FLIR Thermal Camera 14 bit video streaming - anyone have experience with this ? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 29, 2014, 05:27:36 pm
content: I own a pretty advanced FLIR SC3000 scientific thermal camera that is capable of producing great images at high frame rates. It is built around a QWIP core and can produce 320x240 pixel images at 60fps or over 900fpsin an advanced mode (at reduced resolutions). Sadly the high speed mode is available only through the FLIR researcher software. The camera produces its image data via Composite, S-Video and a proprietary 14 bit data portI do have a demo copy of FLIR Researcher, but no interfaces to connect the cameras digital port to the PC.None of my other FLIR PM series cameras have the 14 bit video interface fitted so I have no experience of it. Has anyone succeeded in interfacing with that data port without the OEM FLIR PCMCIA interface please ? I know this is rare stuff but thought I would ask just in case.I am also interested in any PC software that can control the FLIR PM and SC series of cameras via the RS232 link, as the OEM software is eye watering prices. I do have the remote control that fit this camera so can manually control its functions but PC control offers greater capabilities.Thanks in advanceAurora

author: mhosier
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 19, 2014, 07:57:53 am
content: I can't help with regard to the video interface, but I do have a copy of the serial protocol for RS-232 comms on the PM series cameras (if you would like a copy, let me know). It's fairly straightforward and I was considering writing a small software utility at some point to execute some commands at the click of a button.What sort of features did you want to use? If you need a small number of the feature set, then a simple terminal package with a few programmable macro buttons would be a quick fix.I completely agree about the OEM software price (in fact the price of anything from FLIR!!). I looked into the remote briefly and then decided to leave it when I saw the price.

author: jeremy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 19, 2014, 08:25:34 am
content: I wish this was a problem I hadI seem to recall in a lab coming across a NI video capture card for a PXI crate that had a 14 bit digital interface. It was being used to capture data from a 12bit CMOS sensor for scientific purposes. I am certain it was not flir.It may be proprietary, but are you sure it is flir-only?Also, I think for the flir tau modules you could buy a digital capture adapter? Although it's been a while since I looked at any (and I never got one due to the price and export controls not being friendly to Australia). iirc it made it something same like ethernet. Perhaps you could mod one if it is cheaper

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 19, 2014, 09:05:50 am
content: Quote from: jeremy on July 19, 2014, 08:25:34 amCould it beCamera Link?

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 19, 2014, 03:44:49 pm
content: Thanks for the input everyone.I have found an alternative to the RS232 remotes control units. I own three of the official FLIR remotes but wanted to find a generic alternative.I discovered that the AV world uses programmable keypads that generate user provided RS232 commands or strings of commands. They are still not cheap at around GBP130 for the MLC52 but I got my paws on one for only GBP30 so cannot complain. That was the first remote that I found and it was made by EXTRON and has 6 buttons available.I have since discovered the custom programmable RS232 keyboards that are made by Genovation. These come in at less than GBP80 for a large keyboard and around GBP50 for a smaller one. Every key may be programmed with an RS232 command or string. I managed to find some used keypads made by Genovation that could also be custom programmed. They cost around GBP10 from the USAThe RS232 settings are also user confurable.http://www.genovation.com/http://store.genovation.com/index.php/programmables.htmlThese keypads should be able to produce the required codes to control a FLIR camera with an RS232 port.Sadly no joy on interfacing the FLIR 14 bit interface directly to a PC. I did manage to buy a new 'Parallel' interface from American Infrared though. It cost GBP100 so was worth a punt. The interface is actually a single board computer ! It 'translates' the FLIR 14 bit data into a parallel RS422 format for input to a 16 bit commercial frame grabber card. The bad news is that a specific frame grabber is needed by the FLIR software and it costs around GBP500I realised that decoding the 14 bit data out of the FLIR camera was going to be a PITA so when the opportunity arose I purchased a lovely 'as new' NEC AVIO TS5302-W 'fixed installation' thermal camera. It is 320x240 60fps and includes RS232, IEE1394 (Firewire), S-Video and Composite video outputs. It also included the excellent external 5" monitor that has the remote control keypad. All for GBP720The camera is also available rebadged as the Mikron TS7302.I have been in contact with a really great UK agent for NEC AVIO and he has kindly provided me with the full background on my camera as he calibrated it last year and it belonged to his previous employer ! It was only switched on to test and calibrate ! He has also provided me with a 60 day demo program to remote control and access real time imagery via the Firewire port. Great chapAs a result of these developments, the need to access the FLIR 14bit data port is not as important.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2014, 08:28:01 am
content: For info,I have just found a small unit that takes inputs from a USB keyboard(wired or wireless) and produces RS232 ASCII. It is capable of 'translating' any keypress to a command string of up to 10 characters. The configuration is stored in non volatile memory and RS232 configurable to most common formats.A great bit of niche kit as you can use a standard PC HID keyboard or keypad as the input deviceA standard PC keyboard provides enough keys to cover every command that my cameras offer to the user. Much cheaper than the Genovation solution and more flexible.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/rs232-command-strings-using-a-usb-or-wireless-keyboard-!/msg487407/#msg487407Aurora