Flir E4 thermal image breaking down

[Steve T]

Hello

I'm new to the forum and am looking for some help with my "new to me" flir E4.  I haven't been able to find any pertinent information in the older posts.  Maybe I'm not searching using the correct terms.

The previous owner said that it was upgraded to an E8 using the software hack, but not by him.  He was transferring some images to a computer and some error occurred. He panicked and pulled the USB cord.  When he tried to use the Flir again, the image along the left side of the screen was depixillated.  You can still see the MSX outline of objects, but no thermal information.  I tried deleting all images over and over again and the image improved.  But when I reset all parameters and reset to factory settings, the image reverted.  I'm assuming that this is a software error as the image is better at times.  I have tried to attach an example image but wasn't able.  I will try again.

Here are some specs I pulled from the menu.
Model E4 1.1L
Software 1.22.0

Thank you in advance.

Steve

[Steve T]

Here is a picture.

[OrBy]

I am by no means an expert - but looking at the roundness of the defect - it kinda looks like a lens issue. 

If you show only the visible light image - is it clean? Can you post a actual image from the camera?

[Steve T]

The visual light image is unaffected.

Thanks

Steve

[frenky]

It looks like "ring of crap": https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/flir-e4-thermal-imaging-camera-teardown/msg912203/#msg912203

[OrBy]

It does kinda look like the "ring of crap" that some people ran into with newer firmware versions and unlocking. But if it's on 1.xx I don't think that would be the specific issue.
Since the visual image is not affected - one next trouble shooting step that could be done without opening the unit could be to rotate the lens slightly to see if the defect follows it. (best to mark where it was and put it back after!)
If it does - it's a lens issue. (dirty on the inside perhaps)
If it does not - it would likely be hardware (sensor failing) or bad software issue (missing or corrupt calibration data - higher chance of this since it was yanked without un-mounting correctly).

If the calibration is toast - you may be looking at sending it off since it you cant really take the calibration from another unit as they seem to vary quite a bit.

[Steve T]

Thanks guys. I'll try the lens first.

Any other ideas are greatly appreciated.

Steve

[max-bit]

This is not a mistake of the software.
The image shows damage to the sensor measurement.

[Steve T]

If it is a damaged sensor,  why is there less noise is I leave the battery out over night.  There are times where almost all of the noise disappears but if I turn the camera off then back on then there is a lot more noise.  Sometimes of I keep repeating the clear all images function the noise lessens.

[Fraser]

IMHO, you have bought an E4 that has been badly hacked or someone has messed around with the software outside of the proven hack method. This has none of the hallmarks of USB communications induced corruption. Such tends to trash the 'Mass Storage device' and crash the camera. The FW1.22 E4 did not normally suffer from the 'ring of crap' issue. However someone might cause such if they tried updating the firmware and then downgrading to the original again. The 1.xx and some 2.xx firmwares do differ in some important aspects. Mixing bits from each can cause weird problems like yours.

I hope you did not pay too much for the camera as I believe a visit to Dr FLIR may be required to sort this out. As you have no original data back-up or knowledge of exactly what has been done to the camera, you have no baseline and we cannot fix what is not known in terms of changes made. There are some powerful calibration and correction tools in the service menu. If those have been messed with, all manner of soft damage could have been done.

Fraser

[sam1275]

Umm if this is a software issue, can anyone have a Flir E4 give him a full set of file-system backup, and OP can overwrite his to try solve it?
Sorry I don't own a E4.

[Fraser]

It's a long time since I played with the E4 WinCE OS but IIRC, you cannot extract a complete OS file dump as the OS is running and prevents such. A donor copy of the OS is a possibility only if it can be extracted from an E4, calibration and any unique camera data replaced with the correct data for the recipient camera and then programmed into the poorly camera. I do not know of such ever having been achieved on the E4 via the USB port. I am not saying that it cannot be done, it is just somewhat 'involved' for both donor and recipient.

Fraser

[Steve T]

Hi Everyone

I would like to thank everyone for taking the time to read and answer my post.  I have taken Fraser's advice and contacted Flir Canada today.   I am going to have them look at it.

Thank you

Steve

[Fraser]

FLIR Canada have been very helpful to me in the past when I was repairing a PM570 camera. I hope they can sort out your cameras problem at a low cost. I suspect they will extract the calibration data and carry out a full OS rebuild. That should sort out any software related issues. FLIR install the latest firmware as a matter of policy.

Fraser

[Steve T]

Does that mean that I will not be able to restore the E8 functionality?

[Fraser]

It could, depending upon the build version of the firmware and whether known upgrade paths will work. There is no way to be certain

Fraser

[Steve T]

That's what I'm afraid of.  Maybe I should just love with it as it is.  After all I did get it for a good price.

[donkey77]

Surely you would be better with a working e4 than a knackered e8?!

[Steve T]

As I'm new to these thermal imaging cameras, I'm not sure what would be better.  Any opinions?