Inside a Bullard Eclipse 80 Fire Fighting camera by Fraser - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2020, 11:34:24 pm
content: As some may have already read, I have been after a Bullard Eclipse Fire Fighting thermal camera for some time and managed to purchase one from the USA recently. See this thread for the back story....https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/frasers-latest-camera-purchase-the-cute-bullard-eclipse/This evening I found time to dismantle the Bullard Eclipse to identify the imaging core and compare the control PCB to that of another Eclipse model, the LD, that I had previously dismantled. My new arrival is the standard model so only 80 x 60 pixels with 60fps image refresh. I was interested to see whether I could reconfigure the core to the 160 x 120 pixels that I know are available via an upgrade by Bullard.OK, on with the pictures and I will make comments as I go regarding the camera and its contents.Fraser

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2020, 11:44:48 pm
content: After separation of top and bottom case halves, there is one cable to disconnect (top buttons) and then the LCD display, control board and imaging core are revealed in the lower case section. The control board is attached directly to the casing by the 5 threaded contacts that penetrate the case in the battery compartment. Two contacts are for power and the remaining two are RS232 TX and RX. There is and additional 0V contact as well. The 'contact' that appears to be in plastic and fully insulated is in fact the port for vacuum testing the quality of the case sealing as these cameras are watertight. The 'contact' is fitted to seal the test port.The imaging core resides inside a pair of moulded foam inserts that hold it safely and protect the core from shock if the camera is dropped. These cameras are designed to be rugged ad survive abuse ! There is a watertight seal around the cores lens as it passes through the casing. All screws that penetrate the case are fitted with combined washers and rubber seals.The core in this Eclipse camera is the venerable FLIR TAU and it is fitted with a 5mm Hard Carbon coated Germanium lens

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2020, 11:51:14 pm
content: The control board in the Eclipse standard (non LD) model came as a bit of a surprise to me. It is far simpler than the LD version and is 'dumb'. There is no microprocessor present on the board and all the clever stuff is provided by the Imaging Core. The core is a FLIR TAU unit that contains functionality that may be configured using the FLIR TAU GUI utility. It is a very versatile core and does not need any external controller to operate. Hence the presence of very simple 'control' PCB.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2020, 12:03:28 am
content: Final pictures of the camera for now.The FLIR TAU core has the part number of: 41080005H-FFBALThis translates as:4 = TAU Core 60fps capable1 = FFC Shutter fitted080 = Resolution = 80 x 60005 = 5mm Lens fittedH= Hard Carbon Coating on LensF= Fast Frame Rate modelF= Fire Fighting VersionB= BULLARD (Customer Identity)AL= Customer specific coding - unknown meaningI will be dismantling the TAU core to investigate any differences to the standard FLIR TAU with which I am very familiar. Two entries in the part number are notable. The resolution is configured as 80 x 60 pixels at the factory and I know that FLIR never made TAU with less than 160 x 120 pixel resolution so it is a factory hobbling of the core through software using pixel combining. Whether I can change this is another matter. If not, I have other TAU cores that I can fit in the Eclipse in place of the 80 x 60 unit. I have noted that the TAU in this Eclipse camera has an additional PCB on its rear. This could be just a connector converter to provide a ZIF ribbon connector, or it could be a custom configuration board that hobbles the TAU160 attached to it.I believe this is a fire fighting rated TAU core. Such would likely have a higher ambient temperature capability.Fraser