Dali D8X3N Thermal Camera
Dali D8X3N Thermal Camera Reverse Engineering
Introduction
The Dali D8X3N Thermal Camera module[1] comes in two versions, a 384x288 and 640x480 resolution, utilizing the DLD Series of amorphous-Silicon Microbolometers.
They were mainly used in Dali DM60-W or WS-1 Body Temperature screening cameras in conjunction with a Black Body radiator set to 37°C to detect infected individuals at the start of the 2020 Covid Pandemic.
ICI rebranded these models as FM 320 P and FM 640 P, and distributed them on the local US market, but as the need for such Cameras exploded, those models were built with what was in stock.
So happens, that some of the FM 320 P Models had a DLD640 640x480 instead of a DLD384 384x288 Microbolometer in them, and just got their Firmware modified.
It also could be, because they have excessive amounts of bad pixels outside the 384x288 area, that they were binned to a lower grade.
Discussions about these Cameras started around 2022 in the EEVBlog Forums. when they started to appear secondhand and affordable.
Originally they were priced around US$ 20... 30.000 by ICI, and a unknown amount by Dali Tech.
The Modules specs according to the manufacturer are:
≤50..60mK@F1，300K，50Hz
17 or 25µm pixel pitch
Hisilicon SoC running Linux to provide Onvif and RTSP streams, analysis and a Web UI
ICI FM Cameras are found all over Online secondhand marketplaces for scrap Prices, as they are no longer needed.
But you never know, what are you getting. It could be a real DLD384 or the better DLD640 inside. Its a gamble.
640x480 Imagers
are labeled 22D843 Nxxxx and have a DLD640 sensor in it, they can be upgraded if they run the 384x288 firmware.
384x288 Imagers
are labeled 22D883Nxxxx and have a DLD384 sensor in it, they cannot be upgraded
D8X3N Module closer look
From now on, i will refer to the Thermal Imaging Module as TIM
On the front there is a 2 Element Germanium Lens of a unknown focal length and aperture.
It can be focus-adjusted when unscrewing the clamp around the housing. It can be focussed from infinity down to 10..20cm with some quality loss.
The TIM is composed of 6 Stacked PCB modules, 3 of which are for the Web Server functionality. taking them off will give you the basic configuration of a Dali D8X3C TIM