Project Overview

FLIR ONE™ is the first personal thermal imaging device to target mobile phone users. Designed specifically for the iPhone 5 and 5s, this sleek, lightweight chassis gives users the ability to detect and display a thermal world normally invisible to the unaided eye. Every object or living thing emits or reflects heat (infrared) energy. The revolutionary micro thermal camera built into FLIR ONE has a resolution of 80 x 60 pixels and can detect infrared energy up to a distance of 100 meters.

FLIR ONE unlocks a host of practical applications for the consumer—from detecting energy leaks at home to scanning a dark sidewalk for personal safety. FLIR ONE also allows users to observe precise temperature differences to a fraction of a degree. Since visible light doesn’t affect the thermal world, FLIR ONE works the same in highly lit or totally dark environments—the thermal image is the same. Consumers can record live thermal images and video, and the free FLIR ONE MX APP makes it easy to share compelling images on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media channels. FLIR ONE will be available in late spring 2014 for a suggested retail price of $349 (USD).

Organisation

FLIR Systems, Inc.

Team

Jeff Frank
Bill Hasbrook
May Mao
Michael Kent

Project Brief

The ability to see the infrared light spectrum has revolutionized the work of modern military and first responders. However, the high cost of thermal technology has kept it out of the consumer market space until recently.

Now, after two years of research and development, FLIR Systems has created Lepton™, the world’s smallest thermal camera core. Less than the size of a dime, Lepton is ready to equip a new generation of affordable consumer devices with thermal imaging.

Part of FLIR’s mission is to incorporate thermal technology into people’s everyday lives. Because of Lepton’s low price point, manufacturers of consumer products can make that a reality. FLIR ONE is the first consumer product equipped with Lepton. It’s affordable and easy-to-use, and because it’s compatible with the iPhone 5 and 5s, this technology is always within reach.

Furthermore, FLIR will release a comprehensive software developer’s kit that will provide third-party developers all the tools they need to create compelling apps for FLIR ONE targeting specific vertical markets and applications.

Project Innovation/Need

For decades thermal imaging has redefine industries that require critical awareness and heightened perception. Now, FLIR ONE extends this technology to everyday consumers who can discover new and unforeseen uses.

Until FLIR ONE, entry level thermal imagers cost approximately $1,000. By placing powerful thermal imaging technology into the hands of consumers at a fraction of the cost, FLIR ONE dramatically extends the limits of human vision and unlocks a full spectrum of practical applications, including:

• Locating ceiling joists, water leaks, and heat loss from unsealed windows or missing insulation.
• Detecting intruders or animals that pose a threat to personal safety.
• Observing wildlife day or night with low intrusion.
• Creating works of art with the vibrant colors and abstract patterns the FLIR ONE provides.

Design Challenge

At every step in the design process, the challenge was to build a lower cost thermal camera that didn’t sacrifice performance. FLIR has all of the critical technology vertically integrated. The sensor, readout IC, packaging and the optic are all developed by FLIR and produced at its facilities. To ensure the FLIR ONE design matched the look and feel of the iPhone in form and function, FLIR managed to reduce the thickness of the infrared camera to levels never attempted. The design team also consolidated the power switch, camera aperture cover (when not in use), and thermal calibration source as a single switch.

The team was committed to making FLIR ONE as user-friendly as possible. FLIR ONE features multi-spectral dynamic imaging, or MSX®, a proprietary and patented technique to improve image quality. In addition to Lepton, FLIR One contains a tiny visible light camera. MSX extracts edge detail from the visible image and embosses it onto the thermal image for greater resolution and clarity. It dramatically increases a user’s ability to interpret a thermal image in real-world environments by adding visible edge detail from its own visible light imager to a thermal image without sacrificing thermal detail.

Sustainability

The ability to pinpoint where heat is escaping through walls, windows and doors, FLIR ONE serves as a useful tool for energy efficiency audits in homes and buildings. Utilizing FLIR ONE to conduct these audits can help drastically reduce the amount of fossil fuels necessary to regulate building temperature in both cold and hot conditions. With the ability to see heat, customers will gain an appreciation for creating and maintaining more energy efficient homes and businesses.