Cell Phone Night Vision - Under $10

How to turn your regular camera phone into an infrared nightvision viewer for under $10.

Step 1: Materials and Details

Materials:

- Congo Blue Gel : http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=244-181
- Cell phone

For the Cell Phone, mine is a Verizon Wireless LG VX5300. However, this modification to the camera is, in general, the same on all brands and models. Some of the instructions, such as how to get to the camera module, vary from phone to phone.

If you also want to change the lens assembly completely, use one from a digital camera or sort and cut a hole in the faceplate of the phone and mount it on the faceplate, like mine in the intro picture.

Comments

[dodo91]

I was watching a video on youtube, and when the guy pushed a button on the remote, you could see it. my point: you don't have to rip your phone apart. instead, attach the IR LED to something in the phone, then tape it next to your lens OUTSIDE the camera (Duh)

[static]

I posted such a video to youtube  after a forum discussion if an unmodified digital camera could be used to detect if a remote control was functioning. That video was up close and personal, but have seen cell phone cameras see the output up to 6 feet away.  Someone at you tube musta added the silly audio track I didn't

[JP128]

 Most/All cameras can see infrared light. In fact - most people can see in the dark. But just because you can see, or it can see doesn't mean that it can be seen well. The IR is a Filter, just as a coffee filter is a filter. With a coffee filter - it's purpose is to stop the grains from coming out, but what do you ALWAYS find at the bottom of the pot or your glass? Grains. Like the coffee filters, IR Filters aren't 100% IR Proof, meaning that you will still see it. Turning the remote away from the lens and trying to view it like say, on a white piece of paper, proves what I said. Without the IR filter alex is right - you can basically light a room with a remote.

[Fluffyjimmy]

i just tried this using my remote and phone. Yeah you can see the IR light on the phone camera without modifying it but all i can do is point the light at the camera, it doesn't show up on any surfaces or anything because it's so weak.

[dodo91]

thats because you need the black thing covering IR LED. you also might need a few.

[Sandisk1duo]

it's not that weak, your IR filter is just blocking it.

[Fluffyjimmy]

Ok good, I'm probably going to get rid of the filter then.

[milsorgen]

 low light and more watts if you dont want to rip open anything. ive been using 16-32mw and ~1sec exposure times in a dark with my digital camera and getting results

[thelastonekills]

hold it, let me make sure i got this
in short ,
put filter on camera
put filter infront of realy bright light or ir led?

also could this be done some how more analoge, like just with the ir light and a
filter set up some how so you could see it?
this is cool 5/5

[cbateman3]

Dont screww up your cell phone. You can buy a real IR glass filter 850nm
that and holder that attaches to your cell phone or tablet at http://xrayeffect.com

[jimmy dean]

How do you unscrew the lens from the camera module? There are no screwdriver slots anywhere on it.

[cgosh]

Imagine you're twisting off the twist-off cap on a bottle of soda pop and you'll get the idea. No screwdriver needed. Many times, this is also how you adjust the focus on the camera.

[chubby8]

if you didnt put the Congo Blue Film Gel in wouldent the camera see visible light in the day and infared in the dark although a slight mix. or would day time photos in visible light just mess up.

[nwalsh]

Is there a way I can get a cellphone cam to work with regular video input? Im trying to do a spy cam project w/ night vision and don't feel like buying some expensive camera.

[prokia789]

there is a IR filter on my phone`s CCD...any way i can remove it?

[madyicstik]

hi i have a question.. can i use this lens to raplce the original lens on the phone? this will give me a wide angle view. i will still put the congo blue film in between this lens and the semiconductor. ive also googled tha the regular negative film will work as good? can you please confirm?

[madyicstik]

i guess it would help if i have the linl lol http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.22880

[msw100]

A mobile phone can already see the IR from a remote control without going to all that trouble and breaking your phone. Why not mount a few low power IR diodes around the lens, and you will see just as far in the dark.

[iSteam]

Not nearly as well as without an IR filter...

[lunchboxslayer27]

pretty well actually

[Sandisk1duo]

without the filter, you can actually light up the room with a remote control

[JP128]

 Most/All cameras can see infrared light. In fact - most people can see in the dark. But just because you can see, or it can see doesn't mean that it can be seen well. The IR is a Filter, just as a coffee filter is a filter. With a coffee filter - it's purpose is to stop the grains from coming out, but what do you ALWAYS find at the bottom of the pot or your glass? Grains. Like the coffee filters, IR Filters aren't 100% IR Proof, meaning that you will still see it. Turning the remote away from the lens and trying to view it like say, on a white piece of paper, proves what I said. Without the IR filter alex is right - you can basically light a room with a remote.

[Jehar21]

This worked really well. I did it to one, about to do it to 3 other phones too.
Its gonna really help for our night paintball games.
Thanks

[mossDboss]

Don't all digital cameras see infared without modification. That is, I can take any digital camera and put a remote in front of it and the camera will "see" the infared of the remote. So maybe I missed something, what is the point of this instructable?

[iSteam]

Lol, by removing the IR filter you can see much, much more IR light. If you add an external light source, such as an IR LED flashlight, it appears extremely bright bright to the camera without the IR filter. To the camera with one, it appears a dim glow. Removing the IR filter effectively creates a homebrewed Nightvision infrared viewing device.

[imkwl12345]

ok i need some help here. what does the congo blue actually do? can you still see the IR as well without it?

[Mitten]

The only reason you can see the remotes infrared is because its a high intensity source. Theres tons of radiant infrared energy bouncing all around that is blocked by the filter. Check out some of the other infrared lens modifications on digital cameras (they can see the remotes light too).

[berky93]

I wonder if theres an easy way to add a little lever to move the ir filter/ gel back and forth, to switch between normal and night vision. also add an IR led light onto the phone.

[imkwl12345]

the way i see it, correct me if im wrong because i dont no much about the subject, but isnt the filter you put in meant to stop the light we can see? so if you just take out the filter already in it you can see IR at night, and normal in daytime?? help?

[the "wow shammy"]

if you take off the filter will it make your pictures go dead forever?

[Nexnaught]

Wouldn't u be able to see better in the dark if the camera could see visible AND IR light than just IR light?

[mraspotcnc]

nice job ....thanks to share idea

[Sandisk1duo]

does this ruin the quality of the camera (does everything get blurry?)

[lunchboxslayer27]

you can see the IR from the remote without doing this

[Sandisk1duo]

that little 'glow' that you can see with your eyes is not IR

[EaglesNestOne]

Nice IBLE but aren't infrared blocking filters usually blue? And msw100 is right, in fact most cameras can see infrared light.

[iSteam]

Depending on the manufacture and what products they order, it can either be blue or red. In the majority of cameras I've sacraficed to science, I believe only 1 I remember seeing a blue filter . It stood out, thats why I remember ;)

[astro64]

hi,got a razor v3 cellphone any idea how to mod this phone for night vision _thanks.

[A good name]

I can't see the inner yellow square... it always picks the first one.

[iSteam]

It just says that it's a lens modification I did, not important in the context of this instructable