IRFPA Eval-Kit

The digital 17 μm QVGA-IRFPA has been developed with the goal of efficient, compact and easy to use IR imagers in mind. In addition Fraunhofer IMS has developed an IRFPA Eval-Kit. This IRFPA Eval-Kit allows new users to operate the IR imager quickly and to evaluate. That is why it is realized as an IR camera consisting of optics, recording of the IR imagers, interface electronics and operating software. A modular structure of the IRFPA Eval-Kit allows for an adaption to a variety of different IR imagers manufactured by Fraunhofer IMS. For this purpose the IRFPA Eval-Kit is equipped with a lens for a 14 mm image circle that enables the use with a 17 μm VGA IRFPA. The provided lens is designed for a spectral range of l = 8 μm – 14 μm. If another spectral range is of interest, the lens can be removed and interchanged with adapted optics of the user. For calibration of the IR imager in changing environmental and operating conditions there is an electromechanical shutter integrated behind the lens that can automatically be driven into the beam path.

The IRFPA Eval-Kit is supplied with a USB 2.0 interface between the IR imager and the PC. This interface serves for the configuration of the IR imager and the control of the electromechanical shutter as well as transfer of the video data from IR imager to PC.

The supplied software allows for easy access of the configuration possibilities of the IR imager and shows the raw data of the video transmission as a live image. For the depiction of the raw data there are several different modes to choose from regarding color display, range of values as well as automatic tracking. The software allows for individual frames as raw images or a sequence of frames as serial images. For complex tasks there is the possibility to control the software over a script.

Specifications of the IRFPA-Kit

• Spectral range: 8 μm to 14 μm
• Scene temperature range: -40 °C to +100 °C (expendable to 900 °C)
• Sensor: 17 μm QVGA IRFPA
• Lens: LWIR lens, f/0.85, f=12 mm, manual focus
• Maximal frame rate: 30 Hz
• Dimensions (H/W/D):
  • 107 mm x 85 mm x 102 mm (without lens)
  • 107 mm x 85 mm x 150 mm (with lens)
• Power supply: 12 V / 1 A with power adapter
• Power consumption: 2.3 W
• Interface: USB 2.0 (video and configuration)
• System requirements: PC with Windows 7 and USB 2.0
• Supplied software: USB driver FTDI, PC software for visualization and configuration. Software shows raw image and unfiltered IRFPA images.
• Operating temperature: 0 °C to +50 °C