Western Sensor Digital Conversion Imager User manual

Digital Conversion Imager
User's
Guide
Western Sensor, Inc.
.

December 2,1993
Thisequipment hasbeen testedand foundto comply with the limits for
Class
A digital devices, pursuant to Part 15 of the FederalCommun -
icationsCommission(FCC)Rules. Theselimitsare designed to provide
reasonableprotectionagainst harmfulinterferencein a residential
installation. Thisequipment generates,uses, and can radiate radio
frequencyenergy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the
instructions,maycause harmfulinterferenceto radio communications.
However, thereisnoguarantee that interferencewill not occurin a
particularinstallation.
If thisequipment does cause harmfulinterference
to radio or television reception, whichcan be determined by turning the
equipment offand on, the user isencouraged to
try to correct the
interferencebyone of ore ofthefollowingmeasures:
Reorient or relocate the receivingantenna
Increase theseparation between theequipment and recpiver
Consult thesupplier or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
For additional information,refer.to the booklet prepared by the FCC
entitled
How to Identifyand Resolve Radio - TV Interference Problems, (Stock
Number
004 - 000 - 00345 - 4). Thisbooklet isavailableform the U.S.
Government PrintingOffice,WashingtonDC
20402.
WesternSensor reservesthe right to makechangesand improvementsat
any time to the product described here.
Copyright
O 1993 WesternSensor, Inc. All rights reserved.
Dlgital Conversion Imager User's Guide
digital

December 2. 1993
Contents
..............................................................................................
Read ThisFirst iv
........................................................
Warnings. Cautions. and Notices iv
..............................................................................
Argon gascylinders v
...................................................................................
Gas requirements v
......................................................................................
BatteryCharger vi
...................................................................................................
Batteries vi
......................................................................................................
Optics vi
...................................................................................................
Introduction 1
...................................................................................................
Features 2
Inspection ................................................................................................ 3
..........................................................................
Attachingthecylinder 3
Operation
...................................................................................................... 4
DCI Controls .......................................................................................... 5
Brightnessand ContrastControls ....................................................... 5
.........................................................
Startingand Operating theDCI
6
...................................... .............................................
SelectingRanges ! 8
........................................................................................
SelectingScale 8
. .
..............................................................................
Selecting Emiswvtty 8
.....................................................
AdjustingBrightness and Contrast 8
Batteries
................................................................................................... 9
ReplacingDischarged Batteries ........................................................... 9
Shutdown
.............................................................................................. 9
................................................................................................
FrameGrabber 10
...................................................................
Connect theDCI to thePC 10
...............................................................................
Start FrameGrabber 11
................................................................................................
XISetup 12
........................................................................
Reset DCI FrameCount 13
......................................
UploadingFramesFrom the DCI to the PC 15
...................................................................................
HaskelBooster Pump 18
.............. .........
Refilling a Cylinderwith the Haskelbooster Pump : 18
.....................
Removinga Cylinderfrom the Haskel boosterPump 19
................................................................
AppendixA EmissivitySettings 20
DigitalConversionimager User'sGuide
lii

December 2,1993
Read This First
To avoid injuringyourselfordamaging your equipment, read this
manual, especially thisfirstsection. It isimportant to become familiar
with the DigitalConversionImager
(DCI) beforeyou operate it. First
time users,in particular, must becomefamiliarwith the proceduresfor
handlingargon cylinders.
Warnings, Cautions, and Notices
Warningsinform you of potentiallife threatening hazards.Cautions
inform you of potential hazards that maycauseseriousinjuryor damage
to theequipment. Notices provide information to ensure the propercare
andoperation of theequipment.
Warning: Argoncylinders:Do not fill thecylinderin a single fastcharge.
Doing so may cause thegasline orfittings to fail. Followaccepted
practicesfor safe handling and useof gascylinders.
Warning: Argon cylinders: Ensure that the valve knob isclosed
(clockwiserotation)beforestoringthe
DCI.
Caution: Argon cylinders: Cylinders must be inspectedand recertified
by WesternSensor everyfiveyears(three years for the largecylinder
accessory).
Caution: Argoncylinders:Leave a smallamount of argon in the cylinder.
This prevents air and moisture fromentering thecylinder.
Caution: Argoncylinaers:
Do not rotatethevalveknobon a cylinder
until it hasbeen properlyattached. Theargon gasisunder pressure.
Caution: Argon cylinders: Do not useexcesstorque to tighten the valve
knob.The pressure seal
may becomedamaged.
Caution: Argoncylinders:Do not use excess torque to tightenthe
coupling nut that attaches the cylinder the DCI.The pressure seal may
becomedamaged.
Caution: Battery:
Use onlyapproved battery packs. Other typesof
battery packsmay burst causing personal injuryor damage to the
equipment.
Caution: BatteryCharger:To prevent electricshock, disposeof the
charger if the cord becomesdefective.
Caution: DCI Case: Except for replacingthe nicad batteries,opening the
casevoids the Warranty. Refer all internal repairs toWestern Sensor.
Notice: Argoncylinders:Repeatedlyopeningand closing the valve will
significantlyreduce thefour
- hour supply ofargon gas in each cylinder.
Close the valve
if the DCI will remainidle for more than 20 minutes.
Notice: Optics: Avoid scratchingthe silicon window orthe eyepiecelens.
Digital Conversion Imager
User's Guide

December 2.1993
Argon gas cylinders
Fill only with dry, oil freeargon gas.
Use the Haskelbooster pump refillingsystem or a system approved
by
WesternSensor.
Do not fill thestandard cylinder to over
5000 psi (4500 psi forthelarge
cylinderaccessory)at
70°F (21 '0.
Do not drop, dent, or dismantle thecylinderand valveassembly.
Storecylindersat temperaturesbetween
0 to 120'F( - 17 to 48%).
Keepcylindersaway fromheator flame.
Do notopen thevalve when theoutlet is pointed at
a person.
Provideadequate ventilationwhen storingand usingargongas.
Useonlycylindersintended for use with the DCI.
Usecarewhen handlingpressurizedcylinders.
If thecylinderiscompletely empty of argongas(listenfor hissing when
youopen the valve slightly),moisture may haveentered the cylinder
whichcan damage thecryostat. Return thecylinder toWestern Sensor
forservice.
Useonlycylinders that havebeen tested and certified within the past
fiveyears(threeyearsfor thelargecylinderaccessory).Notethedate
stampedon the neckof each cylinder.
Gasrequirements .
Useonly argon gaswitha minimumpurity ratingof 99.998% and a
maximumdew point of
- 76°F. For most industrialsuppliersthisis a pre-
purified grade.
To ensure that thecryostatfunctionsproperly,useonly gas that consists
of no more than 2ppm water vapor.
If argon gasisunavailable, dry nitrogen gas may
be used temporarily.
With nitrogengas,operatingtime iscutin half.
DigitalConversion Imager User's Gulde

December 2,1993
Battery Charger
Use onlyapprovedchargersand attachments.
Do notexpose to rainorsnow.
Use110 Vac 50/60
Hz power.
In foreigncountriesinstall the batterycharger into a universalcharging
adapter and adjust the adapter forthe local voltage.
Do notoperatethe charger
if it has received a sharpblow, beendropped,
orotherwise
been damaged. Return to WesternSensor for testing.
Do not attempt to disassemblethecharger.
Do not allow the batteries to shortcircuit. This will blow the internal
battery fuse.
Batteries
The DCI comes with two standard12 - volt nicad batteries. The pairof
batterieswill last for up to three hours. The batteriesare removableand
can rechargedover night.
An optional portable,externalbattery pack isalso available. The
optional battery pack will last for upto six hours.
Removingthe nicad batterieswill notaffect the frames
stod in theDCI.
Optics
The silicon windowiscoated. Clean thewindow and eyepiecewith lens
tissueor a soft, lint
- freecloth. Remove the rubber eyecup to clean the
lensin theeyepiece.
DigitalConversion Imager Usei's Guide

Introduction
DigitalConversionImager
TheDigitalConversion Imager
(DCI) isa hand - heldinfrared imager
used to viewand store framesofinfrared images. At a later time, the
framescan be downloaded to a personalcomputer (PC) forviewing,
converting to otherformats, and printing.
To viewandcollect infrared data, the
DCI usesa sensorarraysystem
consistingof a mirrorscanner, infrareddetectorand cryostat,signal
processingelectronics,and visual display. Rechargeablenicad battery
packs power theelectronicsanda motordrive that rotatesa ten
- sided
mirrorassembly at
1200 rpm.
Argongasprovidesthecoolingfortheinfrared detector. Thisarrayof
linearinfrared InSb detectors, gas
- cooledto (minus) -186C converts
infrared radiationreceived by theopticalsysteminto electrical signals.
After processingandamplification,thesesignalsproducevisibleimages
thatarereconstructionsof the infrared patternsof thescene.
The coolantfor thedetectorissuppliedfroma refillableargon cylinder
attached to the bottomof the case.

December 2,1993
Features
Inaddition to thestandard featuresof a hand - held,infrared imager,
specific featuresof the DCI include:
Snap - shotstorage - 30 framesofframedata with batterybackup,
On - screen readouts - temperature target sight,frame #, autoor
manual temperaturerange setting, range,and batterymonitor.
Snapshotdata storage - Ambient temperature,time, date,frame
number,emissivity, and target temperaturearestored with the
infrared frame.
On - screen temperaturereadout - auto and manual readoutsof
temperature ranges.
Download data - serial transmissionof frameimage data to a PC.
The featuresof theDCI FrameGrabberprogram~nningon thePC
include:
Disk storageof data.
Conversion of snapshotsto TIFF, the industrystandardgraphicsfile
formatforgraphicsprogramsand word processors.
Conversion of data to PCL-5TMgrayscalelaser printer format.
Conversion of data for B&W/Color video monitors.
Print gray scale image plusa data file with ambienttemperature,
time, date,framenumber, emissivity,and target temperature.
Dlgltal ConversionImager User's Gulde

December 2,1993
Inspection
Open thecarryingcaseand examine the contentsforanyevidenceof
damage. In addition to theDCI, thecontentsinclude:
Argoncylinders
Batterycharger(s)with spliters
Safety strap
Nicad batteries
Pressuregauge
Wrench
Theargon cylindersare fully pressurized. Do not opena cylinder untilit
hasbeensecurelyattached to the DCI.
Attachingthe cylinder
Before operatingthe DCI, become familiarwith the Warnings, Cautions,
and Noticesat the beginningof this manual.
1.
Open the case and remove theDCI.
2. Place the unit upsidedown ona smooth level surface(paddedif
possible).
3. Check the pressureof the argon cylinder with a gauge.
4. Attach thecylinder to the unit.
a. Open the latchon thestainlesssteel strapand lay the cylinderin
thecradle.
b. Align thecylinder so that the valveoutletisengaged withthe
high
- pressurenut.
c. Close the stainlesssteel band and &cure.
d. Finger tighten thehigh - pressurefitting nut to thecylinder.
5. Tighten thehigh - pressurefittingnut.
CAUTION: Do not over tighten the high
- pressurefitting nut.
For a compression - type(gyrolokvalue),usea 9/16inch wrench to
tighten the high
- pressurefitting nut 1/4turn (snugonly).
For anO
- ringfitting, tighten with 11/16-inch wrench
6. Open theargongas valveoneturn counterclockwiseand listenfor a
hissing (DCIcool down period).
7. Ensurethat the hissing stopsafter 6 to 20 secondsand that no frost
formson the valve assembly.
8.
Attach halfof thesafety strap to the unit, loop the strap around your
neck,and attach the second halfof the strap.
CAUTION: Donot use the DCI withoutthe safetystrap.
Droppingthe unit maycause serious damage.
Go to theStartupinstructions.
DigitalConversionImager User's Gulde

December 2,1993
Operation
The DCI has two modesfor viewingtemperatureranges:
Manual allowsyou to selectoneof sevensettings that range from
+10'C (50°F)to +500eC(900-F)above ambienttemperature.
Auto automaticallyselects thetemperaturerange based on the
temperature
in thetargetatthe centexof thescreen.
Each rangehas255 levels that are recorded in the image snapshot. Along
with the image the followingdata isalsocaptured
and stored:
Framenumber
AmbientTemperature
Target Temperature
Date
Time
Digital Conversion Imager User'sGuide