Infiray ELF series - And the new miniature cores keep coming ! - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 29, 2022, 12:02:24 pm
content: I have just seen that a Infiray have produced a series of miniature thermal imaging cores to rival the offerings from Seek Thermal and FLIRThey have called them the ELF core. The ELF 1 is a integrated module design whereas the ELF 3 separates the processor PCB with a FPC ribbon. The ELF 3 performance will likely benefit from removing the processors heat output from proximity to the microbolometerhttps://www.infiray.com/products/uncooled-lwir-camera-module/It is good to see such miniature core development continuingFraser

author: lichenzc
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 31, 2022, 12:08:27 pm
content: I think the ELF 3 is just ELF 1 with image processor, it can be judged from the weight of the two modules. The ELF 1&3's data output also tell it.

author: Vipitis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 31, 2022, 02:09:43 pm
content: Don't they already have they Tiny and S0 cores?

author: ArsenioDev
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 31, 2022, 02:30:28 pm
content: I think these might be using a newer ROIC and packaging.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 31, 2022, 02:42:34 pm
content: Vipitis, They do indeed. I checked that those cores remain available and they are still listed. This is what I was hoping for though. The market is so buoyant for thermal imaging cores at the moment that Infiray are producing various models of core to suit differing needs. They may all use the same microbolometer die and ROIC in various cores, just as ULIS does with its different Thermal FPA’s. The ELF appears to offer easier mounting in a chassis, thanks to its two ‘wings’ and screw holes.It is interesting to see that the favoured resolution for budget thermal imaging cameras coming out of ASIA is 256x192 pixels. Maybe this is a good balance of production cost Vs image quality. I certainly appreciate the additional image detail compared to my old ‘entry level reference’ of 160x120 pixelsI know some members of the forum desire higher resolutions and maybe those desires can be fulfilled at affordable prices but it may take time. For the moment 256x192 appears a very popular resolution in affordable consumer grade cameras.Infiray are also making a point of saying they are now producing thermal imaging cores that use an ASIC, rather than FPGA technology. They claim this move to ASIC’s reduces cost and power consumption.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 31, 2022, 02:47:33 pm
content: Arseniodev,You could be right as I know that the Tiny1 and S0 have a little bug in them that needs correcting but I was advised that this will occur in the next generation of cores. The bug effects the high temperature range behaviour.Fraser

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 31, 2022, 04:30:52 pm
content: Infiray ASIC based thermal camera cores……https://www.infiray.com/products/asic-uncooled-thermal-module/Fraser

author: ArsenioDev
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 31, 2022, 05:14:09 pm
content: Quote from: Fraser on May 31, 2022, 04:30:52 pmI high key am considering getting a quote on a G1, would be interesting to see what sort of data interface they have and images they spit out by default.

author: Abbott242
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2022, 08:53:32 pm
content: On the topic of these new cores, I've purchased a "mini256" core from Infiray (256*192, 25hz). Quoted at 425usd/each. The SDK supplied with it seems to be the same as for the Tiny-1C, I'll be diving into the code in a few days as I'm using it for a new project. Output is via SPI/DVP with a USB-C backboard. I'll be sure to post images/info on how it performs!

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2022, 09:00:01 pm
content: Did you find the PC SDK for these cores please. It is supposed to be available but I only ever found the mobile phone apps.Fraser

author: Abbott242
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2022, 09:13:47 pm
content: Yep, I have the PC SDK- what would be the easiest way to share it? Note that most of the file names and instructions are in Mandarin, I've yet to translate them.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2022, 10:55:15 pm
content: Google drive is a popular iCloud storage solution. Other iCloud storage sites exist, but some can be a bit dodgy !How large is the SDK please ?Fraser

author: Abbott242
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2022, 11:11:48 pm
content: I'll put it on Google drive later tonight then, it's a 89.1mb .zip file.

author: unturned3
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2022, 11:12:58 pm
content: Quote from: Abbott242 on June 03, 2022, 08:53:32 pmIf you don't mind, may I ask how did you manage to buy the camera from Infiray? I emailed them and got no reponse so far.

author: Abbott242
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2022, 11:26:02 pm
content: I bought it on Alibaba from Dongguan Hampo Electronic Technology Co, it wasn't direct from Infiray. They seem to stock quite a few Infiray cores, as do other sellers. No luck on the elf cores yet though, I'll have to check.

author: Abbott242
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2022, 04:05:30 pm
content: Okay, I've uploaded the SDK to drive:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ilGgWSxOK-QcDlMyTLcZdKiNAn_ifQes?usp=sharingZip file:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Vbn0Tcm5kUO5ZLXQlUJ6oy1iXcGiOZQ0/view?usp=sharingPlease note that this is in the state I received it - I take no responsibility for file organization or translations. I hope this ends up being useful!

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2022, 05:30:21 pm
content: Abbot242,Thank you very much for the SDK files.I will try them on the S0 core and see how I get on with the features.I was aware that many Infiray technical documents are in Mandarin as the product ranges are primarily aimed at the Chinese OEM’s with the Western support documentation following at some point in time. Thank goodness for the online translatorsFraser

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2022, 12:38:37 pm
content: I translated the documents associated with the SDK from Mandarin to English. An interesting read but not quite what I was expecting as it is not a generic SDK for the Infiray range of cores, but rather a specific code collection for the Tiny1 core. The documentation is still very interesting and useful though as I believe much of its contents will apply to my S0 core.I have written to Infiray asking for the S0 core SDK and will have to wait and see whether they respond.Thank you again for sharing the Tiny1 SDKFraser

author: Abbott242
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2022, 03:31:16 pm
content: Uh oh - that's not what I was expecting either! I will talk to my supplier and ask whether he has other, specific SDKs, and if this was a mix-up. Hopefully much of it is the same in my case as well - I'm about to plug the core in.

author: globoy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2022, 11:31:42 pm
content: @Abbot242, Any luck getting the SDK to run? I'm thinking of pulling the trigger and buying a Tiny1-C from Infiray for development. I looked through the SDK you posted and it looks dependent on a set of libraries they supply that are, at least for the SPI demo, compiled for x86 linux.@Fraser, care to share your translated version of the documentation?

author: Abbott242
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2022, 05:31:57 pm
content: @globoy Ahh to be honest, I had a really big move to the USA right after I got that core, so I haven't really had a chance to look at it unfortunately. I believe that the library I asked for was for Linux, so that would make sense - they should have other packages for android as well.

author: globoy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2022, 09:35:04 pm
content: No worries :-) I've just ordered a Tiny1-C and am going to try to get my existing code base to talk to it. Looks like an adventure...