Thermalyze Version 7 Support for IS320 Cameras


Differences Between Thermalyze v7 and v6

Camera Link Video Board

Thermalyze v7 can retrieve thermal image data from both the Optotherm IS320 and IS640 thermal imaging cameras using a Matrox eCL Base Camera Link video board that is installed in a PCIe computer slot. Thermalyze v6 can retrieve thermal image data only from the IS320 thermal imaging camera using a National Instruments 1426 Base Camera Link video board that is installed in a PCI computer slot. Therefore, in order to acquire thermal images in Thermalyze v7 from an IS320 camera, a computer with an available PCIe slot is required.

Image File Format

Thermalyze v7 is a 64-bit application and stores images in a non-proprietary binary format with .oimg extension. Thermalyze v6 is a 32-bit application and stores images in a proprietary PNG format with .png extension. Thermalyze v6 utilizes the 32-bit NI Vision image processing software library to store images and is unable to run in the 64-bit application space of Thermalyze v7.


Opening v6 Image Files in v7

Converting v6 Files

In order to open .png image files saved in v6 within Thermalyze v7, they must first be converted to binary format using the Optotherm 32-bit application named FileConvert (see figure 1 below).


Figure 1 - FileConvert application window

FileConvert converts .png image files used in Thermalyze v6 to binary image files used in Thermalyze v7. Converted binary files have .ocon extension and are saved in a folder named “ConvertedFiles” that is automatically created by FileConvert in the same directory as the .png file being converted. Individual files can be converted or all files within a selected folder can be converted, including files in nested folders.

Note: Emissivity tables, sequence images, and MBC project files must also be converted as they all contain .png image files.


IS320 USB Driver Installation

Disable Driver Signature Enforcement

By default, the Windows 10 and 11 operating systems require drivers to be signed. Currently, the Windows driver for the IS320 camera is not signed. Before installing the USB driver, driver signature enforcement must be disabled according to the following instructions:

  1. In the Windows Search field type “Settings” and then click on Settings.

  2. Click on Update & Security. Note: You may first need to click on Home.

  3. Click on the Recovery option on the left-hand side.

  4. An advanced startup section will appear on the right-hand side. Click on the Restart now button.

  5. The computer will reboot. Choose the Troubleshoot option.

  6. Click on Advanced options. Note: You may first need to click to see more options.

  7. Click on Startup Settings. Note: You may first need to click to see more options.

  8. Click on Restart, which will reboot the computer and display a list of startup settings.

  9. Select Disable driver signature enforcement by pressing the F7 key.

Driver Installation

  1. Download IS320 USB Drivers and unzip using the 7-Zip File Archiver utility.

  2. Make sure all camera and computer cables are properly connected.

  3. Turn on the computer.

  4. Turn the power switch on the back of the camera to the ON position.

  5. On the Windows search bar type “Device Manager” and open the Device Manager.

  6. Expand “Other Devices”.

  7. Right click “ThermalEye3500” and select “Update drivers”.

  8. Click “Browse my computer for driver software”.

  9. Select the unzipped folder "IS320 USB Drivers", and click [Next].

  10. If the “Windows Security” window opens, click “Install this driver software anyway”.

  11. On the “Windows has successfully updated your driver software”, click [Close].

  12. Turn the power switch on the back of the camera to the OFF position.


FileConvert Application Installation

The FileConvert application converts .png image files used in Thermalyze v6 to binary image files used in Thermalyze v7.

NI Vision Installation

NI Vision software enables the FileConvert application to read .png image files saved in Thermalyze v6.

  1. Close any applications that may be running.

  2. Download NI Vision and unzip using the 7-Zip File Archiver utility.

  3. Open the folder named NI Vision ver… and double-click NI Vision Installer.bat.

  4. The Windows command prompt window will open and then close automatically after installation is complete. Note: You may need to wait a few minutes for the installation to complete.

NI Vision License Installation

  1. Close any applications that may be running.

  2. Insert the Thermalyze v7 USB flash drive. Note: If a “Setup” or Windows “AutoPlay” window opens automatically, close the window.

  3. Open the folder named NI Vision ver… and double-click NI Vision License.msi.

  4. When the “NI Vision Run-Time Engine for OEM” window opens, click [Next].

  5. On the “Select Features” screen, click [Next].

  6. On the “License Agreement” screen, select “I accept the license agreement” and click [Next].

  7. On the “Ready to Install the Application” screen, click [Next].

  8. On the “Successfully Installed” screen, click [Finish].

FileConvert Installation

Installation of the FileConvert application requires copying a folder from the Thermalyze v7USB flash drive onto the hard drive according to the following instructions:

  1. Close any applications that may be running.

  2. Download File Convert and unzip using the 7-Zip File Archiver utility.

  3. Open the folder named FileConvert ver…

  4. Copy the folder named FileConvert to the directory C:\Optotherm\ on your computer.


Software Test

Capturing Images

  1. Turn the power switch on the back of the camera to the ON position.

  2. Start Thermalyze by double-clicking the Thermalyze icon on the computer desktop.

  3. From the drop-down box on the top toolbar, select the lens that is currently installed on the camera.

  4. From the drop-down box on the top toolbar, select the lowest temperature measurement range.

  5. Click the Capture Image button to begin capturing and displaying thermal images.

  6. Aim the camera at an object whose temperature is higher than the ambient surroundings (such as another person) and then press the Auto Scale button to the upper right of the image in the Color Palette frame. The images may not be in focus, but you should be able to see movement as you pass your hand slowly in front of the camera.

Opening Thermalyze v6 Files
Using FileConvert

  1. On your Thermalyze v7 computer, create a new folder named C:\Optotherm\ThermalyzeV6.

  2. Copy the C:\Optotherm\Thermalyze folder on your Thermalyze v6 computer to this new folder on your Thermalyze v7 computer.

  3. On your Thermalyze v7 computer, navigate to C:\Optotherm\FileConvert\ and double-click FileConvert.exe to run the application.

  4. Click the Select Current Folder button and navigate to the directory C:\Optotherm\Thermalyze\ThermalyzeV6.

  5. Check the box named Include Files in Nested Sub Folders.

  6. Click the Convert All Files in Current Folder button.

Opening Converted Files in v7

After converting .png files using FileConvert, start Thermalyze v7 and then follow these steps to open the converted .ocon files:

  1. Open the User Preferences window and check the box named "Show Previous Version File Menus".

  2. On the Image menu, click Open Image and Palette (png) and select a .png file to open.

  3. On the Sequence menu, click Open Sequence and Palette (seq) and select a .seq file to open.

  4. In the Emissivity Table window on the File menu, click Open Table (png) and select a .png file to open.

  5. On the Model Board Comparison window on the File menu, click Convert Project (MBC) and select a .mbc file to open.