Flir E4 Thermal imaging camera teardown

[Fraser]

My very crude 'lash-up' for testing the usability of the ZnSe lenses for close-up work may be found here:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/crowd-funded-projects/m-thermal-imager-real-or-fake/msg302859/#msg302859

I believe the performance will likely be better on the E series as my PM695 Primary lens is almost 60mm diameter and it is looking through a19mm auxiliary lens ! Not really a good match 

[mikeselectricstuff]

A very crude test with a cheap IR thermometer suggests the sensor is heated to somewhere between 30 to 35 deg.C, after which time the "~" disappears from the display
What I really need is another calibrated TIC to check... My FireFLir always autoranges so no use for measurements  (I wonder if there is a serial console in there...)

How about checking the inbuilt sensors?
http://192.168.0.2/service/TDRIFT/Sensors.asp

I've not really played much with service mode...

[Taucher]

I've not really played much with service mode...

It's even cooler - there's a button to enable service mode - by default it warns that the cam is not in service mode - but one can access all the live sensor data - it even auto-updates.

btw - I had a strange happening when going to noise cal ... the whole screen went noise-cluttered (IR only) - a cold boot removed that .. not sure what happened (I didn't start any cal process btw)

[mikeselectricstuff]

I've not really played much with service mode...

It's even cooler - there's a button to enable service mode - by default it warns that the cam is not in service mode - but one can access all the live sensor data - it even auto-updates.

btw - I had a strange happening when going to noise cal ... the whole screen went noise-cluttered (IR only) - a cold boot removed that .. not sure what happened (I didn't start any cal process btw)

Had that happen when fooling around with the i7's internal serial ports -- had to unplug it from everything and reboot.

I've seen a screen full of very coarse noise a couple of times when the sensor board got partially unmplugged.

[Taucher]

INFO: \\192.168.0.2 (CIFS) works in IP-mode - access to images without FTP
Also: \\192.168.0.2\root$ and \\192.168.0.2\windows$

EDIT: MUST READ:
http://support.flir.com/DocDownload/Assets/75/English/T559504$A.pdf
Chapter 1.3.3 (following pages are also - contains valueable info on commands etc.)
Note: the PDF is for another camera, but most information applies to the Ex series in IP mode as well!

Open Ports:

Code: [Select]

TCP TABLE
            Loc Addr   Loc Port
             0.0.0.0         21
             0.0.0.0         23
             0.0.0.0         80
             0.0.0.0        139
             0.0.0.0        443
             0.0.0.0      22136
             0.0.0.0      22176
             0.0.0.0      22177

[digsys]

I keep feeling beady lawyers eyes staring at me every time I read this thread ... is there a way to save the whole thread?
... Just in case  :-)

[Taucher]

I keep feeling beady lawyers eyes staring at me every time I read this thread ... is there a way to save the whole thread?
... Just in case  :-)

Print button helps a lot, then you just need to fetch yourself the missing attachments + linked documents

[Taucher]

collateral password finding: "www.flir.com" has been used in some former models via a hidden menu (strg-shift-a) - chance of it beeing reused?

EDIT:
Note on the sensor-naming ( ISC0901B0 ):
I'm pretty sure the first two numbers (09) are the sensor's generation year - deduced from some documents found online where that # went form 98 to 00 to 05 and 09 now... the next pair of numbers beeing the resolution/model and then followed by special features.
Unfortunately "our" ROIC isn't listed here: http://www.flir.com/cvs/cores/view/?id=51948

EDIT2: root:3vlig is a working login (verified for ftp)

EDIT3: .system.webpasswd text "IRCAM" ... another possible password

[okent]

Proactively downloaded flir tools just now.
It's a 581MB file, version shows last updated October 15, 2013.
flirinstall.exe is still showing 8/29/2013 with 233kb size.

[Taucher]

Good news everyone:
Quick notification in advance:
The camera HAS a working manual temperature mode *verified*! 

ALPHA AND SEVERELY CRASHING - the attached file is NOT perfect - it should be tried only by advanced users !!!
replace \FlashBFS\system\ui.d\toolbar-config_Z3.xml with the modded one (rename) over FTP and perform a cold cam-reboot - you'll have several additional features (didn't have time to test all the menus - for example "measurement" has some issues and will crash when selecting a cerain menu item)!

EDIT: BE WARNED: the attached config will cause crash of appcore on bootup once "stuck"

Updated attachment, adds palettes, manual mode and some trash - only for advanced users - install via FTP


If you'd like to experiment yourself then take a look at the strings of those files:
\FlashBFS\system\ui.d\languages\<file>
\FlashBFS\system\facet_ui_qml.dll

Maybe there's a way to restart facet without cold restart... I also did some documenting on the shell calls - but not ready for release yet.

[Zoltan von Negrow]

Next Monday, I will test hacked E4 on calibrated black body. Only to know, that hack doesn´t affect calibration. (Due to calibration was made for E4)


There is no reason for decalibration. But for sure!

[equinoxe]

Good news everyone:
Quick notification in advance:
The camera HAS a working manual temperature mode *verified*! 

ALPHA AND SEVERELY CRASHING - the attached file is NOT perfect - it should be tried only by advanced users !!!
replace \FlashBFS\system\ui.d\toolbar-config_Z3.xml with the modded one (rename) over FTP and perform a cold cam-reboot - you'll have several additional features (didn't have time to test all the menus - for example "measurement" has some issues and will crash when selecting a cerain menu item)!

BE WARNED: the attached config will cause crash of appcore on bootup once "stuck"

If you'd like to experiment yourself then take a look at the strings of those files:
\FlashBFS\system\ui.d\languages\<file>
\FlashBFS\system\facet_ui_qml.dll

Maybe there's a way to restart facet without cold restart... I also did some documenting on the shell calls - but not ready for release yet.

Could it be that it crashes because you have to activate the measurement first/instead?
Because some are disabled in the E8.cfg file.. ( I already mentioned it a few pages back )
I noticed some of the config strings are disabled, and these are (I have sorted them, they are not in the same spot in the E8.cfg file):

.caps.config.image.sysimg.irMarkers.box.enabled bool false
.caps.config.image.sysimg.visualMarkers.box.enabled bool false

.caps.config.image.sysimg.irMarkers.spot.enabled bool false
.caps.config.image.sysimg.visualMarkers.spot.enabled bool false

.caps.config.image.sysimg.measureFuncs.mcircle.enabled bool false

.caps.config.image.sysimg.measureFuncs.mline.enabled bool false

.caps.config.image.sysimg.measureFuncs.isotherm.dual bool false

[Taucher]

Could it be that it crashes because you have to activate the measurement first/instead?
Because some are disabled in the E8.cfg file: I already mentioned it a few pages back
I noticed some of the config strings are disabled, and these are (I have sorted them, they are not in the same spot in the config file):

Nah, I did enable them btw...

Right now I'm struggling to get the appcore noncrashing again - seems to be persistance of last mode used that bites my ass...
... just hope they didn't store that in the sqllite DB
But disabling the options might also help... *I'll give it a try*


this helped: rset .image.sysimgInstances.main.measureFuncs.diff.1.active false
(I had dumped the whole config in case I need a known good state to compare to)

[equinoxe]

[...]
Nah, I did enable them btw...

Right now I'm struggling to get the appcore noncrashing again - seems to be persistance of last mode used that bites my ass...
... just hope they didn't store that in the sqllite DB
But disabling the options might also help... *I'll give it a try*


this helped: rset .image.sysimgInstances.main.measureFuncs.diff.1.active false
(I had dumped the whole config in case I need a known good state to compare to)

Cool! I am curious how much extra functions this beast has, and whether we are able to add them.
Would be awesome to be able to update a stock from E4 to an E8++ with more functions than the pricy stock E8 has..

[Taucher]

Cool! I am curious how much extra functions this beast has, and whether we are able to add them.
Would be awesome to be able to update a stock from E4 to an E8++ with more functions than the pricy stock E8 has..

basically it's a mix of the binaries and the ressource files - my first attempt was just using the strings from the menu config - but then I remembered and took a look at one of the more advanced camera firmwares... structure is similar... 

those two are present in our E4 binary, but definately causing the crash:
      <ToolBar name="measure_delta_s"/>
      <ToolBar name="measure_delta_t"/>

some other menus seem to depend on hardware buttons ... but some functions can be simply remapped I think.... work in progress

[Pinkus]

I bought 19mm ZnSe lenses that fit into old camera filter holders. These lenses work well and I hope Mike will get good pictures with his. I am impressed with Mikes clever filter holder to fit his E4. 

Aurora: could you please make a photo of such a filter holder please (or post a link to one)? I tried to find such a thing but was not successful.
Thanks
Edit: I made the mistake to search for 19mm and lens, but obviously you need to search for 19mm and filter. I assume an item like Ebay 231080131443 would be the correct one? Or better something like Ebay 151124311796?

[mikeselectricstuff]

I bought 19mm ZnSe lenses that fit into old camera filter holders. These lenses work well and I hope Mike will get good pictures with his. I am impressed with Mikes clever filter holder to fit his E4. 

Aurora: could you please make a photo of such a filter holder please (or post a link to one)? I tried to find such a thing but was not successful.
Thanks
Edit: I made the mistake to search for 19mm and lens, but obviously you need to search for 19mm and filter. I assume an item like Ebay 231080131443 would be the correct one? Or better something like Ebay 151124311796?

Ebay search for co2 lens will find plenty of options around £20

Mostly ZnSe but also some GaAs - not sure which would be better but ZnSe generally cheaper

[Pinkus]

I bought 19mm ZnSe lenses that fit into old camera filter holders. These lenses work well and I hope Mike will get good pictures with his. I am impressed with Mikes clever filter holder to fit his E4. 

Aurora: could you please make a photo of such a filter holder please (or post a link to one)? I tried to find such a thing but was not successful.
Thanks
Edit: I made the mistake to search for 19mm and lens, but obviously you need to search for 19mm and filter. I assume an item like Ebay 231080131443 would be the correct one? Or better something like Ebay 151124311796?

Ebay search for co2 lens will find plenty of options around £20

Mostly ZnSe but also some GaAs - not sure which would be better but ZnSe generally cheaper

Yes, it is easy to find those - but I am looking for this 19mm filter holder Aurora is mentioning which allows to integrate the sensible ZnSe lens.

[Taucher]

This is working now:

• PIP in two sizes (small size is new)
• Color:
  • Greyscale inverted
  • Humidity mode
  • Insulation mode
  • Interval mode
  • Arctic
  • Lava
• Manual temperature scale setting

not working yet: video mode, rainbow-high-contrast, annotations, zoom
several symbols are missing, but text is shown when selecting them

See my initial posting for the updated zip:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/flir-e4-thermal-imaging-camera-teardown/msg324950/#msg324950

[mjl]

Another E4 sales commission for Mike

For those keeping score: serial 63905xxx, firmware version 1.18.8, calibration cert says FLIR Estonia, Oct 28 2013. Ordered last week (conrad.nl).

[mikeselectricstuff]

This is working now:

• PIP in two sizes (small size is new)
• Color:
  • Greyscale inverted
  • Humidity mode
  • Insulation mode
  • Interval mode
  • Arctic
  • Lava
• Manual temperature scale setting

not working yet: video mode, rainbow-high-contrast, annotations, zoom
several symbols are missing, but text is shown when selecting them

See my initial posting for the updated zip:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/flir-e4-thermal-imaging-camera-teardown/msg324950/#msg324950

Is this still crashy or does it work reliably?

[amyk]

I suppose a quick test would be to look for a change in current draw with temperature. The only place a cooler could possibly be is on the lower die.
I suppose I could look at the die with my other TIC (or even an humble IR thermometer).
Some heating or coolling may explain the ~ in front of the displayed temp figure at startup.

A very crude test with a cheap IR thermometer suggests the sensor is heated to somewhere between 30 to 35 deg.C, after which time the "~" disappears from the display

What I really need is another calibrated TIC to check... My FireFLir always autoranges so no use for measurements  (I wonder if there is a serial console in there...)

So the opposite of an "uncooled microbolometer" is a "heated microbolometer"...

Are there mirrors that reflect IR? Maybe you could have it look at itself?

not working yet: video mode

Although it's only 320x240 the flash in the E4 isn't that big - the size was mentioned a few pages back - so it probably can't record for very long.

[Taucher]

Is this still crashy or does it work reliably?

mild problems at max - worst I had was that I had to hold power 2x in a row for >5s
-> happened in mode color_iso_insulation ... possibly some hickup with initial parameters

when setting "rset .ui.userSettings.advancedMeasureMenu true" then the measurement menu looks different, but little use.
I had some tests and got even delta measurements to work - but not much fun.

Regarding the hidden menu: I found some traces for it:

Code: [Select]

  <ui_model type="HiddenServiceSettingsModel" name="hiddenServiceSettingsModel">
    <ui_model_item type="SettingItem" ID="USB_MODE" label="ID_SETUP_USB_MODE" nextModel="usbModeSettingsModel" nextQML="SettingsPage.qml" settingType="entry" />
    <ui_model_item type="SettingItem" ID="EXPORT_INFO" label="ID_SETUP_EXPORT_INFO" />
    <ui_model_item type="SettingItem" ID="VERSION_INFO" label="ID_SETUP_VERSION_INFO" nextModel="versionSettingsModel" nextQML="SettingsPage.qml" settingType="entry" />
  </ui_model>

  <ui_model type="USBModeSettingsModel" name="usbModeSettingsModel">
    <ui_model_item type="SettingItem" ID="MSD" label="MSD" radio="true"/>
    <ui_model_item type="SettingItem" ID="UVC" label="UVC" radio="true"/>
    <ui_model_item type="SettingItem" ID="RNDIS" label="RNDIS" radio="true" />
    <ui_model_item type="SettingItem" ID="RNDIS_UVC" label="RNDIS and UVC" radio="true"/>
    <ui_model_item type="SettingItem" ID="RNDIS_MSD" label="RNDIS and MSD" radio="true"/>
    <ui_model_item type="SettingItem" ID="UVC_MSD" label="UVC and MSD" radio="true" />
    <ui_model_item type="SettingItem" ID="RNDIS_UVC_MSD" label="RNDIS, UVC and MSD" radio="true"/>
  </ui_model>


[Pinkus]

Thanks Aurora !
Do they have an extra screwed ring to hold the lens inside the holder? Edit: this is probably what you mean with "front ring"?

Another option is to use a cheap CO2 laser cutter lens in front - a 20mm dia 50mm FL lens works pretty well - again I will show this in a vid - I mounted the lens in a plastic disc, retained with a wire clip

Mike, you call this clamping thing "wire clip". I think this is a clever idea to use! It is reliable, cheap and easy to install and to remove.
I have seen this kind of clamp before of course, but cannot find it now to order somewhere. Sometimes you just do not know what to search for. Any idea what the "official" name is or where to get this?

[Taucher]

Is this still crashy or does it work reliably?

for Mike: the attached .zip contains a special "settings" menu where the hidden menu is added visibly as 5th element top the options menu
the menu label and symbols are dupe as the ressource seems to be lacking matching texts/icons.

originally the hidden menu is set to be only reached as "next" item from the camera information subpage ... but no idea what triggers the menuflip!

Please note: the zip contains a .bmp without backup (yet) ... it will change the bootup screen a small bit (special edition)

ah - and btw - the hidden menu contains an USB settings menu