Names and marks appearing on the products herein are either registered trademarks or
trademarks of FLIR Systems, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, trade names,
or company names referenced herein are used for identification only and are the property of
their respective owners.
This product is protected by patents, design patents, patents pending, or design patents
pending.
The M-Series thermal imaging system is controlled by US export laws. There are special
versions of this system that are approved for international distribution and travel. Please
contact FLIR Systems if you have any questions.
FLIR Systems, Inc.
70 Castilian Drive
Goleta, CA 93117
Phone: +1.888.747.FLIR (+1.888.747.3547)
www.flir.com/maritime
Document Number: 432-0003-00-10, Version 140
Document History
RevisionDateComment
100June 2009Initial Release
110February 2010Release of M-320L and M-324XP and minor changes
120March 2010Minor corrections and clarifications
130December 2010Release of M-625XP, M-324L and M-625L
Replacement of M-320L and M-626L
140January 2011Minor corrections
This document is controlled to FLIR Technology Level 1. The information contained in this
document pertains to a dual use product controlled for export by the Export Administration
Regulations (EAR). FLIR trade secrets contained herein are subject to disclosure restrictions as
a matter of law. Diversion contrary to US law is prohibited. US Department of Commerce
authorization is not required prior to export or transfer to foreign persons or parties unless
otherwise prohibited.
Contents
Warnings and Cautions ......................................................... 10
System Description............................................................... 11
Camera Video Options ......................................................... 12
Multiple Camera and JCU Options......................................... 13
Thank you for buying your new M-Series thermal imaging system. This manual describes the operation of the M-Series camera. If you need help or have
additional questions, please call to speak with our support experts (phone
numbers listed on the back cover of this manual).
This manual includes information about the following topics:
• System Description
• System Startup
• Configuration Menus
• Operation Tips
Refer to the M-Series Installation Guide (FLIR Doc. # 432-0003-00-12) for
information about how to install the camera.
For safety, and to achieve the highest levels of performance from the
M-Series system, always follow the warnings and cautions in this manual
when handling and operating the M-Series camera system.
Warning: Warning notices are used in this publication to emphasize that
hazardous voltages, currents, temperatures, or other conditions that could
cause personal injury or death exist with this equipment, or may be associated with its use.
Caution: Caution notices are used where equipment might be damaged if
care is not taken.
Note: Notes call attention to information that is especially significant to
understanding and operating the equipment
Warnings and Cautions
Warning: Do not use the M-Series imaging system as the primary naviga-
tion system. Use it in conjunction with other navigation aids and a primary
manual navigation system.
Warning: Use of insufficient wire gauge can result in fire.
Caution: Do not open the M-Series camera unit for any reason. Disassem-
bly of the camera (including removal of the cover) can cause permanent
damage and will void the warranty.
Caution: Be careful not to leave fingerprints on the M-Series’s camera
optics.
Caution: The M-Series requires a power supply of 12 - 24V DC nominal, 5
Amp maximum. Absolute voltage range: 10 - 32V DC. Operating the camera outside of the specified input voltage range or the specified operating
temperature range can cause permanent damage.
Note: The M-Series IR Thermal Imaging System is an Export Controlled
item. Authorization by the U.S. Government must be obtained prior to
export outside the United States.
This equipment must be disposed of as electronic waste. Contact your
nearest FLIR representative for instructions on how to return the product
to FLIR for proper disposal.
M-Series is a maritime thermal imaging system for use on nearly any kind of
vessel. The system is available in two configurations: the single payload
model has a single thermal imaging camera, and the dual payload model is
equipped with both a thermal imaging camera and a visible-light camera.
The infrared (IR) thermal camera provides night-time
imagery, even in total darkness, based on temperature
differences. The thermal camera provides a clear video
image even under completely dark conditions because it
is sensitive to thermal infrared energy.
On dual payload models, the integrated visible-light camera provides black and white (or greyscale) imagery during the day and in low-light conditions. It provides
enhanced navigational abilities in lowlight conditions; for
example, during twilight hours, when operating along
intercoastal waterways, and near harbor entrances.
The M-Series consists of two main components: the
Gimbal Assembly
1
(also known as the pan/tilt camera
unit) and the Joystick Control Unit (JCU). In this manual,
the term “camera” may refer to the entire camera unit/
gimbal assembly, or it may refer specifically to either the
thermal camera or the visible camera, depending on the
context in which it is used.
The M-Series gimbal and JCU are network devices and
connect together with Ethernet. In some installations, additional cameras
and JCUs will also be used, and networking equipment such as Power Over
Ethernet switches may be used to interconnect these components.
M-Series Gimbal Assembly
The Gimbal Assembly has a pan/tilt mechanism that allows the camera to
rotate continuously 360° in azimuth, and to tilt plus or minus 90° in elevation. The M-Series imaging sensors are contained in the ball of the Gimbal
Assembly.
The thermal infrared camera uses an uncooled vanadium oxide (VOx) detector sensitive to long-wave infrared (LWIR) thermal energy. The camera is
sensitive to the thermal energy that comes from the movement of atoms
and molecules that make up whatever the camera is pointed at. All objects
emit (or radiate) this thermal energy, even cold objects like icebergs.
1 A gimbal is a pivoted support that allows the rotation of an object (such as a ship’s
The JCU is used to power up the camera or put it in a standby state, to
operate the pan (rotation) and tilt movement of the camera, and to configure the camera settings by means of on-screen menus. The JCU connects
to the camera by way of an Ethernet network connection, and that same
connection provides power to the JCU.
The JCU has various buttons, an LCD display, and it has a joystick “puck”
which is used to control the pan/tilt movement and to navigate through the
on-screen menus. The puck can be rotated in either direction and it can be
moved left and right or forward and back, and it can be pushed down (like a
button) and pulled up.
Joystick Control Unit
Other Components
In some installations, the system will be comprised of additional components, including additional cameras or JCUs, video equipment, or network
equipment. In a simple installation, the JCU will be directly connected to the
camera with an Ethernet cable. In more complex installations, the camera
and JCU will be interconnected by means of a network switch. If the network switch does not have Power over Ethernet (PoE) capability, a PoE injector may be used to provide power to the JCU. FLIR PoE injectors are
available where you purchased your M-Series camera.
Contact FLIR (+1.888.747.3547 or +33 765794194) for more information regarding available accessories including JCUs, PoE equipment, video
distribution amplifiers, cables, connectors, mounting hardware, and so on.
Camera Video Options
The M-Series camera provides a video cable (labeled “IR”) for the composite
(also known as analog) video signal from the thermal (infrared) camera. On
dual payload models, another video cable (labeled “VIS/IR”) is for video from
either the thermal camera or the lowlight (visible) camera; it is switchable
from the JCU.
The video from the dual payload M-Series camera can therefore be displayed on one or two video displays. If only a single display with a single
video input is available, the cable labeled “VIS/IR” is connected to the display. If the display has more than one video input, both video cables can be
connected to the same display. In this type of installation, switching
between the thermal and visible video channels is performed with the display controls, rather than the JCU.
JCU Introduction
Upright installation
(ball up)
Upside down
(ball down)
Joystick Control Unit
Puck
Power/DIMDisplay
Home
Scene
User
Menu
Color
Ball Up / Ball Down
In most installations, the M-Series will be mounted upright on top of a
mounting surface, with the pan/tilt base below the camera (this is known as
the “ball up” orientation). Optionally the unit may be hung upside down (“ball
down”). When installed ball down, it is necessary to configure the camera in
the ball down mode, so the video is properly displayed and the pan/tilt controls operate as expected (information about how to configure the camera is
available in the System Operation and Configuration section).
Unless otherwise noted, the information in this manual generally assumes
an upright installation; refer to the Configuration Menus section for information about ball down configurations.
Multiple Camera and JCU Options
More than one JCU can be used to control the camera, and more than one
display can be used to view the video. Also a single JCU can be used to control more than one camera.
Most often, the JCU and the video monitor are mounted close together, as
a pair, so the video can be viewed when the camera position (pan or tilt) is
changed with the JCU.
The JCU can be connected to the camera directly with the supplied doubleshielded Ethernet cable. In this case, the JCU draws its power from the
camera. Alternatively, the camera and the JCU can be connected together
via an Ethernet switch; this type of configuration allows more than one camera and/or JCU to be used. The JCU draws its power over the Ethernet, so
a PoE injector or PoE switch is required.
If a single JCU is used to control more than one camera, the user can
select which camera is to be controlled through a menu on the JCU. In the
LCD display of the JCU, the name of the currently selected camera is displayed. When more than one JCU is installed in the system, a camera can
respond to commands from any JCU that is in the system.
JCU Introduction
The JCU is the primary method of control for the M-Series camera. It can
be used to move the camera (pan or tilt), electronically zoom the cameras in
and out, switch between infrared and visible-light cameras, adjust the image
quality, and access the on-screen menus.
This section contains a brief description of the buttons and other features
on the JCU. More detailed descriptions of the buttons and their functions
are provided in the subsequent sections of this manual.
Power/DIM
The Power button is used to “wake up” the camera, causing it to go from
Standby mode to Powered On. It is also used to put the camera back in
Standby mode. The Power button is described in more detail in the System
Startup section.
The Power button is also used to select various levels of brightness of the
JCU display. The JCU controls are backlit to make them easier to see at
night. This button controls the brightness of the JCU backlighting, so you
can adjust it for your comfort. Press this button to cycle through the four
different settings or levels of brightness.
MENU
The MENU button is used to turn on or off the on-screen menu. When the
on-screen menu is displayed, the joystick puck can be used to navigate
through the menus and select various menu entries. The on-screen menus
are described in the Configuration Menus section.
USER
The USER button is a programmable one-touch button. It is intended to
allow the user to quickly access the most common or favorite settings or
functions. It is configured with the Invert Video Polarity setting by default.
SCENE
The SCENE button allows the user to toggle through a set of preconfigured
image settings, in order to select the best setting for the given conditions.
Refer to the Operation/Configuration Using JCU Buttons section for more
details about how to use the SCENE button to optimize the video.
COLOR
The COLOR button switches the thermal camera video between a greyscale
mode and a color mode. When viewed at night in the darkness, the factory
default mode uses a red-colored video image that may preserve the user’s
night vision better. The default color setting is selectable by the user.
HOME
The HOME button is used to move the camera to its home position, or it is
used to select a given position as the home position. The Home position is a
programmable preset position - usually straight ahead and level with the
horizon – which operators can use as a reference.
JCU Puck
The JCU Puck functions like a joystick - it can be moved left or right, or fore
and aft, and it can be rotated in either direction. It can also be pushed down
(like a mouse click) or pulled up. It is used to move the pan/tilt position of
the camera and it is used to navigate through the on-screen menus.
Use the Puck to pivot the M-Series camera left and right and tilt it up and
down.
Pan - Rotate (twist) the puck counterclockwise and the M-Series will pivot
left. Rotate the Puck clockwise and the M-Series will pivot to the right.
Tilt - Push the Puck forward (toward the bow) and the camera will tilt down;
pull it back (toward aft) and the camera will tilt up.
Zoom - Push down for 1 second to turn on 2X electronic zoom on the IR
camera. Push and hold for 2 seconds for 4x zoom (M-6xx models only). Pull
up on the Puck to return to 2X zoom and pull again to return to no zoom.
The lowlight visible camera does not have a zoom feature.
Freeze - To momentarily pause the IR video and freeze the current image on
the screen, double click (press down twice quickly). Any any other action
with the JCU (moving the puck or pushing a button) will unfreeze the image.
The Puck implements proportional control; therefore the father you rotate it
or direct it from center; the faster the camera will move.
JCU Display
The JCU Display generally shows the name of the camera that the JCU is
“connected” to. It also shows various JCU status messages, and it shows
the countdown (3, 2, 1, 0) to access the Power Menu when the power
button is pressed and held.
Video Display
The M-Series thermal imager does not produce an image from visible light
like an ordinary camera does; rather, it uses thermal infrared energy to produce an image. It senses subtle differences in temperature and makes
images based on those differences.
When the thermal camera is in white-hot mode, the warm things in the
scene will display as white, or lighter shades of grey, and cold objects will
display as black or darker shades of gray. (When you switch the video polarity, this will be reversed.)
Video Screen Icons
The following section provides a brief description of the symbols that may
appear on the screen, depending on the camera settings and the JCU buttons that have been pushed.
Note: Symbology and menu functions are only available in the thermal
image.
Some icons are on the screen all the time, and some icons appear momentarily or only when certain functions are enabled. Several configuration settings are available to control which icons appear or do not appear. Refer to
the System Operation and Configuration section for a detailed description of
each setting and the on-screen menus.
The figure below shows an example of a screen with some of the possible
icons displayed, as well as the on-screen menu.
The on-screen menu appears when the MENU button is pressed. Menu
entries are selected using the joystick puck. Pressing the MENU button
again removes the menu from the screen.
Video Display
Day Running
Man Overboard
Night Running
Night Docking
Position Indication
The Azimuth Indication shows the azimuth (or direction) of the camera relative to the vessel. The shaded triangle shows the approximate camera field
of view (FOV).
JCU Icon
A single JCU Icon indicates only one JCU is currently connected to the camera unit. If more than one JCU is discovered, the multiple JCU icon will
appear on screen.
PC Icon
The PC Icon indicates there is a PC on the network that has a connection
with the camera. FLIR offers a Software Developer’s Kit (SDK) that allows
marine electronics integrators to develop custom software applications for
networking the M-Series thermal camera and other marine electronics.
Contact your FLIR dealer where you purchased the camera for additional
information, or contact FLIR directly: +1.888.747.3547 or +33
765794194.
SCENE Icons
Pressing the SCENE button toggles between four preset Automatic Gain
Control (AGC) settings. Toggling between the four presets will change the
image gain and levelsettings. Regardless of the SCENE setting, the thermal
camera automatically adjusts to the scene to provide a balanced, high-quality image. However, you may prefer an image that has more or less contrast
than the default one provided, and the SCENE button provides that type of
fine adjustment.
Which setting to use comes down to personal preference and environmental conditions – you may like the way the Man Overboard setting looks, even
though you are running on open water during the daytime.
Rearview Icon
The Rearview Icon indicates the Rearview Mode option has been selected in
the System Settings menu. The Rearview setting flips the video image horizontally left to right. The image on the display provides the same perspective
as a rear view mirror in a vehicle - objects off the stern on the starboard
side of the vessel are displayed on the right hand side of the video.
Home Icon
The Home icon appears momentarily to indicate the camera is in the Home
position. The icon flashes when a new home position is set.
Pressing and holding the Puck will cause the thermal camera to digitally
zoom in to 2X magnification. Pressing and holding again will cause the thermal camera to digitally zoom in to 4x magnification (M-6xx models only). Pull
and hold the puck to zoom out the thermal camera.
Normal (no zoom)
2X zoom
4X zoom
Image Frozen
The Image Frozen image appears when the Puck has been double clicked
(pressed two times in quick succession) and the video has been momentarily stopped. Pressing any button or moving the Puck will switch back to
live video. This feature is only available on the thermal camera.
In order for the M-Series camera to operate, it will need to receive a "wake"
command from another device on the LAN network. This section describes
the system startup process and various camera modes.
To begin, turn on the video monitor/display and select the M-Series thermal
camera as the video source for the display. Most multi-function displays
(MFDs) allow the user to select from a number of available inputs.
Generally the M-Series system will be connected to its power source
through a circuit breaker, which will function as the primary “on/off” switch
for the system. There is no on/off switch on the camera itself, but the JCU
has an power switch, and it is used to control the state of the camera.
If the camera has power, it will be in one of three states or modes: Bootup,
Standby, and Powered On. The camera is never off unless the circuit
breaker is off. When the JCU power button is used to “turn off” the system,
the camera goes into a low-power standby mode waiting for a wake command.
The Bootup Process
When power from the circuit breaker is initially applied to the system, the
camera will perform a short pan/tilt initialization by rotating back and forth
and tilting up and down, and the camera will begin a bootup sequence.
When the JCU receives power, an amber light on the Power/DIM button will
come on. When the Power/DIM button is pressed,the JCU will search for
M-Series cameras on the network.
Troubleshooting Tip: if the JCU does not have power, it may be connected
to a Power over Ethernet (PoE) switch which has not been powered on, or it
may be connected to a network switch that does not provide PoE power.
Bootup Mode
The following section describes what happens when the circuit breaker is
energized and power is applied to the camera. The camera will stay in the
Bootup state for approximately 55 seconds. During the bootup process,
the bootup screen and messages are displayed on the monitor, followed by
live video, which is displayed only momentarily, until the camera goes into
standyby mode..
Initially the FLIR splash screen will appear, as shown to the left. Then
another splash screen with two important notices will appear:
Warning: Do not use the M-Series imaging system as the primary navigation system. Use it in conjunction with a primary navigation system and
other navigation aids.
Note: The M-Series IR Thermal Imaging System is an Export Controlled
item. Authorization by the U.S. Government must be obtained prior to
export outside the United States.
After the splash screens are displayed, the video screen will show a message that says “Loading, please wait...”
1
When the bootup is complete, the monitor will briefly show live video, and then the display will be
blank, to indicate the camera is in Standby mode. The gimbal assembly
System Startup
moves to the Stow position in order to provide additional protection for the
camera optics.
Camera Discovery
If the Power/Dim button is pressed after the system bootup is complete,
the JCU will automatically detect all available cameras on the network. The
first time a camera is started, the installer must associate the JCU with the
camera. The display on the JCU will indicate “Select Camera” the first time
a JCU connects to a camera. Scroll down to the available camera and press
(or “click") the puck to accept the camera shown in the JCU Display. The
JCU will automatically connect to the last camera it was linked to after the
initial startup.
Troubleshooting Tip: if the JCU does not discover any cameras, check to
make sure the JCU and the camera are connected to each other over the
network or directly with a single cable.
If the Power/Dim button is pressed while the camera is booting up, the JCU
LCD display will say "Searching..." until the JCU discovers cameras on the
network. If there are multiple cameras in the network, the JCU will discover
them and the user must select one. The user can move the puck fore and
aft to scroll through the list of discovered cameras. Once a camera has
been selected, the next time the user powers the JCU, the JCU will default
to the last camera it was connected to.
Note: When a dual payload
camera powers up, it will display
the IR video on both channels
initially. Then the IR/VIS video
channel will switch to the visible
camera if the visible camera
was selected when the camera
was last powered down.
Note: In the JCU Display, a down arrow (V) indicates additional menu
choices can be accessed by moving the puck down (aft), or by rotating the
puck clockwise. An up arrow (^) indicates the last menu entry is shown in
the display, and the other choices must be accessed by moving the puck up
(fore) or by rotating the puck counterclockwise. A double arrow indicates the
user can move up or down in the menu.
Standby Mode
After the bootup sequence, the camera will switch from the Bootup mode to
the Standby mode. In the Standby mode the pan/tilt motors are engaged in
high-power mode, to hold the camera in place in rough seas. In the Standby
mode, the cameras will not supply a live video signal via the video cables.
The gimbal assembly does not respond to any commands or buttons from
the JCU (with the exception of the Power/DIM button). The camera ball will
be pointing straight down, to protect the camera optics.
1 Refer to the Troubleshooting Tips section in the System Operation and Configura-
tion chapter for more information about messages that appear on the video
screen.
Note: Selecting “Camera Stndby?”,
“System Stndby?” or “Global Stndby?” on the JCU will not shut
down the camera entirely. The camera will go into the Standby mode,
with the motors engaged, waiting for
a “wake” command from the JCU.
Powering Up
To power up the camera, press and hold the Power/DIM button on the
JCU for 3 seconds. The camera will switch from the Standby state to the
Powered On state. Once the M-Series gimbal assembly is in the Powered
On mode, the cameras will display the two splash screens and then supply
live video to the monitor.The camera will rotate to the home position and
the ball will tilt up to its home position and the JCU icon will appear on the
screen momentarily. On the JCU display, the camera name will blink
momentarily to indicate the camera is selected. The camera will now
respond to the JCU buttons and joystick puck movements.
Powering Down
When the camera is in the Powered On mode, pressing the Power/Dim
button continuously for 2 seconds will cause the display to start a brief
countdown (3, 2, 1, 0). After the countdown the JCU will enter the JCU
Power Menu
2
, and the display will show “v Power Menu”. The JCU puck
can be used to select from the following menu options:
Power Menu
Assign JCU
JCU Stndby?
Camera Stndby?
System Stndby?
Global Stndby?
3
Calibrate JCU
Cancel
Each of these menu items are described in more detail in the JCU Power
Menu section below.
If the “Camera Stndby?”, “System Stndby?” or “Global Stndby?” option
is selected, the camera will move to the stowed (parked) position and the
camera will go into the Standby state. Generally the stowed position is with
the ball rotated down so the camera lenses are in a protected position. The
Stow position can be configured with the on-screen configuration menus.
If the camera will not be used for an extended period of time and it is preferable to conserve power, it is recommended that you first power down the
camera from the JCU as described above. Powering the camera down
from the JCU will put the camera in the Stow position. Then switch the system circuit breaker to the off position. When the circuit breaker is switched
on again, the camera will go through its bootup sequence again.