Flir ThermovisionMDSeries Operators Manual

							432-0010-00-10 Rev 100 — MD-Series Operator’s Manual 9
 MD-Series Overview
The MD-Series uses on-screen symbols (icons) to indicate the various system 
settings that have been enabled. These symbols are introduced in “Video Display” 
on page 9 and are further explained throug hout this manual in the discussion of 
related functions.
Multiple Cameras, JCUs, and Other Devices
In some installations, th e system may include additional components, such as 
additional cameras, MFDs or JCUs, video equipment, computers, wireless 
devices, or network equipment such as an IP video encoder. More than one 
network device can be used to control the camera, and more than one display can 
be used to view the video. 
The MD-Series camera provides an analog video output, which can be connected 
to a 3rd-party IP video encoder. The camera does not provide IP video streaming 
natively. 
Contact FLIR for more information regarding available accessories including 
JCUs, PoE equipment, video distribution  amplifiers, cables, connectors, mounting 
hardware, and so on. Contact information  is listed on the back of this manual.
Video Display
The MD-Series thermal imager uses energy in the thermal infrared band to 
produce images, by sensing subtle differences in temperature and generating 
images based on those differences. Fortunately, this type of thermal energy 
comes from everything around us, even cold objects like ice. Unlike ordinary 
cameras (and unlike the human eye), the MD-Series does not produce images 
from visible light energy, which only comes from things that are very hot. such as 
lights or the sun. 
Thermal Imaging
The thermal imaging camera relies on the fact that all objects emit thermal energy 
in the portion of the infrared spectrum that this camera can see, the long wave 
infrared (LWIR). Th erefore, unlike an illuminated infrared camera, the thermal 
imaging camera does not  need an additional active illumination source and 
images are based on directly radiated rather than reflected energy.
When the thermal camera is  in white-hot mode, the warm objects in the scene 
display as white, or lighter shades of gray, and cold objects display as black or 
darker shades of gray. When the video pol arity is switched, this is reversed.
This is why hot objects such as parts on an outboard motor appear white (or 
black, or red depending on the video image mode selected), while the puddles of 
water and other cold objects appear dark (or cool). The camera automatically 
optimizes the image to provide the be st contrast in most conditions. 
						

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FLIR Systems, Inc. offers a comprehensive selection of training courses to help 
get the best performance and value from the thermal imaging camera. 
http://www.flir.com/training
Video Screen Icons
Depending on the camera settings and the controls being accessed, various 
symbols display on the screen. Some of these icons always display on the 
screen, and some appear momentarily or only when certain functions are 
enabled or executed. 
The display of icons can be modified us ing several configuration settings. See 
“Set Symbology Menu” on page 19 for a description of menu options relation to 
symbol display. 
The following image of a scre en illustrates some of the possible icons displayed 
by the system, as well as an example of the on-screen menu that can be used to 
change system settings. The on-screen  menus are described in Chapter 3, 
"MD-Series System Configuration," on page 15. 
A complete list of all of the icons used in the system and a brief description of 
each icon’s meaning can be found in “List of Icons” on page 53. 
On-Screen Menu
The on-screen menu appears when the Menu button is selected from a control 
device, such as clicking the Menu option  on the Web control page or pressing the 
MENU button on a JCU
1. Clicking Menu or pressing the MENU button again 
removes the menu from the screen.
On-Screen 
Menu
Scene
JCU Zoom Level 
(either 2X or 4X)
PC
Video Setup
Set Symbology
User Programmable Button
System Setup
About/Help
Exit
 
						

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 MD-Series Overview
JCU Icon
A single JCU icon indicates one JCU is con nected to the camera unit. If more than 
one JCU is discovered, the  multiple JCU icon appears.
PC Icon
The PC icon indicates that the camera has detected a PC or wireless device such 
as a smartphone or iOS device on the network. In this case, it is possible to 
manage the camera settings from a page that displays in a web browser or from 
the FLIR Mobile app. The Web interface and the FLIR Mobile app are described in 
Chapter 4, "IP Communications," on page 25.
The PC icon represents all possible netwo rk control devices other than the JCU; 
separate icons for phones, iPads, and so on do not exist. 
SCENE Icons 
Clicking the Scene icon or pressing the SCENE button cycles through four p 
automatic gain control (AGC) settings, which change the image gain and level  
settings. Regardless of the scene setti ng, the thermal camera automatically 
adjusts to the scene to provide a balanced, high-quality image. However, it may 
be preferable to have an image that has more or less contrast than the default 
one provided, and the SCENE button prov ides that type of fine adjustment. 
Which setting to use depends on personal preference and environmental 
conditions; the Man Overboard setting my  look optimal, even when 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 settin g flips the video image horizontally left 
to right. The image on the display provid es the same perspective as a rear view 
mirror in a vehicle; objects off the ster n on the starboard side of the vessel are 
displayed on the right hand side of the video. See page 21 for details on 
configuring this setting.
Image Frozen
The image frozen icon appears when the video has been momentarily stopped. 
Selecting any other option with the came ra control device clears the icon. 
Zoom (2X or 4X)
Clicking the Zoom icon on the interface page or pressing and holding the JCU 
puck causes the thermal camera to digitally  zoom in to 2X magnification. On the 
MD-625 model, clicking again or pressing  and holding the puck again causes the 
1 The method for accessing the on-screen menus and the menu choices depends on the 
control device used: iOS device, PC, smar tphone, MFD, JCU and so on. The menus 
and menu entries are described in general in  this section, and in the subsequent chap-
ters the details for each type of device are given.
Night Running
Day Running
Night Docking
Man Overboard 
						

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thermal camera to digitally zoom in to 4x magnification (the MD-324 model does 
not support this). Click the Zoom Out icon or pull and hold the JCU puck to zoom 
out the thermal camera. 
Factory Default Settings
Table 1.1 shows the factory default settings for the MD-Series configuration 
options and the JCU buttons. Chapter 3, "MD-Series System Configuration," on 
page 15 describes how to modify and update settings. 
Note: When the camera is rest ored to factory settings using the “Restore 
Factory Defaults” option in the on-screen menu, the network settings (including 
DHCP or static mode, IP address and so on) are not restored to factory defaults. 
Refer to Chapter 3, "MD-Series System Configuration," on page 15 for 
information about the on-screen m enus. Refer to Chapter 4, "IP 
Communications," on page 25 for information about setting the IP network 
parameters.
TABLE 1.1  Factory Default Settings
Option Factory Default Setting
Ball-Down Installation Disabled 
Camera Name Model number followed by serial number (for example, 
MD-625 K01234)
Color Thermal Video Enabled 
Icon Display Mode Display Minimal 
Network Configuration Dynamic (DHCP)
Rearview Mode Disabled 
Scene  Night Running 
Thermal Color Default White 
USER button (short press) Invert Video Polarity (JCU only)
Video Polarity White Hot, Black Cold  
						

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CHAPTER 2MD-Series System Startup
System Startup and Shutdown
The MD-Series camera does not have an on/off switch. Generally, if the camera 
has power, it will be operating and generating a video image. 
Typically, the MD-Series system is connected to its power source through a circuit 
breaker, which functions as the primary on /off switch for the system. Should it be 
necessary for some reason to shut down the system, the circuit breaker is used. 
In normal operation, when  the camera receives power  it will go through a short 
boot up sequence and then it will be fully functional. 
The Bootup Process
When starting from a full shutdown, make sure the monitor is turned on, then 
power on the system. When power from the circuit breaker is initially applied to 
the system, the  camera will begin a bootup se quence. Once the bootup has 
completed (approxima tely 60 seconds later), the  camera will be operating and 
generate a video image.
During bootup, a series of screens displays as various components are activated. 
How the screen looks will vary depending  on the particular configuration settings 
of the installation. In general, the following sequence occurs:
1.Two FLIR splash screens display.
Initially  the  screen  at  the  left  appears .  Then  another  splash  screen  with  two
important notices appears. 
						

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2.The screen then clears and a message displays: 
Loading, please wait
3.The screen clears and displays live video 
The camera initially boots up in white-hot mode by default, unless the default 
color has been changed using the system settings (see page 17). 
After the bootup sequence, the camera is ready to use. 
Note: Unlike the FLIR M-Series cameras, the MD-Series camera does not have 
a “standby” mode. If the camera is not being used and it is desirable to save 
energy, it is necessary to turn  off the power to the camera.
Red-Hot Mode White-Hot Mode 
						

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CHAPTER 3MD-Series System 
Configuration
Overview
This chapter describes how to configure the system options using on-screen 
menus. The on-screen menus allow the user to: 
• Choose configuration options that match personal preferences or provide 
optimal performance under varying c onditions, such as a default color 
scheme. 
• Enable or disable features such as using the camera in rearview mode. 
Some settings can be saved and are preserved in the case of loss of power, and 
some settings will be configured as neede d. As mentioned previously, it is 
possible to use a number of devices to c ontrol or configure the camera, including 
the following:
• Web browser running on a PC, laptop, smartphone, or PDA 
• Apple iOS device such as an iPad or iPhone using the free FLIR Mobile  application available through the Apple iTunes store
• Multi-Function Display (MFD) from Raymarine or other vendor 
• FLIR Joystick Control Unit (JCU) 
The way the camera is controlled varies depending on which device is used. If a 
laptop is used with the web interface, a mouse or trackpad is used to select a 
button or link on the web page. On an iPhone or iPad, it is possible to touch the 
screen. An MFD may have several modes of interaction depending on the model 
used. If a FLIR JCU is installed, the puck and buttons are used for control. 
The chapter uses generic language to describe how to interact with the camera. 
The effect is the same, whether you click with a mouse, tap with a finger, or press 
a JCU button. Refer to the chapters following this one for specific information on 
how to control the camera a web browser, the iOS app, and the optional JCU.  
						

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Main Menu
Choose MENU with the camera control device to turn the on-screen menu on or 
off. When the on-screen menu is display ed, it is possible to scroll through the 
menus and select the camera feature to modify. 
The main menu is di splayed initially.
The current menu selection is indicated by the red bar. If a default choice is 
available, it displays  in boldface type. 
If a menu entry begins with the word Enable—for example Enable Color Thermal 
Video—then that option is currently disa bled. When it is selected, the option 
becomes enabled and the word Enable change s to Disable. Similarly, if an option 
begins with Disable, selecting that menu entry will disabl e the option and change 
the menu entry back to Enable.
Video Setup
Set Symbology
User Programmable Button
System Setup
About/Help
Exit  
						

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 MD-Series System Configuration
Video Setup Menu
When Video Setup is selected from the main menu, the following on-screen menu 
displays.
Set Thermal Color Default
Set Thermal Color Default saves the curr ent color and polarity settings as the 
default value used when the system is  booted up. When this menu entry is 
selected, the menu entry changes to “Ther mal Color Default Saved” until Exit is 
selected.
Set Video Polarity 
Selecting this item switches the colors or  shades representing hot and cold in the 
infrared imagery. Unless the thermal color default is ch anged, this setting reverts 
to the factory default when the system is rebooted.
• Black-Hot polarity: darker colors represent  hotter objects (the factory default).
• White-Hot polarity: lighter co lors represent hotter objects. 
The difference between white-hot and blac k-hot is shown below using a grayscale 
color palette; white-hot is on the left and  black-hot on the right. The use of white-
hot or black-hot display mode is strictly  a personal preference; experiment with 
the different settings in different co nditions and see which is preferred.
If Color Thermal Video is enabled, you have additional color choices. Inverting the 
polarity reverses the color  map of the thermal output.
Note: By default, the USER button on the J CU is configured to invert the video 
polarity. However, the function of the  USER button can be changed from the 
Set Thermal Color Default
Set Video Polarity
Disable Color Thermal Video
Display Test Pattern
Exit
 
						

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factory default setting to do other fu nctions. Refer to “User Programmable 
Button” on page 20 for more information about how to program the USER button. 
The USER button applies only when you use a JCU to control the camera.
Enable (Disable) Color Thermal Video 
Many people prefer to look at thermal im ages in color instead of grayscale. When 
this menu item is enabled, the camera ca n use one of five color palettes, instead 
of just two settings. The palette to use  can be changed by pressing the clicking 
the Color Setting icon or pressing the JCU COLOR button. See “COLOR Button” 
on page 42 for details. 
Disable Color Thermal Video: Day and night (white/black or red/black) display
as you press the JCU COLOR button. This is the factory default setting.
Enable  Color  Thermal  Video:  Five  palettes  display  as you   repeatedly  press
the JCU COLOR button: grayscale, red, glowbow, rainbow, and fusion.
With the Set Thermal Color De fault option, it is possible to set a default for the 
system to use the next time it is started.
This setting is used in combination with  the Video Polarity setting. Inverting the 
color palettes doubles the possible ways of showing the same image on the 
display. 
Display Test Pattern
Quite often the video from the MD-Series camera can be optimized by adjusting 
the monitor that is being used to show  the video. The Display Test Pattern 
function is useful for setting up the monitor to give the best detail and contrast.
When the Display Test Pattern entry is se lected, the Toggle Test Pattern menu 
displays, and you are prompted to select a test pattern. When a test pattern is 
displayed, the monitor brightness and c ontrast can be adjusted to give the best 
image