Engineering2026-08-18
Development log 01 — defining the first platform
Why we started with a clip-on thermal imager, and the system boundaries we set before writing a single line of firmware.
Read updateIN DEVELOPMENT
Thermal awareness,
clipped on to night vision.
Kelvarn Systems ApS is developing the KV-640 — a compact clip-on thermal imaging system designed to add thermal detection to compatible night vision systems, without replacing the image the operator already trusts.
KV-640Engineered in Denmark
640 × 512
Thermal resolution
50 Hz
Target refresh rate
12 μm
Pixel pitch
32°
Approximate field of view
Preliminary specifications. Final production specifications may change.
01What a COTI does
Two ways of seeing the same night.
Night vision amplifies available light. Thermal imaging reveals heat. A clip-on thermal imager brings the second signal to the operator without taking the first away. Drag to compare.
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Drag to compare. Simulated demonstration imagery.
01
Thermal detection
Identify thermal contrast that may be difficult to distinguish with night vision alone.
02
Retain night vision
Designed to complement the user's existing night vision image rather than replacing it.
03
Compact system
A small dedicated module designed around night vision integration.
04
High-resolution thermal imaging
The current development platform uses a 640 × 512 thermal sensor architecture.
02Engineering
Disciplines kept in-house.
Optics, electronics, firmware and mechanics are developed together. That is how a compact thermal device ends up behaving predictably in the field rather than only on a bench.
Thermal imaging
Uncooled long-wave infrared sensing, image processing and thermal presentation tuned for observation and detection tasks.
Electro-optics
Optical design, alignment and integration of infrared optics with existing night vision optical paths.
Embedded systems
Low-power embedded electronics developed around real operating conditions rather than benchtop performance alone.
Sensor integration
Combining imaging and auxiliary sensing into coherent devices with predictable behaviour.
Software & firmware
Image pipelines, device control and calibration routines developed in-house alongside the hardware.
Mechanical engineering
Precise housings, mounting interfaces and thermal paths designed for compact, rugged assemblies.
System integration
Bringing optics, electronics, firmware and mechanics together as one engineered product.
03Development status
In development, stated plainly.
The KV-640 is not available for purchase. Specifications are preliminary and will change as validation progresses. This is where the programme currently stands.
- Completed
Concept
Product definition and system architecture.
- Active
Electronics
Sensor interface and power architecture development.
- Active
Prototyping
Iterative hardware prototypes for evaluation.
- Active
Firmware
Image pipeline and device control development.
- Active
Mechanical design
Housing, optics mount and interface design.
- Upcoming
Validation
Structured performance and environmental evaluation.
- Upcoming
Compliance
Regulatory assessment for intended markets.
- Upcoming
Pre-production
Production tooling and process definition.
- Upcoming
Production
Series manufacturing and delivery.
04Development log
Notes from the workbench.
Electronics2026-08-04
Development log 02 — sensor interface bring-up
Notes from the first electronics iteration and what we changed after evaluating the thermal sensor interface.
Read updateCompany2026-07-21
Kelvarn Systems ApS — why the company exists
Advanced electro-optics has carried extreme pricing for decades. We think careful engineering can change that balance.
Read update05Vision
Building the next generation of European electro-optical systems.
Advanced electro-optics has carried extreme pricing for decades. We believe careful engineering — not reduced quality — is what changes that balance. Kelvarn Systems is building toward professional capability at a rational price, from Europe.
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