Photon 320 is a commercially-developed, military-qualified (CDMQ) LWIR thermal imaging camera. Photon 320’s are widely used in handheld firefighting safety instruments, and are the best-selling IR payload camera for small unmanned vehicle use, including the Raven-B. Over 20,000 Photon 320 cameras have been delivered for use by integrators in a wide variety of applications.

Superior LWIR image quality is achieved using FLIR’s 320x240 uncooled VOx microbolometer arrays that operate without a TEC over a temperature range of -40 to +80 degrees C. Photons are shock-rated to 70 g’s and have been field-proven to withstand much greater impacts. Both analog (NTSC or PAL) and 8- or 14-bit digital video formats are enabled, as well as RS-232 control of camera functions, including 2x digital zoom, image polarity, gain/offset, image colorization, etc.

Along with a lens-lens core version, four lens options are supported: 14.25mm; 19mm; 35mm; and 50mm. See the Optics Table tab for detailed lens information.

A variety of accessories are available for the Photon 320 camera.

The Photon 320 cameras operate at a 30 Hz (25 Hz PAL) frame rate. For cameras that will be exported or re-exported outside of the United States, FLIR offers a “slow video” option that exempts the camera from export license requirements. The slow video frame rates are 7.5 Hz for NTSC and 8.3 Hz for PAL. Digital video is generated at 8- or 14-bit resolution at the equivalent analog video frame rate of the camera. For more information about digital data acquisition options, click here. 

A single interface connector facilitates power in, analog and digital video out, RS-232 communication for command and control of the camera, and external sync. All Photon cameras can operate autonomously: all the user has to do is provide power, get video. FLIR’s sophisticated on-board signal processing takes care of optimizing the image under any conditions.

Many common camera controls are brought out in software program called the Photon GUI (graphical user interface), which is available for download at the Software Updates page. The GUI can be freely downloaded and run without needing a camera to see the various camera commands that are available. FLIR also provides an extensive command set for customers that want more control of camera features and functions, and a Photon Software Developer’s Kit (SDK) is offered for those customers that want to develop their own custom interface to the camera. In fact, the GUIthat FLIR makes available is an example of a control program developed with the Photon SDK.

For customers that need higher resolution, FLIR now offers its Photon 640.

FLIR designs, manufactures, and assembles all its critical camera components in-house, from the readout integrated circuits (ROICs), to the focal plane array sensors, and final Photon camera assembly, test, and calibration.