Two very nice industrial thermal cameras have been added to my collection this week
They are FLIR Thermovision 320 QVGA Industrial cameras designed for integration into ‘systems’ that require thermal imaging capabilities. These camera models were often to be found in the helicopter mounted stabilised gimbal pods used by law enforcement. They are high frame rate units.
The camera is basically a very rugged variant of the FLIR PM series cameras minus the keypad and EVF. Built to survive very harsh conditions and to be easily integrated into Professional applications.
The camera has only two external ports, the 10 pin Power/communications LEMO port and the BNC composite video port. The LEMO port provides digital communications with a Host via its RS232 and TAXI connectivity. The RS232 is used to control the camera using ASCII commands from the remote handset or a suitable software package. The TAXI digital port is used to pass radiometric image data to to a Host that is equipped with a TAXI PCMCIA card or via the “FLIR Parallel interface” to an Industrial video capture card. Various software packages were provided for control of the camera and processing of the image data. Researcher 2.x was often used with these cameras. The BNC connector provides a live composite video feed to a field monitor or to a central monitoring point. It may also be used to record or transmit (RF) the video feed if required.
There is a small cover on the rear of the camera that is held in place by two screws. A PCMCIA PC Card port resides behind this cover. This may be used for local recording of imagery and PCMCIA PC Card to Compact Flash card adapters may be used (<1GB / FAT16)
The camera contains a BAE microbolometer that is illuminated by a large Germanium lens assembly that provides motorised focus and a 24 Degree HFOV. Supplemental lenses were offered for 45 Degree HFOV and 12 Degree HFOV. The lenses contain magnets that identify themselves to the camera (via HALL Effect sensors) so that the calibration may be maintained using lens transmission corrections.
The electronics package within the Thermovision 320 is basically the same as that found in other PM series cameras, such as the PM570. I have previously described such an electronics package in my PM570 teardown.
These cameras are both in excellent condition and working well. To control them I use a FLIR breakout box, power adapter and official FLIR PM series remote control handset. The menu system is typical PM series format and these cameras identified themselves as the desirable 320M models that are fully radiometric
I have all of the Host interfaces to connect these cameras to a PC or laptop so can use FLIR Researcher software with them. The firmware in both cameras is dated 2001 so they are ~23 years old, but built to last ! They cost a small fortune when new and used very high quality components more often found in military grade equipment.
I count myself fortunate to receive these two cameras with the 45 degree HFOV supplemental lenses fitted. The cameras came with two Watec miniature 1/2” sensor 902K low light cameras. Evidence suggests that the Thermovision 320M cameras were used in the same application as the Watec 902K’s. They appear to have been well protected within a sealed housing, hence their great condition.