linneslab / sparkfun_mlx90640_arduino_example

Controlling and reading from the MLX90640 IR array thermal imaging sensor

SparkFun MLX90640 Arduino Example

SparkX Qwiic IR Array - MLX90640 (SPX-14769)

This repo contains Arduino sketches that show how to output temperature data from the MLX90640 sensor. We've also included a Processing app in Example 2 to read in the values over the serial port and visualize them.

The MLX90640 contains a 32x28 array of thermopile sensors creating, in essence, a low resolution thermal imaging camera. As the images show you can detect surface temperatures from many feet away with an accuracy of ±1.5°C (best case). We’ve packaged the MLX90640 on an easy to use Qwiic board with mounting holes and a smattering of decoupling caps. We’ve written an example Arduino sketch and Processing app to get started with the sensor quickly!

The MLX90640 occupies a very interesting spot in the thermal imaging space. It is much higher resolution than the Panasonic Grid-EYE and much lower cost than the FLiR Lepton cameras. A very exciting advancement!

Not Uno Compatible: The MLX90640 requires complex calculations by the host platform. A regular Uno doesn't have enough RAM or flash to complete the complex computations required to turn the raw pixel data into temperature data. You will need a microcontroller with 20,000 bytes or more of RAM. We recommend a Teensy 3.1 or above.

SparkFun labored with love to create this code. Feel like supporting open source hardware? Buy a breakout board from SparkFun!

Repository Contents

• /Documents - Datasheets
• /Firmware - Contains the sketches that Processing app to implement the visualizer

License Information

This product is open source!

Please review the LICENSE.md file for license information.

If you have any questions or concerns on licensing, please contact [email protected].

Please use, reuse, and modify these files as you see fit. Please maintain attribution to SparkFun Electronics and release any derivative under the same license.

Distributed as-is; no warranty is given.

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