Integrated IR Camera Use Surging 2014

By John Honovich, Published Jun 10, 2014, 12:00am EDT (Info+)

Not too long ago, integrated IR cameras were looked down upon. Like offering the Queen of England a baloney sandwich, integrated IR cameras were considered beneath real professionals.

Times have changed. Quickly.

*** **** ********** ********** **** **** integrated ** ***** *** ******. ******, we ***** **** *** ******* *** share *** *********** *** ************ ***** these *******.

Overall *****

**** **** */*** ** *** ******* integrators ****** **** ********** **:

**** **** **********, * *********** ****** of *********** ****** ****** *** ********** IR, **** ****** **** ****** ***** use ****** ********* **** **** *******.

*** ***** ** ******* **** ** grow, ** ~*/*** ** *********** ****** use ********** ** *******, *** ** the ******** ***** ****, **** **** see **** ******** ** *** **** future.

Reasons ***

*** **** ******* *** ********** ** were ******** ******* - ** ** a *** **** *** ** *** images ** *****. ************** ******** ********:

  • "*** **** **** ********* ********* ** external **. ***** ********** ******* ******* IR *** **** ** ** *** much **-********"
  • "**** ********* ********* * **** ** complete ******** ** *** ******** *****'* have *** *****. ** **** ****** encourage ******* ***** ** ********* ** night, *** **** ** *** ****** the ****."
  • "****** ** ** **** **** ***** usually ** ****** **** ******* ** a ***-** *** ***** ***** **** blurry ***** ** **** *****."
  • "********** ** ******* **** ****** ** IR ***********."

Not *** ******* ******* - **** *** *********

*** ** *** ******* ******* ****** against ** *** *********** **** **** IR ******** **** *** **** ************** ** *** *****.

*************, ****** ***** ****** **** **** up **** ** ***** ****, ******* that ***** *** *** ***** ******* for ********* ********* ** ********** **.

*******, ***** ********** *** * ****** of ***** ****** ******* ********** **.

#1 *** - ******* ********

*** **** ********** ***** ******** ******* integrated ** *** ******** *** ** can *****, **** *********** ******:

  • "*** ****** *****, *** ********** ** does *** ****** ******* ****** *****, so ** **** ** *** ** external **"
  • "******** ** *** ********* ***** ******** illuminators *** *** ******** **** *** capable ** *********"
  • "***** ** ** *** ******* ******."
  • "*** ********** ** *****'* **** *** distance ** *** ******* *** **** compared ** **** *** ******** ***** to ***."

****** **** ********** *****, ********* ********** IR ******* *** **** ********** ** feet / ** ****** ** ****. There ** * ******* * ****** market *** ****** ***** ********** **.

Other ****

******* ***** *** ********** *** ****** of ***** ***** *******. "** ****** ****** the ****** ***** ******** ******** **** the ********," **** ***. *** *******, "** recommend ****** ********." **** **, ******, difficult ** ** ** ****** ** lightning *** ** ********* *** ***** requires ************ **** ***** ******** ** departments.

***** ******* ******* ** ******, *********:

  • "* ***** *** **** ** **** of *** ****** *** ******* ******* integrated **." ****** ******* ***** **** changing, "In *** ****, *** ** *** not **** *****. *** ****** ********** included ** **** *****-***. **** ****** is **** ********* **** *** ** capabilities."
  • "* ****** *** ***** ********* *** Axis*********************** ** *** ********** ** ******. Sure, *** **** ** *******, *** I **** *** **** ****** ********* with ***** ***** ******* ** **** integrated ** ********." *** *** ***** *** ***** ** ********** ** Shootout *** ***** *** ************ **** ** head.
  • "** ** **** ****** ** ************ are **** ********* *** *** ******** in *** *****." **** ** ****, especially **** *** ***** ******* ****** who **** ********** ********** ** ********* on ***** ******* *** *****, *** the ***** ***** *****.

Growing ***

*******, **** *** ********* ********** ********* that *** *** ***** **:

  • "**********. ****** ** ******* **** *** that ****."
  • "** *** **** ****** *******. ** really **** ***** **** ** **** differential."
  • "**** ******** **** ******* ** *** integrated ** ** * ***** ******** IR *** *** *** ******."
  • "** **** **** ** ****** **% of *** ******* ********* ** **********. A **** *** ** *** ****** 5%"
  • "** ** ******* ******. **** ********** had *** ***** *** *** **** use."
  • "*%. **** ** *** **-**, *** I ****** **** ** ****** ** the ** ***** ******"

** *** **** * *****, ** would *** ** ********* ** ********** IR ***** ****** **% ** *******, as ************* *** ******* *** ********* to ********** **, **** **** *** demonstrating ******** *********** **** ***** ***********, like ******** / ***** ** *** longer ******.

Comments (8)

Luis Sadio

IPVMU Certified | 06/10/14 08:24pm

In my country (Portugal), in my opinion, for outdoor the cameras with a IR, as we know them, are a mistake.

At night, outdoor, in few days most of this cameras will have spider's web and will not see nothing at night unless anyone clean them.

The spiders make a web in front or IR Led's because know that the bugs will be atracted by the light.

Then the web reflects the light of IR LEd's into image sensor and it is not possible have a good night image.

If the IR are installed in a different way, it could avoit the web be made in front of image sensor.

If possible, I would like to know the experience from other integrators about this problem.

Rukmini Wilson

In reply to Luis Sadio | 06/10/14 09:34pm

The spiders make a web in front or IR Led's because know that the bugs will be atracted by the light...

Pretty smart, not to mention inconsiderate, spiders. :) I think this subject was hashed around a bit here.

Undisclosed Distributor #1

06/11/14 10:36pm

Why has there not been a mention of water droplets on the bubble of the dome. This in my opinion is probably more significant than spiders etc. In most outdoor applications where the dome/bubble type cameras are installed, they are subjected to the weather and we have found that the moisture on the bubble causes significant blind spots and flaring of the image produced. This is further impacted when the moisture then dries and leaves dirt marks on the bubble. During the day these are almost invisible but at night when the IR comes on, then again there is flaring or reflections produced resulting in service calls to remedy the bad picture. The SI who attends then gives the dome bubble a wipe and all is good until night falls and then the image appears foggy due to the fine scratches (from cleaning) reflecting the IR light. This also appears to get worse as camera manufacturers strive to get greater distance from the IR light which in turn causes greater reflections.

The dome cameras with a flat glass window (like IR bullet cameras) separating the lens from the IR LED's with a collar, overcome most of the issues above, except of course the spiderwebs which can stretch across from the LED's and past the front of the lens.

David Lambert

06/12/14 11:40am

[IPVM Note: Commenter is a direct competitor against integrated IR cameras.]

IR reflectance from water droplets in integrated camera/IR products

I think you mean like that. On integrated products the IR lighting reflects off water droplets back into the camera. We see a lot of this (at Raytec) and are asked to provide separate IR illuminators.

Remember - its not only about the occasions with water droplets / spiders. Its about triggering false alarms and affecting analytics

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to David Lambert | 06/12/14 11:49am

David, how may times do I need to remind you that you need to explicitly disclose your affiliation up front for such comments? You are a direct competitor to the products being discussed.

This claim is definitely overstated:

"On integrated products the IR lighting reflects off water droplets back into the camera."

On some integrated products I am sure this happens but it is certainly not categorical.

Is it really that hard for you to admit the reality that (1) integrated IR use is growing significantly, (2) integrated IR performance has improved significantly.

David Lambert

In reply to John Honovich | 06/12/14 11:57am

Not sure about that comment. I disclosed my name and my company in the above post. I'm sure people know who Raytec are by now.

Yes, we do see a big growth in integrated IR and yes we do see it improving. It's not hard to see or admit those trends. The minute you see the big brands do integrated IR cameras you know it is mainstream and performance will improve

I was responding the the previous post to show the affects of water droplets.

Our challenge is to maintain performance leadership for the applications where security is critical rather than "getting some shot in the dark". Lighting companies always need to repsond to developments with camera technology. We will need to offer more performance to maintain the value of stand alone lighting.

Ultimately it comes down to the market. For smaller scale applications design and cost are most imprtant, then performance ---- integrated IR cameras.

For higher security sites, prisons, power stations, critical infrastucture performance is everything.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

06/15/14 05:11pm

integrated IR cameras are good for monitoring at night, but give a false alarm on every little bug flying through its lens.

one night with motion recording will record from dusk till dawn.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2 | 06/15/14 06:35pm

What specific cameras have you used? Every IR camera? Every condition?

Please tell.

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts reporting, tutorials and software funded by subscriber's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.
Loading Related Reports