pwlk.net:projects jason$ mkdir HUE

Summary: There really isn't all too much to talk about with this project. I'd read about people turning their cameras/camcorders into night vision infrared cameras for quite some time and finally decided that I wanted to give it a shot. I recently purchased a pair of HUE HD Webcams from Woot! for $15 each. With one still unwrapped in its box and one hooked up to my Toshiba, it only took me a few seconds to start tearing things apart. I have not found any other tutorials regarding the HUE specifically, but there are lots of other tutorials out there for doing this to lots of other types of cameras/camcorders. This project to the extent I have taken it is very simple and took me about 15 minutes total. And as a final note, I apologize for the blurry pictures. Apparently the iPhone doesn't like macro shots.

Tools and items needed:

• HUE HD Webcam
• Small flathead and philips head screwdriver
• Hobby knife
• Tweasers (optional)

Step 1:
Pry open the two little screw covers on the back of the webcam and using the philips head screwdriver unscrew the two tiny screws (making sure not to misplace them (a good technique is to have a piece of tape stuck near by that you can attach your screws to)).

Step 2:
Using the flat head screwdriver(s) pry open the casing of the webcam to reveal the inside circuits.

Step 3:
Unscrew the camera lens from the circuit board and turn upside down.

Step 4:
You will notice a piece of glass that is flush with the surface of the back of the lens. It should be glued down on the four corners. This is the lens that blocks infrared waves from the camera. You can make sure you are looking at the right lens by holding the lens next to a light, it should have a rainbow (sorta) effect when turning it back and forth. Mine was more of a red oily color. Take your hobby knife and cut the glue from the corners and carefully remove the square piece of glass. If you use your hobby knife to pry it out, you might snap the point off the blade, (ehem...) so I would say you should use your smallest flat head screw driver to pry it out. This is also where your Tweasers might come in handy.

Step 5:
Once the IR lens is off, blow into the lens (carefull not to spit) to clean out glass particles and screw back onto the circuit.

Step 6: Put the plastic casing back together for the webcam and screw the little screws back in. I decided not to put the screw covers back on for ease of getting back into the webcam.

Post Project Notes:
If when you are using the webcam after this project the picture is blurry, turn the lens to bring the image in focus. The camera still works in the light, but is slightly more sensitive. This project doesn't include any infrared light being attached to the webcam, so you will have to supply your own. For the pictures I took, I used the remote control to my TV. I would like to later make a USB powered LED infrared light stick that I can plug in right next to my webcam. If you have any questions regarding this project, please visit the contact page. Have fun and good luck!

More pictures from this project:

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