Lepton contains a breakthrough lens fabricated in wafer form, along with a microbolometer focal plane array (FPA) and advanced thermal image processing.

The Lepton 2.5 and 3.5 are both also radiometric which means they can output a factory-calibrated temperature value for all pixels in a frame irrespective of the camera temperature with an accuracy of +/-5˚C. The Lepton 2.x camera cores has a resolution of 80 × 60 pixels and the newer Lepton 3.x camera cores have a resolution of 160 x 120 pixels respectively.

You can also get some of the development boards listed above as part of the group buying campaign, including a 10% discount for specific models.The FLIR Lepton™ is the most compact longwave infrared (LWIR) sensor available as an OEM product. Teledyne FLIR Lepton FS is currently available on GroupGets for $99 plus shipping in limited quantities (100 units). Since Lepton FS is mechanically and electrically compatible with FLIR Lepton 2 to 3.5 thermal camera modules, it can fit into existing boards with the appropriate socket such as PureThermal Mini Pro JST-SR, the ESP32-based tCam-Mini IR thermal camera board, OpenMV PureThermal, and others. While the Lepton FS is not suitable for radiometric applications, the module can still be used for heat, security, and comfort monitoring applications in the fields of home and building automation, heat and occupancy sensing, or security and location monitoring. Temperature Range – Operating: -10C to +65C storage: -40 C to +80 C.Input supply voltage – 2.8 V, 1.2 V, 2.5 V to 3.1 VIO.Host interfaces – SPI for video data, CCI (I2C-like) for control.Output format – User-selectable 14-bit, 8-bit (AGC applied), or 24-bit RGB (AGC and colorization applied).Image optimization – Factory configured and fully automated.Low Gain Mode: -10 to 350 degrees C typical.High Gain Mode: -10 to 140 degrees C typical.Non-uniformity corrections – Integral Shutter.Output image independent of camera temperature.Effective frame rate 8.7 Hz (commercial application exportable).Array format – 160 x 120, progressive scan.

Spectral range – Longwave infrared, 8 μm to 14 μm.

Sensor technology – Uncooled VOx microbolometer.

But Ron Justin, GroupGets founder, told CNX Software that the lower specs are more than worth it for users only needing an imager, as opposed to a radiometric sensor. The lower cost was achieved with some tradeoffs, notably a reduction of thermal sensitivity and scene dynamic range, as well as up to 3% inoperable pixels. Teledyne FLIR Lepton FS offers a much more cost-effective solution with the non-radiometric 160 x 120 resolution micro thermal camera module going for $99, or about 50% less than other FLIR thermal camera modules. Thermal cameras based on FLIR Lepton modules are pretty cool, but also quite expensive.

Lepton camera raspberry pi