Unknown tiny high resolution thermal camera

[babay]

Hello everyone. I bought a small thermal imaging camera at a local flea market. Everywhere the camera is called as "IRC-640CA IR Thermal Analog Camera for FPV RC Racing Freestyle Drone IRC-640CA C0CA-T0640 camera"  or Caddx IRC-640CA .    But in fact, they don't know anything about this camera on the manufacturer's website.
Even the camera itself doesn't have any identification marks.
Of course, I immediately disassembled it.

[babay]

And I was surprised how they put it all there.
I put together such a small stand and tested the camera on the street.  Judging by the lens, the field of view is about 40x30 degrees. But of course, the resolution is immediately felt, here is an example of the same frame from the Infiray T2S Plus thermal imager.
 Question: does anyone know the real manufacturer of this camera, and I have a strong suspicion that this connector on the power board has something to with configuring the camera.  Because the younger models already have rx and tx pins there.
Thank you.

[babay]

We have cheap lenses on sale at our local flea market. Can I remove the original lens and use another one with a narrower field of view?
A lens like this

[TurboTom]

... probably unknown and not marked in any way for a certain reason...

[boywai]

[Chinese garbage removed by moderator]

[Denis_K]

Привет. Я тоже купил таких и подобных несколько штук. В основном везде стоит сенсор на 640. Для включения камере нужно некоторое время для загрузки линукс, и только тогда картинка появится. В некоторых версиях стоит NAND, в некоторых EMMC на 8 гигабайт, ОЗУ 512 Мегабайт, а процессор без маркировки, но я нашел упоминание в загрузчике что это никому почти неизвестный Artosyn PROXIMA 9311 (вероятно AR9311). Так же увидел что можно подключить сеть по USB и видимо брать видеопоток. Так же есть упоминание об MMC, но нигде на плате не разведено, по крайней мере в явном виде пинов нет. Мне тоже интересны эти камера, особенно учитывая потенциальную возможность записи видео, смену палитр и т.п. Очень не плохой вариант за 200 долларов.
Кстати в образе так же есть поддержка разных сенсоров

ls /usrdata/local/factory/tunning/
cam_common_inf  cam_gst612c     cam_imx307      cam_rtd2121w
cam_gst417w     cam_gst612w8    cam_ps5280      cam_sc2210

Мне понравилась версия с выносным модулем, так как ее можно поместить на подвес от CADDX, только надо заменить шлейф, там похоже прямой DF56-40P-0.3S
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Hello. I also bought several of these and similar ones. Most of them have a 640 sensor installed. To turn on the camera, it takes some time to load Linux, and only then will the image appear. Some versions have NAND, others have 8GB EMMC, 512MB RAM, and an unmarked processor, but I found a mention in the bootloader that it is the little-known Artosyn PROXIMA 9311 (probably AR9311). I also saw that you can connect the network via USB and apparently get the video stream. There is also a mention of MMC, but it is not implemented anywhere on the board, at least there are no obvious pinouts. I am also interested in these cameras, especially considering the potential ability to record video, change palettes, etc. A very good option for $200.

By the way, the image also supports different sensors

ls /usrdata/local/factory/tunning/
cam_common_inf  cam_gst612c     cam_imx307      cam_rtd2121w
cam_gst417w     cam_gst612w8    cam_ps5280      cam_sc2210

I liked the version with the external module because it can be placed on a CADDX suspension, you just need to replace the cable, there seems to be a straight DF56-40P-0.3S

[Fraser]

These little thermal cameras are interesting and thank you for showing details of them. That said, I look at these cameras and it makes me sad. I love thermal imaging and everything associated with it. Yet in your pictures I see the image of the lens and wonder what horrors it has witnessed. These little thermal cameras are now in use on surveillance drones and, in some cases, attack drones. Seeing this technology used to precisely target people and take their lives saddens me greatly. I do not care what nationality they are, they are people who are doing as they are ordered and this technology assists in taking their lives. It is for this reason that I will never assist in recommissioning a thermal camera that has the potential to have been part of a weapon used to end peoples lives. I am no passivist and would fight for my country, but these little cameras and their ability to hunt human targets so effectively does not sit well with me. We see the videos of their use on YouTube and it sickens me that this wonderful technology has become a very efficient part of a killing machine. Thermal imaging has always had military applications in all its forms, from simple thermal seeker heads to advanced target acquisition systems, but it is the prolific use on drones that has shown its deadly effectiveness. Never before have the public had easy access to such graphic footage as is seen coming from these drones as they hunt. You get a front seat witnessing their efficiency in hunting and killing. To think, people used to laugh at me when I defended the dual use technology regulations pertaining to the selling of highly capable thermal imaging cameras. This was the reason for those regulations…. thermal imaging is “cool” but can also be deadly when part of a killing machine.

We live in sad times and I know my post is likely controversial, but it is the reason that I am not assisting anyone, no matter who they are, in restoring these little cameras to operation. I receive requests for such often. Yes $200 is a bargain, but I would not want one in my collection as, to me, it is tainted by death and destruction. They are inexpensive because so many are being used and crashed. Sad times indeed and I mean no political inference here. I just hate seeing humans blown to pieces using the technology that I love so much in civilian use scenarios  :'(

I attach your picture of your cameras lens…. Looking at us, like a dark malevolent eye…. What horrors has it seen during its use. It’s dirty condition tells me of its original application.

Fraser

[KE5FX]

Well said.  If we knew that defensive uses were contemplated, that would be one thing, but...

[dmendesf]

I don't care about what they saw as I have no control over it. But I can control what one of those will see, and it will make great things (maybe offsetting the others a little bit). So were can I buy one for $200?

[Fraser]

No one said you should not buy one of these cameras. I just do not want anything to do with them.

So do as you wish, jump on a plane to Moscow and visit Izmailovsky Market. You will have to haggle hard to get a price anywhere near that of a local Russian though 

Fraser

[TWeseDiplomat_of_Formosa]

So the better one is from this camera? How much did you pay for it? How did this thing get to the flea market, is that a normal flea market???
I saw these cameras on the Chinese e-shop, the price of the best one is around 636 USD.

I don't think this thing is actually from Caddxfpv since there is no such product on the website or there shall be a review already since it's a well-known brand.

So you flew this camera already? How was that?? How was the latency but I think you will fly with another fpv camera so that should not be a problem.

[Fraser]

In many armed conflicts there are battlefield salvage collectors and trophy hunters. It was often used brass cartridges and shell casings that were salvaged for melting down or tourist souvenirs ! In Sarajevo markets I saw shell casings that had been reworked by artisans as all manner of decorative objects. There are usually the people who go out and collect the salvage and the market traders who buy the items from them at good prices. Collection of salvage from a battlefield is dangerous work, even if the area is inactive, as unexploded ordnance exists and remains dangerous.

In the current war between Russia and Ukraine the use of Drone type aerial platforms has become extremely common. Literally thousands of drones are flown and destroyed each month. Amongst those Drones are some that are equipped with thermal imaging cameras. The cameras are part of an expendable package and not any great loss if destroyed. Not all Drones are completely destroyed. Some crash due to failure, others are shot down and a few are ‘duds’ that do not explode on impact. It is the drones that are not destroyed that are recovered for salvage and parts sold to market traders.

Izmailovsky Market in Moscow had an adjoining flea market and tourist souvenir area. There were a range of products being sold by the traders and prices were very good if you spoke Russian and could haggle well There were traders who specialised in night vision equipment (image intensifiers) and other optical devices. Some were civilian products but if you knew a trader well, he would often offer military products as well. These were normally stolen from Russian Tanks that were being transported on trains. This was the 1990’s so no thermal imaging equipment to be seen. You would have to be very brave or stupid to try to carry Russian military hardware out of the country through the airports though !

These days, the markets still exist and the war in Ukraine means that salvage from the battlefields is appearing on the market stalls or is available “under the table” if sensitive. Prices are good but guarantees and support are nil. I still would not wish to risk taking such items through Russian airport security though.

Hope this answers your question.

[dmendesf]

So any one willing to transfer those cameras around for a just price?