Micro Epsilon TIM and Optris PI miniature VGA cameras - information - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2025, 02:33:00 pm
content: I am currently working with a Micro Epsilon TIM640 VGA (640x480 pixel 32fps & 125fps) thermal camera and have decided to create this post as a source of information for any other owners of these neat little Industrial cameras or anyone interested in such.The Micro Epsilon TIM series of cameras are intended to be used in Industrial environments and their RRP reflects this ! These are expensive little beasts. The camera is of "all metal" construction but requires protection against dust and fluids. The TIM series are USB cameras, similar in principle to many Mobile Phone Dongle type thermal cameras in that they are Software defined in terms of their functionality. The camera "head" contains all of the required hardware to capture a thermal scene but the software running on a "Host" computer uses the head units USB data stream to create whatever display is desired by the OEM and/or end user. To this end, both OEM software and an SDK is made available to those using these cameras. In Industry, versatility is important, so this camera is designed to meet that requirement in both hardware and software. And yes, the SDK supports LINUX !When the camera is first connected to a Host computer and the required software run, a camera specific Calibration file set is downloaded from the OEM and stored on the Host. This file may be saved for future off-line use if desired and the software supports importing the calibration data from a file instead of the OEM. This Calibration file download process reminds me of the Therm-App USB dongle cameras that did the same. Such is not an issue, provided you can get the Calibration file from the OEM at least once, so that it can be saved somewhere safe.The specifications for the TIM640 camera that I am using are honest and provide the true sensitivity for the complete "system" including its lens. This is stated as 75mK and is more than good enough for most tasks in Industry. There are a range of lenses available to fit the TIM series cameras so the end user may select the one that provides the desired FOV for a particular application. Thankfully my TIM640 is equipped with the very useful 33 Degrees HFOV lens. This does not squander the 640 x 480 pixels of the microbolometer in order to provide a wide FOV. This is important if image detail is a priority. I attach a screen capture of the TIM640 specifications.I was doing some research on the Micro Epsilon TIM series of cameras and quickly established that it is the same as the OPTRIS PI series of Industrial thermal cameras. I believe that Optris are the true OEM of this hardware. The Optris web-site contains a wealth of information about these cameras. There is the Optris version of the PC software and even an APP for a USB connected (OTG) mobile phone.On the software front, Micro Epsilon provide "TIMconnect" and the SDK for their camera. The Software is the same as that provided by Optris. The TIMconnect software used to be a chargeable item but it has now been made available free of charge (which is good to see).On the Hardware front, there is not really a lot to say. The camera head is a neat little metal box with a nice large manual focus lens at the front and a couple of connectors at the rear. There is a standard tripod 1/4" screw mount on the bottom of the camera, along with two metric screw holes for attachment of the optional OEM camera mounting bracket. The two connectors provide USB and process connectivity. Camera power comes direct from the USB connection and is compliant with the USB 500mA current limit. The process connector is used with a separate interface to permit interaction of processes with the camera in an Industrial environment. Processes can be controlled by the camera, in line with its configuration, or the camera can receive data from processes for end user use.Connector identity......My TIM640 Micro Epsilon came without any cables or connectors. This can be a challenge with Industrial thermal cameras if the connector is not of an obvious make or type. Such was the case with the TIM640. Micro Epsilon sell complete USB cable assemblies at significant cost (~$200) and they were not forthcoming about the identity of the connectors used. Optris also withheld the identity of the connectors. This was interesting as they detail the identity of the connectors used on Optris IR thermometers..... Binder M8. Thankfully that information gave me somewhere to start when searching for the connectors. Optris use Binder brand connector on some of their sensor assemblies. searching through the various Binder connectors in their catalogue revealed that I needed connectors from the M9 711 or 712 series. That was not the end of the story though. The TIM / PI series of cameras have a 4 pin connector for the USB and a 5 pin connector for the process I/O port. I sourced a Binder 4 pin female connector in order to make my own USB cable. I should have paid more attention to the pin spacing though (I ordered the connector before I actually had the camera in my hands). The Binder 711/712 4 pin connector uses 4 pins equal spaced in a square format. The TIM / PI 4 pin connector non equal spaced pins in a trapezoidal format. This was an expensive mistake as the connector cost £16 (and that was a good price for these !) Once the camera arrived and I was able to carefully inspect the connectors, I realised that the 4 pin Binder connector is actually a 5 pin format connector with the top pin (pin 3) deleted. Why did the OEM do this ? It means that a standard Binder 5 pin connector will for both the USB and the Process connector as the free connector is female. Had a normal Binder M9 4 711/712 4 contact connector been used for the USB connection, the possibility of plugging the USB into the process connector, or vice versa, would have been avoided. So if you need to make cables for these cameras you just need to buy the Binder 711 or 712 series female 5 contact connectors. I attach the pinout pictures. The USB connection is standard with no additional interface required. I made a Binder 711 to USB type B socket short cable to permit use of standard USB type A to B cables.Once the TIM series camera is connected to a PC and the Micro Epsilon TIMconnect software is installed, the software searches for the camera on its USB port. The process is automatic and the software searches for a valid calibration file for the cameras serial number. If no calibration file is found, it is downloaded from the OEM and stored in a user accessible folder for easy backup.I attach some screen captures from the TIMconnect software showing what it offers. The layout of the various display and measurement functions may be set up as desired by the user. There are several useful layouts included with the standard installation but custom layouts may easily be created. This software "desktop" layout flexibility provides the user with the option to have very simple layouts with limited data shown, or more complex layouts that provide comprehensive data for easy visibility. The software offers multiple spot temperature points, regions of interest and other measurement features normally found in R&D software. The TIM series cameras are well suited to PCB inspection thanks to the high resolution and close focus capability. An unusual feature included in the software is the ability to operate the camera in a “line scanner” mode. It can be mounted on a production line, monitoring targets passing through its field of view. The shape of the “observation slot” may be configured by the end user. The software can monitor temperatures within the observation area and create outputs on the camera head process interface if required.Well that is enough for now. I attach the specifications of the camera plus the captured images for those interested.Additional comment: The TIM640 can capture still Radiometric images plus Radiometric VIDEO at 640x480 pixels with 32fps, which can be useful if monitoring a target over time and requiring temperature measurements from the recorded video.Fraser

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2025, 02:40:15 pm
content: Binder Connectors related.....Catalogue of the M9 connectors and the pinout of the TIM / PI connectors.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2025, 02:47:14 pm
content: Some screen captures from when the software and camera were first tested together. The target is my usual Coffee Mug full of hot water.Minimum focus was found to be around 20mm before the lens ran out of threads.Fraser

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2025, 02:54:34 pm
content: Brochure and Manuals

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2025, 03:10:50 pm
content: The Optris PI series ..... I believe that this is the true OEM of this hardware.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2025, 03:12:44 pm
content: Optris PIX connect Software user manual. Basically the same as that of the Micro Epsilon TIMconnect as the software is identical.The software is available to download from both the Micro Epsilon and Optris web sites free of charge. The SDK is included in the downloaded file set.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2025, 03:45:51 pm
content: The exact Binder connectors that I have purchased for the Micro Epsilon TIM640 along with pictures of themI bought both straight and right angled cable entry types. Decent quality connectors, but scary expensive for what they are !5 contact Straight cable entry - Part no. : M9 711 series99 0096 100 055 contact 90 Degree cable entry - Part No. : M9 712 series99 0414 70 05Both 711 and 712 series are compatible with the cameras connectors.Fraser

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2025, 11:18:43 pm
content: An Industry article on the Micro Epsilon TIM640 detailing its features and price (£6800!)_____________________________________________________“ Micro-Epsilon’s latest innovation in thermal imaging, the thermoIMAGER TIM 640, is an infrared thermal imaging camera that is able to record radiometric video at an optical resolution of 640×480 pixels – making it the highest resolution infrared camera available on the market today for less than £6800.With extremely compact dimensions of 45x56x90mm and a weight of just 320g (including lens), compared to other similar-size cameras, the TIM 640 is the only camera that enables the recording of radiometric video images at 32Hz and a VGA resolution of 640×480 pixels.With a thermal sensitivity of 75mK, this camera can detect very small temperature differences, which is critical in many thermal analysis R&D projects and inline thermography applications. At ambient temperatures of between 0 and 50°C, the camera can measure object temperatures ranging from -20°C to +900°C.By using thermal imaging cameras – in R&D, new product development and high volume production – hot spots and defects can be detected quickly and reliably, without influencing the target object. The TIM 640 is suitable for a wide range of quality control, process monitoring and inline thermography applications, including the monitoring of small components in high speed production lines, plastics injection moulding, semiconductor manufacturing, as well as the analysis of electronic micro-components and functional testing of fully-assembled PCBs.A USB 2.0 interface allows video recording at 32Hz. This is highly beneficial for short term thermal measurement activities, which need to be analysed in slow motion playback. Individual snapshots can be taken from these recordings. Measurement points are freely selectable and can be analysed via user-defined areas of interest. Alarms can also be set up and displayed, as well as maximum, minimum and average temperatures.Glenn Wedgbrow, Sales Manager at Micro-Epsilon UK commented: “The TIM 640 is a superior quality, high performance thermal imaging camera that can be easily integrated to industrial process control and R&D applications. The camera also offers an outstanding price/performance ratio, with a price tag of £6,800 including software.”Integration made easyFor easy process integration, the TIM 640 is supplied with the TIM Connect software as standard. This enables users to monitor and document measurements and to edit infrared video images. The software provides quick and easy set up together with a range of software tools that enable the cameras to be used in R&D tasks as well as process control. The TIM 640 is supplied with an integral process interface for input and output of analogue and digital signals (alarms, temperature values, etc.). Open connectivity drivers are also provided for software integration via DLL, ComPort and LabVIEW, simplifying connectivity to fieldbus networks and automation systems.”______________________________________________This text was copied from here……https://www.processindustryinformer.com/lowest-price-yet-for-high-resolution-640x480-infrared-thermal-imaging-camera/

author: Tillman
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 16, 2025, 02:38:18 pm
content: Might be useful.Softwarehttp://dl-irdata.com/data/imager/PIX%20Setup/Calibration fileshttp://dl-irdata.com/data/imager/25/25 -year of mfgFirmwarehttp://dl-irdata.com/data/imager/firmware/

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2025, 03:14:44 pm
content: Thank you for this useful data

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2025, 03:24:28 pm
content: From the provided data it would appear that my TIM640 was manufactured in 2019. It’s serial number starts with “19”.Tillman, that is a great data source. I initially thought it was just links to the software files, but it is so much more. Great that it contains all the calibration files.Fraser