Ernest 6 | VGA 640×480 Low SWaP LWIR Thermal Camera

Meet Ernest 6, member of the SeeCube small thermal camera core family

Introducing the Ernest 6, a standout in Senssight’s SeeCube family, engineered to set a new standard in VGA thermal infrared camera cores. Featuring a 640×480 pixel array with a 12 μm pixel pitch and exceptional thermal sensitivity of 35 mK, this small thermal camera delivers precise imaging in an industry-leading 21 x 21 mm form factor. Equipped with a 60 Hz frame rate, a range of lens options offering 15° to 90° HFOV, and radiometric capabilities covering -10°C to 120°C, the Ernest 6 excels in demanding applications. Its low-power USB interface, optional shutterless calibration, and robust -35°C to 75°C operating range make it an ideal solution for industrial systems, night vision equipment, and unmanned aerial vehicles. Compact yet powerful, the Ernest 6 is designed for professionals who require reliability and performance without compromise.

The Ernest 6 LWIR thermal camera offers three operational modes in a single, streamlined package. Its built-in mechanical shutter ensures precise shuttered performance, while a factory calibration enables exceptional image quality in shutterless mode, thus adapting effortlessly to diverse conditions. Additionally, pixel-level radiometric calibration enables accurate temperature measurements from -10ºC to +120ºC. The Ernest 6 combine cutting-edge technology with a remarkably efficient design, setting a new standard in thermal imaging excellence.

SeeCube family in a nutshell

• Redefining low SWaP-C 

Optimized for size (21 x 21 mm X,Y), weight (<20 g without lens) and power (<400 mW) with a competitive price tag. 

• 3 modes of operation

1. Shuttered (PN: E6_xx_xx_xx_N):
   • An embedded mechanical shutter located between the sensor and the lens is activated for on-the-fly flat-field corrections (FFC).
   • As the sensor temperature changes (time to reach thermal equilibrium, changes in environmental temperature etc), the uniformity of the sensor’s response also changes and a flat-field correction is necessary.
   • A flat-field correction essentially consists of an offset and gain correction for each pixel in order to have a homogeneous intensity distribution (or flat-field) when looking at a black body, in this case the metal surface of the mechanical shutter itself.
   • The FFC is activated automatically by setting a time delay (ms) or sensor temperature difference (ºC/K) or manually by calling a function of the SDK.

   

    

    

    

    

    

   Shutterless (PN: E6_xx_xx_xx_SL+):

   • This mode requires a shutterless factory calibration during which the entire camera with its lens is placed in a thermal chamber to simulate a change of environmental temperature (and therefore sensor temperature) in a controlled fashion.
   • The thermal chamber temperature is varied between ~+10ºC and +60ºC.
   • The calibration consists of acquiring data with the camera facing a black body as the thermal chamber temperature changes.
   • The result of this calibration is a unique set of correction files that are specific to each camera.
   • These files are contained in a folder called data. When using the camera in shutterless operation, the image quality remains the same despite changes in the sensor temperature.

   

    

    

    

    

    

   Radiometric shutterless (PN: E6_xx_xx_xx_R1):

   • This mode requires an additional calibration layer on top of the shutterless calibration.
   • A black body with a temperature range of ~+5ºC to +120ºC is used to make the correspondence between pixel intensity and absolute temperature (in ºK or ºC).
   • The temperature measurement is guaranteed with an accuracy of +/-2°C or 2% (typical). In this mode, the camera returns a thermal frame in 32-bit floats.

   

    

    

    

    

    

• USB interface

Direct connection to with USB connectivity – No need for an external power supply – multiple USB connector options on Ernest 6 only

USB-C / female / straight	USB-C / female / right angle	USB-C / male / right angle	USB-A Micro / female / straight	USB flex cable

• UVC protocol (USB Video Class)

Webcam-like for experience for easy integration and plug-and-play feeling

• High sensitivity

NEdT of 35 mK w/o denoising or filtering

• Free C++ SDK with OpenCV sample app

OpenCV based application and C++ API for Windows 10/11, Linux, Linux for ARM (Nvidia Jetson, Raspberry Pi OS)