FLIR Photon User manual

Photon
User’s Manual
FLIR Inc.
70 Castilian Drive
Goleta, CA 93117
Phone: 888.747.FLIR (888.747.3547)
International: +1.805.964.9797
www.flir.com
www.corebyindigo.com
Document Number: 412-0035-00-10
Version: 110
Issue Date: February 2008
TM

© FLIR Inc., 2008. All rights reserved worldwide. No parts of this manual, in whole or in part,
may be copied, photocopied, translated, or transmitted to any electronic medium or machine
readable form without the prior written permission of FLIR Inc.
Names and marks appearing on the products herein are either registered trademarks or
trademarks of FLIR Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, trade names, or
company names referenced herein are used for identification only and are the property of their
respective owners.
This product is protected by patents, design patents, patents pending, or design patents
pending.
If you have questions that are not covered in this manual, or need service, contact FLIR CVS
Customer Support at 805.964.9797 for additional information prior to returning a camera.
This documentation is subject to change without notice.

412-0035-00-10, version 110 iii
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
1.1 Photon Specifications .......................................................................... 1-2
1.2 Available Photon Configurations ............................................................ 1-3
1.3 Unpacking Your Photon Camera ........................................................... 1-4
2 Optional Photon Accessories
2.1 Hardware accessories ......................................................................... 2-1
2.2 Software accessories .......................................................................... 2-4
3 Basic Operation of the Photon Camera and GUI
3.1 Operation of the Photon camera using the development kit ....................... 3-1
3.2 Remote control of the Photon camera ................................................... 3-2
3.3 Connecting the serial communications interface using the development kit .. 3-2
3.4 Installing the Photon GUI ...................................................................... 3-3
3.5 Connecting the Photon to a PC via the I/O Module .................................. 3-6
3.6 Troubleshooting the Photon GUI ............................................................ 3-7
3.7 Operation of the Photon GUI ................................................................. 3-8
3.8 Camera Tab ....................................................................................... 3-9
3.9 Analog Video Tab .............................................................................. 3-13
3.10 Camera AGC tab ............................................................................ 3-17
3.11 Digital Video Tab ............................................................................. 3-20
3.12 About tab ...................................................................................... 3-21
3.13 Advanced Features ......................................................................... 3-21
4 Installing and Using the Ethernet Adapter Module
4.1 Connecting the Ethernet Module Accessory ............................................ 4-1
4.2 Installing PT1000-IDG for iPORT Ethernet support ................................... 4-2
4.3 Configuring your PC's network interface card (NIC) .................................. 4-4
4.4 Configuring your Ethernet Adapter Module .............................................. 4-5
4.5 Using the Photon GUI with the Ethernet Adapter Module .......................... 4-8
5 Photon Digital Data Channel
5.1 Using the Digital Data Channel .............................................................. 5-2

Table of Contents Photon User’s Manual
iv 412-0035-00-10, version 110
6 Overview of the Photon Electrical Interface
6.1 Samtec 30-Pin Connector .................................................................... 6-1
6.2 D-Sub 15 Pin Connector ...................................................................... 6-3
6.3 Input Power ...................................................................................... 6-4
6.4 Analog Video Output ........................................................................... 6-5
6.5 Command and Control Channel ............................................................ 6-5
6.6 Digital Data Channel ........................................................................... 6-5
6.7 External Synchronization ..................................................................... 6-6
7 Photon Physical Interface
7.1 Dimensioned Drawings ........................................................................ 7-1
7.2 Mounting .......................................................................................... 7-1
Appendix A Pin-out Definitions
A.1 I/O Module ....................................................................................... A-1
Appendix B Serial Communication Technical Details
B.1 Serial Communications Primary Interface ............................................... B-1
B.2 Serial Communications Protocol ........................................................... B-1
B.3 Status Byte ....................................................................................... B-2
B.4 Function Byte ..................................................................................... B-3
B.5 Example of the format of a serial message ........................................... B-11
B.6 Description of serial commands .......................................................... B-12
B.7 Spare Serial Communications Channel ................................................. B-13
B.8 Analog Video Interface ...................................................................... B-13
B.9 Frame Synchronization ..................................................................... B-14
B.10 Digital Data Channels ...................................................................... B-15
C Mechanical ICD Reference

412-0035-00-10, version 110 February 2008 1-1
1 Introduction
The Photon is a long-wavelength (8 – 14 microns) uncooled microbolometer camera designed
for infrared imaging applications that demand absolute minimum size, weight, and power
consumption. It is available with five different lens focal length options:
• 6.3 mm (52° Horizontal Field Of View or HFOV)—only available for Photon 160
• 14.25 mm (46° HFOV)—only available for Photon 320
• 19 mm (36° HFOV)—available for both Photon 320 and Photon 160
• 35 mm (20° HFOV)—only available for Photon 320
• 50 mm (14° HFOV)—only available for Photon 320
• No Lens (Intended for customers who mount their own lens and perform ancillary
Alternate Lens Calibration—See “Software accessories” on page 2-4.)
Figure 1-1: Photon Cameras: L to R: 6.3mm, 14.25mm, 19mm, 35mm, and 50mm lenses
The camera provides ‘power-in, video-out’ capability, which means that one need only apply input
voltage to receive analog video. For those applications demanding more advanced control, the
Photon camera includes a serial interface (RS-232) for transmitting camera commands and
receiving status. In more demanding situations, the Photon camera also provides a digital data
video output via an LVDS serial connection.
The Photon camera is an export controlled item. In order to increase the Camera’s
exportability, a ‘Slow Video’ version of Photon is available. The frame rate is reduced to
approximately 9 Hz. This change allows Photon to be exported without US export license to
most countries. Please contact FLIR for additional information.

1—Introduction Photon User’s Manual
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1.1 Photon Specifications
• 324 (H) x 256 (V) uncooled microbolometer sensor array, 38 x 38 micron pixels,
also available as a windowed 160 (H) x 120 (V) sensor array
• Input power range: 5.0 – 24.0 VDC
• Power Consumption: 1.65 Watts (nominal at room temperature using 8V input)
• Operating Temperature Range: -40°C to +80°C
• Weight: approximately 97 grams without lens
• Analog video output:
NTSC (320x240)/(160x120) or PAL (320x256)/(160x120)
Slow video output rate (approximately 9Hz) is available for exportability
• Remote camera control RS-232 interface: Photon GUI software available for free
download at www.corebyindigo.com/service/softwareupdates.cfm)
• 2X Digital Zoom with electronic pan/tilt with 324 (H) x 256 (V) sensor array
—digital zoom feature is only available for Photon 320
• Dynamic Digital Detail Enhancement (DDE)
Note: These specifications are subject to change without notice.
The latest information concerning specifications, part numbers, accessories, camera
configurations, and other information can be found in the Photon Thermal Imaging Camera
Core Data Sheet at:
http://www.corebyindigo.com/products/uncooledcores.cfm.

Photon User’s Manual 1—Introduction
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1.2 Available Photon Configurations
The Photon is available with different lenses providing different fields of view and the ‘Slow Video’
or ‘9 Hz’ option for license-free exportability. The part numbers for each lens and video rate
configuration are given in the table below.
Table 1-1: Photon 320 Part Numbers; NTSC (320x240) or PAL (320x256)
Photon
Format No Lens 14.25mm 19mm 35mm 50mm
Field of
View NA (46° HFOV) (36° HFOV) (20° HFOV) (14° HFOV)
NTSC
30Hz 500-0305-01-00 412-0035-14-07 412-0035-09-07 412-0035-17-07 412-0035-18-07
NTSC
9Hz 500-0305-01-00S 412-0035-14-07S 412-0035-09-07S 412-0035-17-07S 412-0035-18-07S
PAL
25Hz 500-0305-02-00 412-0035-56-07 412-0035-52-07 412-0035-57-07 412-0035-58-07
PAL
9Hz 500-0305-02-00S 412-0035-56-07S 412-0035-52-07S 412-0035-57-07S 412-0035-58-07S
Table 1-2: Photon 160 Part Numbers (160x120)
Photon
Format No Lens 6.3mm 19mm
Field of
View NA (52° HFOV) (18° HFOV)
NTSC
30Hz
160x120
500-0305-06-07 412-0035-30-07 412-0035-38-07
NTSC
8Hz
160x120
500-0305-08-07S 412-0035-32-07S 412-0035-40-07S
PAL
25Hz
160x120
500-0305-07-07 412-0035-31-07 412-0035-39-07
PAL
9Hz
160x120
500-0305-09-07S 412-0035-33-07 412-0035-41-07S

1—Introduction Photon User’s Manual
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1.3 Unpacking Your Photon Camera
The Photon camera is typically delivered as a standalone product. Typically, no documentation is
included. Documentation and utilities such as the latest version of this User’s Manual, the
Photon GUI, and Mechanical Interface Control Documents are available for download from the
www.corebyindigo.com website.
Please unpack the camera heeding customary Electrostatic Sensitive Device (ESD) precautions
including static safe work station and proper grounding. The Photon camera is packaged in
foam to prevent damage during shipping. It is also placed in a conductive plastic bag to protect
from electrostatic discharge damage.
Caution!
Other than removal of the rear cover and/or wearsaver device when the camera is
unpowered, disassembling the camera can cause permanent damage and will void the
warranty.
Operating the camera outside of the specified input voltage range or the specified operating
temperature range can cause permanent damage.
The camera is not sealed. Avoid exposure to dust and moisture and replace the lens cap
when not in use.
Do not image extremely high intensity radiation sources, such as the sun, lasers, arc
welders, etc.
The camera is a precision optical instrument and should not be exposed to excessive shock
and/or vibration.
This camera contains electrostatic discharge sensitive electronics and should be handled
appropriately.

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2 Optional Photon Accessories
2.1 Hardware accessories
The following are accessories that offer a development environment or extended features for
your Photon camera.
Figure 2-1: Development Kit or Photon Accessory Kit (Part Number: 421-0021-00)
1. Cable, Photon to I/O Module, 6 foot length (Part Number: 308-0076-00-02)
2. Wearsaver (Part Number: 250-0194-00)
3. Power Supply (Part Number: 206-0001-20)
4. IEC Line Cord (Part Number: 208-0004-02)
5. Input/Output (I/O) Module (Part Number: 333-0005-00)
6. Rear Wearsaver Housing/Protective Cover (Part Number: 261-1273-00) with
hardware for robust strain-relieved mount of the Wearsaver inside an aluminum rear
shell
This accessory kit includes a power supply, input/output module (interconnect box), wearsaver
(simplifies connection to Photon), and cables to facilitate AC power in and analog video out for
your Photon. With this accessory kit, the customer only needs to purchase a standard RS-232
COM cable in order to perform advanced configuration using the free downloadable Photon GUI.
This kit is the most important ancillary purchase for those first owning a Photon camera.
Note
The accessory kit does not include video cable, serial cable or any related adapters; these
items must be provided by the user.
6
2
5
1 3 4

2—Optional Photon Accessories Photon User’s Manual
2-2 February 2008 412-0035-00-10, version 110
Figure 2-2: Battery, Charger, and Cable Kit (Part Number: 421-0008-00)
This accessory provides rechargeable (Lithium-Ion) capability for the Photon camera. With fully
charged batteries, your Photon will operate for approximately 6 hours.
Figure 2-3: Digital Data Serial-to-Parallel Module or SIPO (Part Number: 333-0008-00)
FLIR’s optional serial-in, parallel-out (SIPO) module converts the serial LVDS into parallel data.
The SIPO mates directly to the I/O module’s digital data port, and furnishes a 68-pin connector
that can be attached to a frame grabber via a digital interface cable. This accessory facilitates
capture of the LVDS serial digital data channel from the Photon camera and mirrors it in a
parallel format used with computer-based capture cards.
Contact FLIR CVS Customer Support at 805.964.9797 for information about digital interface
cables which connect to specific computer-based capture cards. These cards require third-
party software not offered or supported by FLIR. Although we can supply camera setup files,
FLIR does not formally support the use of third-party frame grabbers, nor do we claim or
guarantee that these setup files will be suitable for any particular use or application.