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+--- Thread: [Equipment] Testing an Infrared time lapse camera. (/Thread-Equipment-Testing-an-Infrared-time-lapse-camera)
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Testing an Infrared time lapse camera. - Shastzi - 02-11-2013
Hopefully I will be able to use the timestamped frames to track down any position related breathing / oxygen desaturation issues.
If it works I'll let you all know how well it does the job!
RE: Testing an Infrared time lapse camera. - Moriarty - 02-12-2013
(02-11-2013, 11:04 PM)Shastzi Wrote: If it works I'll let you all know how well it does the job!
Sounds like fun... They are getting relatively cheap now so its worth looking at.
RE: Testing an Infrared time lapse camera. - DocWils - 02-12-2013
I think our Sastzi is turning into an expert researcher - I see new horizons and a whole new career for you! I shall await your results with a worm on my tongue (bated breath).
RE: Testing an Infrared time lapse camera. - Shastzi - 02-12-2013
Dirt Cheap is the word here.
This one is a crappy $5 web cam I picked up from Office Depot from one of their bargain barrels.
I pulled it apart and dug out the infrared cut-off filter, (a small square of pinkish glass)
and put it back together.
Then I got two 12V IR illuminators from Amazon. ($6 each)
I only needed one since it was enough to light up the whole room like it was daytime.
The software was free. ("Motion" for Linux)
If anything moves in the camera field the software starts taking pictures at 2 frames per second.
You don't need anything close to HD quality for this work. 320X240 is fine and is only 8k per frame taken.
I got a pretty good run last night. (Yay me!)
There were no desaturations to speak of and didn't look like any back sleeping. (supine)
But the kitty cats slept on top of me through it all.
Success!
This system would make a great critter cam set up for the back yard at night too.
(a weather resistant cam would be in order though)
Sorry, no ghosts showed up this time.
=^.^=
RE: Testing an Infrared time lapse camera. - DocWils - 02-12-2013
I believe the expression is you "MacGyvered" it. This is the sort of resourcefulness and lateral thinking that makes for a good research leader, and of course, that you identify a problem, set about a hypothesis and look for a way to test said hypothesis. Shatz, there is a good scientist in you indeed.
RE: Testing an Infrared time lapse camera. - zimlich - 02-12-2013
Very cool and imaginative, Shastzi.
RE: Testing an Infrared time lapse camera. - Shastzi - 02-12-2013
Thanks for all the kind words! =^.^=
I collected about 350 frames last night.
Nothing much except when I roll over to my other side or when the cats move about.
I did have one 'low spot' in the O2 report but it looked like I was on my side at the time.
The camera angle needs to be relocated for a better view so I can tell what's going on better.
The illumination is great though.
New developments to be posted as they turn up.
Cheers!
RE: Testing an Infrared time lapse camera. - SuperSleeper - 02-12-2013
Cool... just cool.... you're a geek, admit it.
RE: Testing an Infrared time lapse camera. - Shastzi - 02-12-2013
Heehee!!
Thanks SS! I have done some 'lab rat' work in the past.
This is not as bad as the heat pain / touch experiments I had to do with human subjects many years ago.
RE: Testing an Infrared time lapse camera. - Shastzi - 03-03-2013
Back again with a picture this time!
The light source on the left is 48 LED 850 nm (barely visible to humans as a dim red glow)
$6 each from Amazon.
The webcam (right) is by Gear Head. available at discount outlets, and
online web stores. ($9-$17) (shop around for cheapest price)
It needs to be taken apart and the infra-red cutoff filter removed.
That takes about 10 minutes and requires a jewlers screwdriver.
Easy!
There are a zillion "how-to" video clips out on how to do this with dozens of different digital cameras.
The computer use is a cheap, EeePC netbook by ASUS.
(single Intel Atom processor. No spead demon, it just works well for this)
OS is CrunchBang Linux. AKA: #! (hashsign and exclamation point)
(Debian Linux family. Free!)
I suppose at this writing Lubuntu Linux would also work too.
Software is from the Linux repositories (also free) "Motion"
It watches the incoming video stream. if more then 1500 pixels change state it starts shooting frames to the diskdrive at 2 per second. (time stamps each frame too!)
Thats it!