look at picture 8689 for a high contrast Palette that really highlights the PCB track heating  Remember... this is a working modem that is just plugged into a USB port and it is effectively in standby .... yet you can see a regulator working quite hard and a PCB track feeding it being clearly imaged through its thermal emissions. The CA-10 is certainly nice and sensitive. Image noise levels are excellent.

[Fraser]

Screen grabs of DYTSpectrumOwl whilst looking at the modem PCB plus a VL image of the PCB

[Fraser]

Next, a Serial to Ethernet converter. It is powered but inactive.

[Fraser]

Some screen grabs of DYTSpectrumOwl whilst looking at the Serial Ethernet adapter plus VL images of the PCB....

[Fraser]

Time to look at a hard disk drive PCB and compare a good and faulty unit.

I have chosen an older IDE hard disk as it has all teh components visible on the underside. If a hard disk has all the components on teh reverse side where they cannot be viewd, you will need to remove the PCB and use extension cables to permit testing. Necessity is the mother of invention   

In teh images taht follow, I have placed regions of interest around the main IC's that are generating thermal energy, took reference images and then swapped out the reference hard drive for the suspect unit. It was easy to align teh PCB of the suspect drive using the ROI boxes. The temperatures were automatically tracking the highest temperatures in each ROI. I was limited to 3 ROI's on the image so added a spot temperature on another IC to monitor its temperature.

So what was the result of the test ? Well you will see in the images that follow. I have produced numerous images of teh reference hard disk drive and tried the different Palettes to show how they portray the PCB. The suspect hard disk was then tested and it was immediately obvious that there was a significant difference...... the platter spindle motor driver IC was not getting hot, as it did on the reference drive. Even without the reference drive it would be obvious that the motor driver was not doing any work. With this knowledge the repair tech would know ro check the power rails to the motor driver IC and also the condition of the motor windings. Another fault i have seen with the motor driver IC is very high temperature when the IC fails. I have seen this most often when the hard disk drive has been exposed to an over-voltage event.

The suspect drive has an open circuit motor winding so would not be repairable outside a specialist data recovery lab in most cases. 

A note about teh first two images..... in the first image I was next to teh PCB so some of my and the cameras radiated heat might be reflected off of reflective surfaces like solder and shiny metal. In the second image I placed my hand next to the camera above the PCBA and the thermal radiation from my hand acts like an illuminator that highlights solder joints etc  This effect can confuse those new to thermal imaging as relatively cool solder joints can appear 'hot' but this is a false 'hot spot'.

Fraser

[Fraser]

Hard disk continued.....

[Fraser]

Hard Disk continued......

[Fraser]

Hard Disk continued.....

[Fraser]

Hard disk continued.....

[Fraser]

The suspect hard disk drive with its motor drive IC clearly not working or not driving a load......

I include a reference (good drive) in the first image to compare against.... spot the major difference 

[Dianyang]

Hi,

Today I uploaded one video to Youtube, the link is below,

https://youtu.be/8ZH_afFHj3Q

This video is to show the user how to use "comparison" to quick locate the defect on PCBA.

The defect PCBA is the display always flash, so I connected all the components as the good one, then power on the two boards at the same time, after power on for few seconds, we found the power IC temperature is very high, finally it could reach 80°C, it maybe the power IC soldering issue, I've forward this information to the hardware engineer, he will know the final result.


Adel@dianytech.com

[Fraser]

When I get a new piece of equipment, I often buy accessories for it to make it more versatile. The CA-10 is no different !

It should be said that there is nothing wrong or wanting with teh excellent DianYang CA-10 camera head stand but I just wanted other optionsfor mounting the camera head in case of need. I attach some pictures of accessories that I have bought for the CA-10 kit. With the superb Latitude articulated arm, I now have most 'bases' covered 

By way of a guide to the pictures, I purchased a nice quality gooseneck microphone stand. This stand has a 3/8" male thread on its gooseneck. I added a 3/8" Female to 1/4" male thread adapter to match the needs of the CA-10 camera arm. I wanted some form of clamp that could be attached to the gooseneck or other mounting sustems to hold the CA-10 head arm. I first bought some neat mini photographic clamps that do grip the 12mm CA-10 head arm. I then bought a "SmallRig" mount that is designed for SmallRig 15mm poles. I used a short piece of 15mm OD clear plastic tube (12mm ID) to permit gripping of the 12mm CA-10 arm in the 15mm SmallRig clamp. It works well 

I already had some decent ball mounts that may also be used with the Gooseneck or just its heavy base.

I have various thread adapters etc. to adapt the CA-10 head arm to other mouting systems.

Fraser

[Fraser]

Continued...

[Fraser]

A couple of other accessories I bought for my CA-10 kit...... a set of four USB-C cables of different lengths and a pair of 44mm plastic lens caps. One to use as a lens cap and the other may be used as a push-on mount for a supplementary thermal microscope lens. The USB cables are 0.5m, 1.0m, 2.0m and 3.0m in length  Nice quality and not expensive from Amazon.

Fraser

[Fraser]

I used the gooseneck stand with the CA-10 this evening to see how it performs with the SmallRig clamp. I needed some thermal images of a thermal camera that I am working on at the moment and the combination of gooseneck stand, SmallRig clamp and CA-10 camera head worked perfectly. I will upload the thermal images collected from test later. The CA-10 immediately showed me that the cameras microprocessor is not running, or at least it is not accessing the SDRAM.

[Fraser]

As promised, the thermal images from the CA-10 camera system that I used this evening to look at a faulty Amber Radaiance 1 cooled thermal imaging camera. The camera has a working cooler but shows no other signs of life. Fortunately I have a working Radiance 1 camera so I compared the imagery taken from the two units. I was looking for the obvious and found it immediately. Whilst the main 5V regulator is running at the correct temperature and is supplying 5V, the processor in the faulty unit appears to be dormant and is not accessing the SDRAM. More diagnostic work will follow but I was interesetd to see the difference in thermal profile between the two units.

Pictures follow.

Fiirst the images from the working camera as a baseline reference.

[Fraser]

Now the faulty unit.....

There is a row of SDRAM along the top of the processor PCB. In the faulty unit, all SDRAM is inactive.

[Fraser]

A mix of the good and faulty unit images with the good reference images first and the faulty cameras images second.

The SDRAM on the faulty unit is inactive, as stated, but there is another IC on the faulty unit that is getting warmer than that of the  good reference unit. I shall investigate that IC further in case it is under stress or has failed.

[Fraser]

Never one to ignore a bargain, I saw a faulty Manfrotto lightweight tripod on eBay the other day. It has a faulty ball head. I saw that as the perfect candidate for a dedicated CA-10 tripod  I can fit a SmallRig clamp to hold the CA-10 head assembly. This tripod also provides the 'inverted' mount low level mode of operation. All for £5.50 and the tripod arrived today. It looks new but the tripod mount thumb screw is missing. No other damage as all. This pretty much completes my CA-10 'special mount' options 

Fraser

[TheAmmoniacal]

Where can I buy this product? How much is it?

[Fraser]

I suggest that you send an email to Adel Chai (Sales Manager) at the following email address :

sales@dianytech.com

In your email include the fact that you are a member of the EEVBlog forum and hopefully he will respond quickly with a quote for you.

Dianyang Technology are actively searching for Western sales agents for their products but I do not have details of any yet.

The price is less than $800 but I cannot provide an exact price.

https://www.dyt-ir.com/chinese-professional-thermal-camera-sensor-ca10-pcb-circuit-board-thermal-analyzer-dianyang-product/


Fraser

[Fraser]

£683 from the fonefunshop…..

https://www.onbuy.com/gb/ca10-thermal-imaging-camera-for-phone-logic-board-leakage-heat-detection~c9704~p40165361/?exta=gshp&stat=eyJpcCI6IjY4My40OTAwIiwiZHAiOm51bGwsImxpZCI6NTM5MjEyNzcsInMiOm51bGwsInQiOjE2MjYxMTQzMTcsImJtYyI6MH0=&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6NmHBhD2ARIsAI3hrM35VM5YM4Qy8cdHBC37rTAc3ceAf76cMxHkny_NNbgaESuNZTS_KxMaAsy3EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

[TheAmmoniacal]

Any idea how it compares with the two models available on AliExpress? The software looks very good, something I'm very skeptical about with "AliExpress" thermal cameras.

Qianli Toolplus SuperCam X 3D Thermal imager Camera:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002505536488.html

iRepair RC10 Thermal Camera:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001156871176.html

[Fraser]

I have not tested those two cameras but I think the RC10 is lower resolution at 160 x 120 pixels and simple design. The Supercam X is similar to the CA10 but is a simpler mechanical design. Beyond that I cannot comment as I have not had access to these units.

[Fraser]

I have added a couple of new posts to the PCBA thermal analysis thread that may be of interest. Alex of NorthridgeFIX demonstrates the power of the thermal imaging camera when it comes to tracking down failed MLCC’s quickly 

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/use-of-a-thermal-camera-for-pcba-thermal-profiling-and-repair/25/

Fraser

[Dianyang]

RC10 didn't upgrade the functions for many years, it has 1080P visible and 160x120 thermal camera with blending technology, the distance between PCBA to the camera is fixed since the blending technology, which means you can not move the PCBA close to the camera to see very detail and clear image.

Super Cam X is new generation camera focus on mobile phone troubleshooting and repair.

Our CA-10 is focused on all size PCBA troubleshooting and repair, also has more R&D features, such as to record a very long time thermal data of the PCBA and analysis, we will upgrade the software in the next month.

If you want to try one sample, you may buy it from our Amazon shop,
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098JSNSC4?ref=myi_title_dp

[Fraser]

For those following this thread, I will be testing the updated software from Dianyang Technology. I understand that his update includes additional functionality for R&D applications of the CA-10 camera. I have no details yet but will update this thread once I have the software and had a chance to look at its feature set. I am very pleased to see that DYT continue to invest time in developing this analysis software. The hardware of the CA-10 is already excellent and additional software development is great to see.

More when I have news

Fraser

[Fraser]

Good news…. I have just completed Beta testing of the latest release of DYT’s thermal analysis software (V1.0.4).

The original software was not buggy so the new release is not about bug fixes, but rather, additional functionality Who does not like an improved software eh ? When I reviewed the V1.0.0 software originally released with the CA-10 I knew that it was likely to be missing some features that were still under development as DYT were very clear that they intended to continue with the development of their analysis software. This is their new ‘baby’ and they are invested in it becoming better and better with each new version release.

As readers of my previous review will know, the software was already very well formed and capable. What it lacked was a sophisticated thermal plotting and recording function for R&D work. It also required Radiometric file saving, but more on that later.

I will be producing a review of the latest analysis software release but, in summary, it now provides a very neat temperature plotting module that can display the temperature of all ROI measurements simultaneously on a very nice graph. There are all manner of settings to control what the plotting module does and this is an excellent enhancement. There is even a picture capture trigger mode where a user sets a maximum temperature threshold and if the Device Under Test exceeds this threshold, a picture of the scene is automatically captured for later analysis. The time interval between measurements is user definable so this plotting mode can operate over long periods of time and could produce time lapse recordings. The mode also includes a video recorder function to capture the graph in real time. Saved files include a CSV data set for further analysis  More about this new temperature plotting module in my review, to follow.

The saving of images that contain Radiometric data is very desirable in a thermal analysis software package. DYT know this but do not want to delay release of their product by waiting for the Radiometric file save feature to be completed by their development team. Not everyone needs that ‘off-line’ analysis feature so I support their approach to ongoing development whilst releasing well formed software revisions at their earliest opportunity. Remember, these are not bug riddled releases, each is designed, tested and only released when they meet the high standards that DYT strive for …..  Microsoft take note ! With this in mind, I can state that DYT have produced the Radiometric file save feature that I hoped would be included in a future release. They are still developing the off-line image analysis interface however as it is a proprietary Radiometric file format. I have no further information on the data file format used and do not know whether DYT will make it public for 3rd party application development. We will have to wait and see. The Radiometric file analysis software will be released when DYT have completed its development. If their current software is anything to go by, we should see a well designed program that supports all the features desirable in such an analysis package It may be a module integrated into the current software or a separate piece of analysis software. I do not have that detail yet but I look forward to its release. I may be wrong but from my communications with DYT the new software release saves images with the Radiometric data included. We just do not have a way to read that radiometric data …. Yet.

There is also an interesting new measurement feature in the pre-release BETA software that I just tested. Support for a USB thermometer with the temperature displayed on the thermal scene display. This will enable monitoring of an area in the scene with a physical contact type temperature sensor as well as the IR non contact measurements. A very nice feature that would be very useful as a thermal camera measurement confidence and Emissivity check  I do not know if this feature is ready for release yet so it may not be in the latest public release version of the software. I will check and I have already asked DYT about the availability of the USB temperature measurement dongle.

More on that when I have news.

The latest software release additional functionality review will follow as soon as I have time to write it 

Fraser

[Fraser]

NorthridgeFIX video showing the power of a thermal imaging camera when it comes to working on modern high density electronics……

https://youtu.be/WxPILuGAYeo

In the video Alex uses good technique to track down a shorted MLCC that is not near to the initial ‘hot spot’. You do need to analyse the result of a thermal camera test on a PCB in terms of what could logically cause the heating of a component. Is it the hot component that has failed internally, or is it a component operating under stress due to a failed component elsewhere on the PCBA.
Note how Alex was not able to use his FLIR E60 close enough to the PCBA to actually identify the tiny MLCC that had failed. The DYT CA10 would easily cope with this scenario both from an overall PCBA view through to a close-up of the MLCC capacitor cluster to identify the failed capacitor. This is where a dedicated PCBA thermal camera exceeds the capabilities of many ‘generic’ use thermal cameras that have very limited close focus capability. Alex had to resort to the old fashioned IPA evaporation technique that does work, but is unnecessary with the CA10 system 

Fraser

[Fraser]

Video review of the CA-10 system by “Voltlog” on YouTube……

https://youtu.be/Nwgz3Hyz1eY

Fraser

[tommythuyen]

I've bought a macro lens for CA10 and have to use a doublesided tape to stick it.
I wish CA10 designed with a magnet lens mount.
😆

[Fraser]

I am a little confused as to why you need a ‘Macro lens’ on your CA-10. The CA-10 has manual focus that is normally capable of providing good focus to a distance of only 10mm from the target. Did your CA-10 not provide such close focus ability ? If not, it is easy to change the focus ring setting o permit closer focus as it just involves loosening of the uses ring assembly where it grips the lens barrel, adjusting the lens barrel position a little and re-tightening the clamping screws.
A ‘Macro lens’ as supplied for the Seek Thermal camera is intended to overcome the ability of that cameras focus system to focus at less than 20cm or so. The CA-10 should not normally suffer such a limitation. It was designed for close focus, unlike the Seek Thermal dongle cameras. Be aware that the ZnSe lens used in such ‘Macro lens’ attachments actually degrades the optical performance of the system and manual focus of the cameras core is preferable, where such is adequate for close-up work. Do you notice improvement in your CA-10’s imaging performance with the ZnSe lens attached?

If you wanted to build a thermal microscope, then there is benefit in fitting an additional lens system on the front of the CA-10 lens, but that is not achieved with the single ZnSe lens element shown in your image.

Fraser

[tommythuyen]

I don't know why my CA-10's resolution is 256 x 196 not the same as specification stated by manufacturer is 260 x 200 ?

[Bill W]

See message 47 here.

" True Resolution : 256 x 192 Pixels"

The published specification is wrong.

[tommythuyen]

I have not try using it with another software. I just test it directly via website: https://webcamtests.com/ 

[Fraser]

Many thanks. I removed my previous post as it contributed nothing to this thread and could be misinterpreted as knocking DYT which is unfair. To confirm, yes the published resolution was in error and I corrected the specification in my review to assist potential purchasers of the system. The CA-10 uses a very nice quality imaging core that is 256 x 192 12um pixels with a 25fps refresh rate 

There is an SDK available from the imaging cores OEM but I have not been able to obtain it. Hence my interest in your experiences using 3rd party software with the CA-10. That said, DYT have put a lot of effort into producing a very useful image analysis package in their PC software so alternative software is not really an issue in this case, unlike with some dongle cameras that have decidedly flakey OEM software applications.

Fraser

[Dianyang]

We've release new CA Series thermal imaging analyzer camera DytSpectrumOWL 2.0 software, it is compatible with new type cameras CA-20 (260x200), CA-30 (384x288), CA-60 (640x480), it can support more new features,

• The new designed hardware with resolution of 640x480, 384x288 and 260x200 resolution, it is very suitable for PCBA R&D analysis, heating material test and heat conduction test etc.;
• Support one click to find the defect PCBA components;
• 16 color palettes, 40 points and 20 ROIs (line, rectangle and polygon) measurement at same time and without record time limitation;
• Electronical zoom for small objects measurement;
• Isotherm for fixed palette, it will fix the color vs. temperature, even there are some high or low temperature objects into the screen, the color will not be changed;
• Record and display measurement frequency up to 20Hz;
• Measurement temperature to 550°C (1022°F) (260x200 supports to 450°C (842°F) );
• The temperature data will be saved as CSV file for future analysis.
• It will support Android phone for simple view in coming soon.

Here is the url of the introduction,

https://youtu.be/xbQt13tXJUU

Hope you will like it, if you are interested with it, please contact me: adel@dianytech.com

[Fraser]

Does this software also work with the CA-10 model please ?

Fraser

[Richard1972]

Can anyone tell me if the CA10 is sold in the UK?
I recently returned a faulty Flir ETS 320, but was not able to buy a new replacement at the same heavily discounted price. I am now looking for something else and wondered if this would be a good alternative, particularly with the huge price difference between this and the flir. Also I came across these images in the thumbnails below on the Dianyang website and wondered if it’s a newer version or older version on the CA10?

[Fraser]

Those are pictures of the CA-10 prototype. The design was changed and improved and the release model is the the one That I reviewed.

I own the FLIR ETS320 but have not used it since getting the DYT CA10 system.

I am not aware of a UK agent for the CA10 yet. Mine came direct from China.

Fraser

[JM1010]

Hesitating between this model, the seek compact pro and Qianli supercam X.

Leaving the stand variable aside, it there a clear winner here (best ability to detect shorts with clarity even for small components such as 0201) or it's pretty much a wash between these models with minor +/- pros/downside that do not matter much in getting the job done.

Thanks for your opinion!

[Fraser]

CA-10 and Supercam X will be very similar in performance but with differences in the softwares capabilities. This should not be underestimated as the software performance is very important for PCB work. The CA-10 has the better software and mounting system.

The SEEK Thermal Pro is showing its age. It always had some image noise issues and, in my experience, the new imaging cores coming out of China from InfiRay outperform the SEEK Thermal cores in terms of noise and temperature accuracy. An example would be the Infiray S0 core that I have tested . That provides 25fps image update as well  The Infiray T2L is a nice dongle camera but it is designed for use with a mobile phone or other Android device. You would lose the advantage of the PCB analysis software and mount design that comes with the CA-10 system. For me, I enjoy using the CA-10. DYT are releasing higher resolution models soon but I have no dates or prices.

Fraser

[JM1010]

Thank you Fraser for the quick response. That's exactly the info I was looking for!
Infiray is interesting but Android is no go as I use an Iphone hence my interest in the Seek pro. The CA10 seems like great tool but it only runs on Windows, a minor annoyance, not a show stopper.
The seek interested me as my needs are really basic (PCB short detection ie good contrast and precision for the high temp areas) and I don't need very sophisticated software (tracking, logging, charting etc) and limiting footprint in my workspace has benefits. In the end I think the choice for me will be between the seek and the CA-10. Thanks again. Merry Christmas!

[Fraser]

You are welcome Have a Merry Christmas

Do look at the UNI-T UTi260B handheld camera as well. No dedicated PCB analysis software though and you will need to add a ZnSe close-up lens to it so not my first choice for PCB work.

Fraser

[tommythuyen]

This device CA-10 is ready to connect to any smartphone like Android & iOS. Just install Therm App and connect it to USB OTG like my video: https://youtu.be/ChsN_09VowQ
i wonder i could save some money if i bought the Infiray T2L and connected it to the DYTSpectrumOwl app on Windows ?! ^_^

[Fraser]

I believe SpectrumOwl will only work with the DYT configured core. I do not know how this is done but DYT are investing heavily in the software so it is understandable that they wish it to only work with their hardware.

Thank you for showing the CA-10 working with the XTherm Application. I had not tried this.


Fraser

[Fraser]

JM1010,

I have various dongle thermal cameras and have bought used mobile phones to be their dedicated hosts. There are mobile phones available at very good prices on eBay. I bought some that had faults with the SIM slot or phone communications side but worked perfectly with Wi-Fi for App downloads. I bought phones for less than £30, often they were as little as £15 and in nice condition. I tended to buy Motorola G series, Samsung S5 and iPhone 4’s as these are common and offer decent performance. It can be worth taking this path and just considering the phone a mobile computer host for your thermal camera 

Fraser

[JM1010]

Thanks again Fraser. If I hear you well you seem to say that the Infiray T2L is much superior to the Seek compact pro. Does the T2L also benefit from a macro lens? If so do you know of any lens that fit this unit?

[Fraser]

The T2L is equipped with a manual focus lens but I have no minimum focus specification and it is not a camera configured for PCB inspection, unlike the CA10.

https://www.infiray.com/T2Lthermalcamera.html

A video shows its PCB capabilities though…..

https://youtu.be/LRlPTCTgjMY

A close-up ZnSe lens could be placed in front of the cameras lens , as with the Seek Thermal Dongle, but such may not be necessary.

I cannot say any more about the T2L as I have not used one. It does use the S0 core that I have tested and that core focuses down to less than 20mm.

Fraser

[Dianyang]

I've bought a macro lens for CA10 and have to use a doublesided tape to stick it.
I wish CA10 designed with a magnet lens mount.
😆

Hi Tommy,

Actually we don't know the purpose of the macro lens for, can you describe why you need it?

[Dianyang]

Can anyone tell me if the CA10 is sold in the UK?
I recently returned a faulty Flir ETS 320, but was not able to buy a new replacement at the same heavily discounted price. I am now looking for something else and wondered if this would be a good alternative, particularly with the huge price difference between this and the flir. Also I came across these images in the thumbnails below on the Dianyang website and wondered if it’s a newer version or older version on the CA10?

Hi Richard,

Actually we have a CA series now, the new types will be released soon.
CA-10 is focus on repair and troubleshooting, now we only have this on our website.

CA-20 (260x200) CA30 (384x288) CA60 (640x480) will adopt new software,
here is new UI introduction, more powerful for R&D,
https://youtu.be/xbQt13tXJUU

If you need detail information, please contact with me: adel@dianytech.com

[Dianyang]

Thank you Fraser for the quick response. That's exactly the info I was looking for!
Infiray is interesting but Android is no go as I use an Iphone hence my interest in the Seek pro. The CA10 seems like great tool but it only runs on Windows, a minor annoyance, not a show stopper.
The seek interested me as my needs are really basic (PCB short detection ie good contrast and precision for the high temp areas) and I don't need very sophisticated software (tracking, logging, charting etc) and limiting footprint in my workspace has benefits. In the end I think the choice for me will be between the seek and the CA-10. Thanks again. Merry Christmas!

Hi,

Actually we are developing our Android App, here is the demo,
https://youtu.be/YYO1jIAXeek

but it seems still cannot match your iphone requirement, because we don't have iphone App engineers, maybe need some time to ask one Android engineer to learn how to develop it...

[Fraser]

I will soon be testing the new DYT SpectrumOwl V2.0 thermal analysis software 

This software looks to be a significant development of the original Version 1 software and includes features that I feel certain will be very useful to those wishing to carry out thermal profiling and repair of PCB’s. Dianyang Technology are clearly a company that wishes to not only produce very good quality hardware, but also continues to invest in developing the software that makes the system so powerful. DYT as a company have, and continue to impress me with their excellent attitude towards product development 

I very much look forward to testing the V2 software and will report my thoughts on it soon.

Fraser

[Fraser]

Just some clarification, the new Version 2 SpectrumOwl software needs the CA20, CA30 or CA60 hardware platform. The CA10 will not work with Version 2 of the software. The CA10 system still offers an excellent hardware and software package for the repair and research tech however.

Fraser

[tommythuyen]

I've bought a macro lens for CA10 and have to use a doublesided tape to stick it.
I wish CA10 designed with a magnet lens mount.
😆

Hi Tommy,

Actually we don't know the purpose of the macro lens for, can you describe why you need it?

I'm using macro lens because it helps me magnify some tiny SMD components on PCB with the same distance when compare to without it

[tommythuyen]

Thank you Fraser for the quick response. That's exactly the info I was looking for!
Infiray is interesting but Android is no go as I use an Iphone hence my interest in the Seek pro. The CA10 seems like great tool but it only runs on Windows, a minor annoyance, not a show stopper.
The seek interested me as my needs are really basic (PCB short detection ie good contrast and precision for the high temp areas) and I don't need very sophisticated software (tracking, logging, charting etc) and limiting footprint in my workspace has benefits. In the end I think the choice for me will be between the seek and the CA-10. Thanks again. Merry Christmas!

I recommend you buy CA-10 with the ability to use on Windows,  Android and iOS. For using it on smartphone you can download HTI Image app and connect it via OTG adapter.

[Dianyang]

Hi Tommy,

Got it, today I discussed it with my colleagues, to make it seems not easy, because we need to consider the temperature accuracy and mounting.

But we will try!

I've bought a macro lens for CA10 and have to use a doublesided tape to stick it.
I wish CA10 designed with a magnet lens mount.
😆

Hi Tommy,

Actually we don't know the purpose of the macro lens for, can you describe why you need it?

I'm using macro lens because it helps me magnify some tiny SMD components on PCB with the same distance when compare to without it

[Fraser]

Whilst I have not had a need for a supplemental lens on the CA10 system, I have considered how I might mount a reversed lens assembly on the camera to produce a true thermal microscope capable of 12um per pixel on target  I have yet to carry out any tests however.

With regard to mounting another lens onto the camera head, DYT have made a very nice job of the focus ring that extends out in front of the lens assembly. The deep recess that contains the lens would permit the use of a friction fit ZnSe lens mount in a similar manner to that used on some FLIR E4 close-up lens adapters. It would basically be a ring to old the ZnSe lens and some lightly sprung curved ‘arms’ around the outer edge to press against the walls of the focus ring recess. 3D printed plastic would be an option for this. I would recommend the use of the largest supplemental lens diameter that may be accommodated in the recess along with its mount as this will reduce the risk of vignetting (losing the corners of the image) and most ZnSe CO2 laser lenses perform best towards their central area so try to avoid using the periphery of the lens.

Another mounting option is even simpler ! I bought some push fit lens caps that are made of polythene. They were originally used on binoculars as dust caps. It would be a relatively simple task to cut a hole into the lens cap to accommodate the ZnSe lens. The problem with this approach is the distance of the supplemental lens from the cameras built in lens. The size of the ZnSe lens needs to be adequate to avoid vignetting at this distance from the camera lens. With regard to mounting the ZnSe lens into the lens cap, the plastic resists the adhesive bond of glue but an RTV bead may work  A better approach would be to make a two part lens mount ring that sandwiches the lens cap hole edges between its outer rims whilst also holding the lens element securely. A bit like a plastic rope eyelet in a tarpaulin !

Another option for lens mounting is the use of magnetism but care is needed to avoid the use of uncontained strong magnetic fields that could interfere with the FFC shutter solenoid operation in the front of the camera core. As has been done on mobile phones in the past, a ferrous ring may be attached to the flat focus wheel face of the camera using a double sided adhesive tape. A ZnSe supplemental lens holder is then constructed using a 3D printer or other techniques. Small ceramic magnets may then be attached to the lens holders rear face and these will mate with the ferrous ring on the cameras focus wheel and hold the supplemental lens in place. The design of the lens holder can include enhancements such as centering rings or spigots to keep the lens centred in the cameras focus wheel recesses. It might also be possible to create a ‘Top Hat’ lens mount that positions the lens down in the deep recess of the cameras focus wheel and the magnets remain a good distance away on the rim of the ‘top hat’ at the front face of the focus wheel. A drawing might help here to explain this but alas not possible at the moment. The advantage of the top hat mount would be the closer positioning of the supplemental lens to the cameras lens.

A more drastic option would be to make your own replacement focus wheel with built in threaded mount for supplementary lens mounting. The focus wheel is held onto a flange using the two screws visible in the attached picture. A replacement focus wheel could be printed using a 3D printer but it would be inferior to the excellent metal component used by DYT.

With regard to the error in measurement that the ZnSe supplementary lens can introduce into the system…… yes such an additional optical element will effect the measurement calibration accuracy. How much it effects it very much depends upon the AR  coating on the ZnSe lens. ZnSe with no AR coatings has a transmission that is pretty flat over the LWIR band but is only ~70%. A ZnSe lens intended for use with a CO2 laser has a 10.6um AR coating on both surfaces of the lens and the transmission increases to around 99.8% at 10.6um BUT the transmission figure reduces as you move away from 10.6um. A broadband AR coating is really needed to maintain a relatively flat transmission plot over the LWIR band with enhanced transmission. Sadly such BB lenses tend to be expensive and not the cheap lenses available on eBay for CO2 laser cutters etc. Take a look at this document to better understand the transmission of ZnSe.

If highly accurate temperature measurements are required, it may be best to not use a supplemental lens except for visual assessment of components rather than measurement of their temperature.

https://www.lasercomponents.com/fileadmin/user_upload/home/Datasheets/diverse-laser-optics/co2-laseroptics/materials_co2-laser_optics.pdf

Fraser

[tommythuyen]

I'm using Faber Castell to stick macro zoom lens like this..😆

Hi Tommy,

Got it, today I discussed it with my colleagues, to make it seems not easy, because we need to consider the temperature accuracy and mounting.

But we will try!

I've bought a macro lens for CA10 and have to use a doublesided tape to stick it.
I wish CA10 designed with a magnet lens mount.
😆

Hi Tommy,

Actually we don't know the purpose of the macro lens for, can you describe why you need it?

I'm using macro lens because it helps me magnify some tiny SMD components on PCB with the same distance when compare to without it

[tommythuyen]

Whether can we have more basic patterns such as "White - hot", "Black-hot" on CA-10 softwares ?

Can anyone tell me if the CA10 is sold in the UK?
I recently returned a faulty Flir ETS 320, but was not able to buy a new replacement at the same heavily discounted price. I am now looking for something else and wondered if this would be a good alternative, particularly with the huge price difference between this and the flir. Also I came across these images in the thumbnails below on the Dianyang website and wondered if it’s a newer version or older version on the CA10?

Hi Richard,

Actually we have a CA series now, the new types will be released soon.
CA-10 is focus on repair and troubleshooting, now we only have this on our website.

CA-20 (260x200) CA30 (384x288) CA60 (640x480) will adopt new software,
here is new UI introduction, more powerful for R&D,
https://youtu.be/xbQt13tXJUU

If you need detail information, please contact with me: adel@dianytech.com

[tommythuyen]

Thank you for sharing the meaningful info.
Luckily, for the vignetting issue caused by addition lens, I didn't see much in my video which was captured by HTI Image app :
https://youtu.be/zPXZD_fPnow

Whilst I have not had a need for a supplemental lens on the CA10 system, I have considered how I might mount a reversed lens assembly on the camera to produce a true thermal microscope capable of 12um per pixel on target  I have yet to carry out any tests however.

With regard to mounting another lens onto the camera head, DYT have made a very nice job of the focus ring that extends out in front of the lens assembly. The deep recess that contains the lens would permit the use of a friction fit ZnSe lens mount in a similar manner to that used on some FLIR E4 close-up lens adapters. It would basically be a ring to old the ZnSe lens and some lightly sprung curved ‘arms’ around the outer edge to press against the walls of the focus ring recess. 3D printed plastic would be an option for this. I would recommend the use of the largest supplemental lens diameter that may be accommodated in the recess along with its mount as this will reduce the risk of vignetting (losing the corners of the image) and most ZnSe CO2 laser lenses perform best towards their central area so try to avoid using the periphery of the lens.

Another mounting option is even simpler ! I bought some push fit lens caps that are made of polythene. They were originally used on binoculars as dust caps. It would be a relatively simple task to cut a hole into the lens cap to accommodate the ZnSe lens. The problem with this approach is the distance of the supplemental lens from the cameras built in lens. The size of the ZnSe lens needs to be adequate to avoid vignetting at this distance from the camera lens. With regard to mounting the ZnSe lens into the lens cap, the plastic resists the adhesive bond of glue but an RTV bead may work  A better approach would be to make a two part lens mount ring that sandwiches the lens cap hole edges between its outer rims whilst also holding the lens element securely. A bit like a plastic rope eyelet in a tarpaulin !

Another option for lens mounting is the use of magnetism but care is needed to avoid the use of uncontained strong magnetic fields that could interfere with the FFC shutter solenoid operation in the front of the camera core. As has been done on mobile phones in the past, a ferrous ring may be attached to the flat focus wheel face of the camera using a double sided adhesive tape. A ZnSe supplemental lens holder is then constructed using a 3D printer or other techniques. Small ceramic magnets may then be attached to the lens holders rear face and these will mate with the ferrous ring on the cameras focus wheel and hold the supplemental lens in place. The design of the lens holder can include enhancements such as centering rings or spigots to keep the lens centred in the cameras focus wheel recesses. It might also be possible to create a ‘Top Hat’ lens mount that positions the lens down in the deep recess of the cameras focus wheel and the magnets remain a good distance away on the rim of the ‘top hat’ at the front face of the focus wheel. A drawing might help here to explain this but alas not possible at the moment. The advantage of the top hat mount would be the closer positioning of the supplemental lens to the cameras lens.

A more drastic option would be to make your own replacement focus wheel with built in threaded mount for supplementary lens mounting. The focus wheel is held onto a flange using the two screws visible in the attached picture. A replacement focus wheel could be printed using a 3D printer but it would be inferior to the excellent metal component used by DYT.

With regard to the error in measurement that the ZnSe supplementary lens can introduce into the system…… yes such an additional optical element will effect the measurement calibration accuracy. How much it effects it very much depends upon the AR  coating on the ZnSe lens. ZnSe with no AR coatings has a transmission that is pretty flat over the LWIR band but is only ~70%. A ZnSe lens intended for use with a CO2 laser has a 10.6um AR coating on both surfaces of the lens and the transmission increases to around 99.8% at 10.6um BUT the transmission figure reduces as you move away from 10.6um. A broadband AR coating is really needed to maintain a relatively flat transmission plot over the LWIR band with enhanced transmission. Sadly such BB lenses tend to be expensive and not the cheap lenses available on eBay for CO2 laser cutters etc. Take a look at this document to better understand the transmission of ZnSe.

If highly accurate temperature measurements are required, it may be best to not use a supplemental lens except for visual assessment of components rather than measurement of their temperature.

[url]https://www.lasercomponents.com/fileadmin/user_upload/home/Datasheets/diverse-laser-optics/co2-laseroptics/materials_co2-laser_optics.pdf[/url]

Fraser

[Richard1972]

Thank you for this. I need something fairly soon, but was wondering if you are able to say when those other models you mention might be available? I don’t want to purchase something now and then regret it if a newer or better model comes out that I might have been able to afford.

[Fraser]

I will leave it to DYT to comment on release dates for the new CA series models but can advise that the new SpectrumOwl V2 software, that is an enhancement of the V1 software for R&D applications, as well as repair, will only work with CA20 and above.

I am currently testing the V2 software and it is a well thought through solution. The V1 software is still a very effective product however. V1 is not being replaced by V2. It is more like FLIR Tools Vs FLIR Researcher where the more expensive product provides enhanced capabilities and functionality. Something to consider regarding the new CA20 is it’s enhanced temperature measurement capability that offers measurement of -10C to +450C as compared to -10C to +120C for the CA10. The increased measurement range may be important in some applications, such a Reflow soldering process monitoring.

The CA10 has been described to me as a versatile PCB thermal analysis tool set for those working in the electronics repair industry, but with the ability to assist design engineers and product testers in evaluating their products thermal performance. The CA20 is an enhanced system that offers the user a software interface more suited to the R&D lab, but configurable to any application thanks to its flexible and reconfigurable ‘panel’ based user interface. Given the choice, I would buy the CA20 if my finances could stretch to it.

Fraser

[tommythuyen]

With Xtherm app, CA-10 can be enhanced temperature measurement capability that offers measurement of 120C to +400C as well.

I will leave it to DYT to comment on release dates for the new CA series models but can advise that the new SpectrumOwl V2 software, that is an enhancement of the V1 software for R&D applications, as well as repair, will only work with CA20 and above.

I am currently testing the V2 software and it is a well thought through solution. The V1 software is still a very effective product however. V1 is not being replaced by V2. It is more like FLIR Tools Vs FLIR Researcher where the more expensive product provides enhanced capabilities and functionality. Something to consider regarding the new CA20 is it’s enhanced temperature measurement capability that offers measurement of -10C to +450C as compared to -10C to +120C for the CA10. The increased measurement range may be important in some applications, such a Reflow soldering process monitoring.

The CA10 has been described to me as a versatile PCB thermal analysis tool set for those working in the electronics repair industry, but with the ability to assist design engineers and product testers in evaluating their products thermal performance. The CA20 is an enhanced system that offers the user a software interface more suited to the R&D lab, but configurable to any application thanks to its flexible and reconfigurable ‘panel’ based user interface. Given the choice, I would buy the CA20 if my finances could stretch to it.

Fraser

[Fraser]

tommythuyen,

So the temperature measurement capability of the camera is defined by the host software and not the cameras firmware. Interesting

Thanks for this information.

Fraser

[Fraser]

I have just seen that DYT are releasing the CA20 PCBA analysis system through a Kickstarter 

Details are here…..

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/dytspectrumowl-ca-20-electronical-version-on-kickstarter-crowdfunding/

The same manual focus thermal imaging core but with an extended temperature measurement range (-10C to +450C) plus tha ability to use the new SpectrumOwlV2 software  It also provides a motorised mount for the camera head for those who like buttons rather than knobs 

Fraser

[laubzega]

I've just purchased CA-10, but any attempt to run the accompanying application fails - the app crashes on startup somewhere in ntdll.dll. I tried both the English and Chinese version, same result.

The camera hardware seems to be ok because I can see infrared BW image in e.g. Skype.

I run fairly barebones Win10 install. I tried disabling the antivirus and whatnot - did not help.

UPDATE: turns out the software does not work with NVIDIA RTX 3080. I tried latest "game ready" and "studio" drivers, same sad result. Probably related to the 3D view mode in the app.