• CCDs from 512 x 512 to 2048 x 2048 pixels
• 12-bit or 16-bit ADCs
• CCD Chilled to -70°C without LN2 or liquid coolants
• Variable offset and gain prior to the ADC
• A/R coated fused silica (quartz) window
• Integral mechanical shutter
• External sync I/O
• Operates up to 100m from the computer
• Advanced low-noise circuitry

Scientific Grade CCDs

The Cryocam is offered with CCDs manufactured by Lockheed Martin, SITe, Texas Instruments and others. CCDs from 512 x 512 pixels to 2048 x2048 pixels and areas of up to 31 mm square are supported.

Controlled CCD Cooling to -70°C

To minimize the dark current the CCD is chilled to as much as 85°C below ambient with a thermoelectric cooler and no liquids of any kind. A precision temperature control holds the CCD within 0.2°C over a user-set temperature range to as low as -80°C.

High Dynamic Range ADC

The Cryocam is offered with either a 12 or 16 bit ADC. To maintain high integrity of the data, the ADC is located in the camera. These A/D converters provide low quantization noise, high photometric accuracy, and have dynamic ranges of 4095 to 1, and 65,535 to 1, respectively.

Fast Focus Mode

Downloading the image data at 600K pixels/second, an 8-bit ADC, located in the camera head, provides fast images for focusing and framing. As the focus-mode data is 8-bits, no computer processing is required and the data is sent directly to the video RAM for display on the monitor. In addition, the software automatically commands the camera to download only the pixels in a sub-window that is centered on the CCD. These features combine to yield fast image displays.

Multiple Readout Rates

The CCD readout rate is user-set to 25K, 50K, 100K, or 200K pixels per second to best match the camera performance to your application. Slower readout rates yield reduced noise and increased sensitivity. Faster readout rates reduce the time it takes to download an image.

Multiple Gain Settings

Gain affects the contrast. User-selected software settings of the gain prior to the ADC allows maximum use of the dynamic range of the ADC. Applying higher gain to a weak signal results in a larger voltage range being presented to the ADC. This yields higher photometric resolution and reduces the quantization noise by utilizing more significant bits of the ADC.

Programmable Offset

Offset affects the brightness. User-selected software settings of the offset is used to position the zero value to make optimum use of the ADC by generating more significant bits on small values. Using offset with gain allows detailed study of specific signal-levels of interest. For example, if the signal-level of interest has a brightness range of say, half of the ADC dynamic range, the offset can be used to move that signal level down. Then more gain can be applied to the signal levels of interest without exceeding the dynamic range of the ADC.

On-Chip Binning

Binning is a process of combining the charges in adjacent pixels on the CCD, prior to readout, which effectively increases the size of the pixel. The net result is a charge that is the sum of the charges of the binned pixels which yields an improved signal-to-noise ratio. Binning quantities are user-set in any aspect--for example 2 x 2, 4 x 4, 1 x 100, etc.

Antiblooming

During an exposure photons are collected in the pixels, or wells, of the CCD. Sometimes there may be so much light that some of the wells fill with electrons and overflow. When this happens a bright streak appears along the column, and a bright bloom may appear around the overflowing pixel. This phenomena is called blooming. Antiblooming counters this by draining off the excess electrons before they flow into adjacent pixels. This is typically used when there is a very bright object in an image. Antiblooming is a feature that may be enabled or disabled at any time by the user.

Sub-Windowing

A sub-window is created by commanding the camera to readout only the pixels within a specified area, or sub-window, of the CCD. This is typically used to decrease the readout time or eliminate unnecessary data by reducing the number of pixels that have to be converted, downloaded and stored. The sub-window may be set by the user to any size and location on the CCD. In addition to a coordinate-entry dialog box, a drag-and-drop window in the Cryocam Image Display software provides a convenient method for selecting the area of interest.

Programmable Camera Settings

The CCD voltages, amplifier offsets, and the sequencer waveform timing are set from the computer. This not only allows for quick and precise factory tuning of the camera, but allows the user to easily optimize settings for a specific application or experimentation. The default settings are stored in an initialization file which is located in the Cryocam software folder on the computer.

External Syncs

Synchronizing the Cryocam with external equipment is easily accomplished with sync ports located on the Micro Luminetics' Computer I/O card. One port is an input that can be used to start an exposure. The other port is an output indicating camera busy. These ports work at TTL levels and their trigger phase is user-set with the software. And, if you require unique sync functions, we can program the ports to perform those functions.

Multiple Mechanical Mounts