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Technical Specifications
Calibir 640 GigE IR Camera User's Manual
Sensor Handling Instructions
This section reviews proper procedures for handling, cleaning, or storing the Calibir camera.
Specifically the Calibir sensor needs to be kept clean and away from static discharge to maintain
design performance.
Electrostatic Discharge and the Sensor
Cameras sensors containing integrated electronics are susceptible to damage from electrostatic
discharge (ESD).
Electrostatic charge introduced to the sensor window surface can induce charge buildup on the
underside of the window that cannot be readily dissipated by the vacuum in the sensor package
cavity. With charge buildup, problems such as higher image lag or a highly non-uniform response
may occur. The charge normally dissipates within 24 hours and the sensor returns to normal
operation.
Protecting Against Dust, Oil and Scratches
The sensor window is part of the optical path and should be handled like other optical components,
with extreme care.
Dust can obscure pixels, producing dark patches on the sensor response
Dust can normally be removed by blowing the window surface using a compressed air blower,
unless the dust particles are being held by an electrostatic charge, in which case either an ionized
air blower or wet cleaning is necessary.
Oil is usually introduced during handling. Touching the surface of the window barehanded will leave
oily residues. Using rubber finger cots and rubber gloves can prevent oil contamination. However,
the friction between the rubber and the window may produce electrostatic charge that may damage
the sensor.
Cleaning the Sensor Window
Even with careful handling, the sensor window may need cleaning. The following steps describe
various cleaning techniques to clean minor dust particles to accidental finger touches.
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Use compressed air to blow off loose particles. This step alone is usually sufficient to clean the
sensor window. Avoid moving or shaking the compressed air container and use short bursts of
air while moving the camera in the air stream. Agitating the container will cause condensation
to form in the air stream. Long air bursts will chill the sensor window causing more
condensation. Condensation, even when left to dry naturally, will deposit more particles on the
sensor.
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When compressed air cannot clean the sensor, Teledyne DALSA recommends using lint-free
ESD-safe cloth wipers that do not contain particles that can scratch the window. The Anticon
Gold 9”x 9” wiper made by Milliken is both ESD safe and suitable for class 100 environments.
Another ESD acceptable wiper is the TX4025 from Texwipe.
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An alternative to ESD-safe cloth wipers is Transplex swabs that have desirable ESD properties.
There are several varieties available from Texwipe. Do not use regular cotton swabs, since
these can introduce static charge to the window surface.
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Wipe the window carefully and slowly when using these products.
