Removing the IR Filter from the PS Eye Camera

From Lofaro Lab Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search

The IR filter is responsible for prohibiting infrared materials to be visible through a camera. Removing the IR filter allows for infrared to be visible.

PS Eye Camera

This is a step by step tutorial on removing the Infrared (IR) filter from the PS Eye Camera and replacing it with a visible band pass filter made using floppy disk material.

It's important to note that this tutorial is specific to the PS Eye Camera and other cameras may require different procedures


Minimum Materials Needed:

PS Eye Camera

Screwdriver

Flathead

Box Cutter (or anything with a blade)

Floppy Disk

Scissors


Step 1: Hold the camera with the back of the camera facing you, and pop off the 4 circular black plastic dots using a Flathead or blade.

Ps3eyecam2.jpg

Step 2: Remove the 4 screws.

Ps3eyecam3.JPG


Step 3: Use a Flathead to break the eye camera apart. Begin by starting on the side of the camera. This can be done by inserting the Flathead in between the plastic pieces and slowly pulling them away from each other.

DSC00674.JPG

Note: The hard part is the area below the USB connection, you may need to apply more pressure to get these pieces separated, and may need to use a blade.

DSC00676.JPG


Step 4: At this point you should have separated the parts and should be able to see the circuit board.

DSC00677.JPG

There are two screws located at the bottom, remove the screws, and the bottom piece of the eye camera (the stand) should come off.

DSC00679.JPG
DSC00684.JPG


Step 5: On the circuit board, remove the 4 screws circled in red shown on the image.

DSC00687.JPG



Step 6:At this point you should be able to remove the circuit board.


DSC00703.JPG
DSC00696.JPG


Step 7: The lens should be detached from the circuit board since the screws were removed in Step 5.

DSC00709.JPG


Step 8: Take the lens and hold it up with the square side facing you.You should see a small circular piece of glass, which is the IR filter.Use a Flat Head to gently tap all around the connection between the IR filter and the lens. Then repeat the process with a blade.

DSC00713.JPG


Continue until you can remove the filter. Be careful, it's glass!


DSC00715.JPG
Lens without IR filter

Step 9: Get a hold of a floppy disk

SONY Floppy Disk

Step 10:Open the floppy disk. You may need to use a blade.

Breaking into floppy disk to get floppy disk material


Step 11:Take the floppy disk material and cut a piece that will fit right to the lens of the PS3 Eye Camera

IMG 5720.JPG
Lens with 2 layers of floppy disk material


Fixing the Focus of the Modified PS Eye Camera

When removing the IR filter from the PS Eye, the focus of the web camera is disrupted. In order to fix this issue, 1mm plexiglass was purchased and was cut out into the shape of the IR filter that was removed. The PS Eye was opened and the plexiglass was inserted underneath the floppy disk material. After testing the web camera, the focus was fixed.