Axsys Camera Part - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: evgeek
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2021, 05:47:05 am
content: I recently got an old Axsys camera as part, chips are dated 2007. Guess its manufactured in 2007 or 2008. Wondering if you have seen anything like this unit. I don't know the spec or the model number. I am trying to power, it has a 38 pin power connector. Don't know what type of connector it is. It has an ethernet port and BNC video out.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2021, 12:26:35 pm
content: It appears to be a Stirling split Cooler equipped unitSadly I do not know this model so cannot provide any technical detail on it.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2021, 12:40:42 pm
content: Likely to have been a surveillance camera like this…https://manualzz.com/doc/23505429/axsys-fieldpro5x?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=pmd_9206a7b2212b721e32e57a0b77d9fdd15fc69d7e-1627735070-0-gqNtZGzNAfijcnBszQgi

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2021, 12:52:00 pm
content: The Axsys (General Dynamics) catalogues may contain the original embodiment of the camera solution so well worth investigation. Then it is a case of researching the various possible models to see what connectivity they had and any available commands for RS232/RS422 control.https://pdf.directindustry.com/pdf/axsys-technologies/thermal-cameras/36088-64459.htmlThe connector will likely provide the 12V supply input, video output, Serial communications I/O and potentially bespoke I/O for keyboard control. These should all be identifiable via basic reverse engineering of the PCB to identify the electronics normally associated with such I/O. Your challenge will be in controlling the core as it will likely power up into standby and require commands via the serial port to wake it up and control it. Hence my comment on trying to find documentation with a command set listed.Getting these cores running can be a challenge as the command set is often not in the public domain. Firmware reverse engineering is a possibility but can be quite involved.Fraser

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2021, 01:22:37 pm
content: The Wayback machine has captures of the Axsys website before it was bought by General Dynamics. Sadly nothing much to help you on the site though. These specialist companies tend not to provide very much technical detail or support via their web pages as they want the customer to contact them directly for any support. These cooled cores were, and remain, controlled technology in terms of detailed technical information & software release.https://web.archive.org/web/20090122204409/http://axsys.com/products.php

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2021, 03:00:54 pm
content: I am just doing some checks to see whether the Axsys camera chassis you have actually uses a Raytheon/L3 cooled core.I will advise if I find anything useful.

author: evgeek
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2021, 03:21:52 pm
content: thank you so much for your help. The seller doesn't know where it came from. I will read all these references. I need to locate the main power connector and will apply 8-12v and see if it comes on.

author: IR_Geek
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2021, 03:27:03 pm
content: One of your pictures has the FPA coming from DRS. As they do a lot of MCT that could make it a MW or a LW. Not very helpful as the DRS sites do not have a lot of downloadable info either.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2021, 03:56:51 pm
content: Some more pictures of your exact core from the seller. These contain additional detail and the video output is clearly visible on a BNC connectorTo find the power supply input, look for a PCB that contains large capacitors, either electrolytic or Tantalum. There will also likely be Inductors bor Buck converters. All these ‘power components’ will receive their power from either a power rail or a Buck converter IC. In either case, trace the power rails back to their source with continuity tests. In the case of the Buck converters, download their data sheets and find out which pins receive the power input to them. In most cases, the main power input to a camera is pretty obvious from the number of capacitors attached to it fir decoupling and smoothing purposes. Tantalum capacitors are commonly found on such supply rails and though physically small, their values can be quite large. There may also be some inductors in the supply rail. If you post detailed complete images of the PCB’s we might be able to help further.The 0V power rail will often be connected to the PCB ground plane and even the cameras chassis. The BNC plug shell might be connected to the 0V rail as well. If so, it makes a convenient 0V attachment point for some testing.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2021, 03:59:54 pm
content: Continued…

author: evgeek
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2021, 04:10:26 pm
content: thanks. i will try to trace, funthese newer versions look similarhttps://www.lynred-usa.com/products/cooled.htmlguess these cameras share lots of components across many vendors.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2021, 04:26:28 pm
content: Hmmm, well yes they are similar in that they contain a sterling cooler with associated Vacuum Dewar for the sensor array plus associated drive electronics and a chassis. They are very different in the fine detail however. The format of cooled camera chassis has often been the rectangular chassis with the cooler at the rear and the thermally sensitive Sensor array poking out the front for mating with the lens block. It is just a logical layout as the cooler generates heat. Some designs place to cooler above the sensor array to reduce length.Your core uses a linear type Stirling cooler with remote sensor head assembly. There is a small metal tube connecting the head to the linear cooler cylinder….. do not disconnect, damage or badly kink that thin pipe ! To do so will scrap the unit.The cooled cores in your referenced Lynred page use the rotary type Stirling cooler format that looks like a small RC model Glo-Plug engine. These are sometimes more power efficient than the linear type cooler, but they can also be more prone to failure.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2021, 04:33:37 pm
content: Note this Leonardo DRS cores ID engraving around the sensor array barrel. Looks the same format as on your core. As IR Geek says, it looks like you have a DRS core running with an Axsys camera Electronics package.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2021, 04:36:02 pm
content: Just to show different formats of cooled cores…..

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2021, 04:43:02 pm
content: In case anyone is wondering, the square metal box around the sensor array Dewar section is just screening and protection for the Sensor FPGA connections that come out of the Vacuum Dewar radially. That metal box does change the appearance of the sensor array head but it is conventional underneath.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2021, 04:56:57 pm
content: I just noticed, the picture of the screening can around the Vacuum dewar shows the CAGE code “1HYQ4” that is assigned to DRS Network & imaging SystemsSo we know who made the core…. and that it will be very nice quality…. But sadly that gets us no further forwards on controlling the camera as it will use Axsys designed electronics for that part of the design.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2021, 03:28:34 pm
content: I have annotated the power input PCB. A fuse is clearly visible and, in my experience, this will be the 12V input fuse so you can track that back to the pins on the connector if you intend to use those. You could also attach a jumper wire to the fuse for direct connection to the power rail. The 0V connection is likley to be anywhere on the PCB ground plane. The large metal connector (ethernet) at the bottom of the PCB may be a convenient 0V attachement point ?There are plenty of power related IC's on the PCB. Note that taht there are also communications transceivers, RS232 and RS422, plus two ADC's on this side of the PCB. You can determine the RS232 and RS422 pins on the I/O connector using the datasheets for these communivations chips.Do prove my thinking as I take no responsibility for mistakes when working from pictures !Fraser

author: evgeek
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2021, 03:57:32 pm
content: Wow. This is very helpful for tracing. Thanks a lot. I am planning to get the matching plug for that 12v connector. I got one more thermal camera called Check-6 from BAE systemsI will get to that after this.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2021, 04:13:36 pm
content: "Check-6" as in "Check my Six" meaning cover my rearYes the Check-6 was a retrofit system for miltary vehicles that utilsed the extant rear light assembly wiring holes to avoid having to make new penetrations in the vehicles armour. Very clever. This is dedicated Military thermal imaging so I tend not to get too involved with such kit on public forums. It may use a relatively well known BAE core though so you may get lucky as we have covered BAE thermal imaging cores on this forum previously.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/scott-eagle-x-fire-fighting-camera-very-nice-unit-and-core-by-fraser/msg1308661/#msg1308661https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/bae-lockheed-200205500-series-cores/msg3422096/#msg3422096Fraser

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2021, 04:38:23 pm
content: You likely already know, but for other readers benefit, the round PCB's are supplied by DRS with their imaging core and are the support electronics for the core. The Sterling Cooler will be controlled by these PCB's. The Linear cooler design uses field coil inductive drive of the magnetic piston so expect to see AC on the drive wires. The frequency of the drive is dictated by the mechanical characteristics of the linear cooler as the piston oscillates in a resonance mode working against a precision spring. These coolers are quite noisy when cooling down to operating temperature (77K) but should then drop into teh 'mainatin' mode that just needs to cope with any sensor self heating, thermal losses in the Dewar and incoming energy through the window. This 'maintain' mode has the cooler running at idle with lower cooler noise. A cooler should reach operating temperature in less than 15 minutes but I prefer to see it reach that maintain state in 10 minutes or less. The longer it takes teh cooler to reach operating temperature, the poorer the condition of the cooler. This can be due to internal wear or some loss of the Helium gas fill, reducing cooling performance. 'Dead' coolers will never reach operating temperature as they have worn ot seals, failed internal parts or loss of too much Helium gas fill. They become a paperweight.Fraser

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2021, 06:07:41 pm
content: Regarding the BAE Check-6. I found a picture of part of the core. I think I recognise that coreHopefully you will be able to get the Check 6 camera working quite easily. It will likely be a lot easier to get working than the cooled camera as it is a self contained fully automatic system. There as a web page discussing the check 6 but the participants do not know much about the thermal imaging core or how to configure the wiring to it.https://forums.g503.com/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=267614Fraser

author: evgeek
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2021, 04:08:58 am
content: Thanks for the links. Yes. It is the one. There is one on salehttps://www.ebay.com/itm/174860085225It looks a similar to the SCC500. It looks a lot simpler than Axsys unit. I will try to debug soon. Once i get it working, i am planning to use it around home to inspect electrical parts/panel, attic space for mold and rodents