G2 CCDOperating Manual
These cameras are able to acquire color image in single exposure, without the necessity to change color filters. On the other side color mask brings l
Model G2-0402G2-0402 model uses 0.4 MPx Kodak KAF-0402ME Class 1 or 2 CCD chip.Resolution768×512 pixelsPixel size9×9 µmImaging area6.9×4.6 mmFull well
Output node capacity Approx. 220 000 e-Dark current 1 e-/s/pixel at 0°CDark signal doubling 6.3 °CModel G2-3200G2-3200 model uses 3.2 MPx Kodak KAF-32
Full well capacity Approx. 40 000 e-Output node capacity Approx. 100 000 e-Dark current 0.3 e-/s/pixel at 0°CDark signal doubling 7 °CKAI-4022 CCD det
Model G2-0402Gain1.5e-/ADU (1×l binning)2.3e-/ADU (other binnings)System read noise 12 e- (LN read)15 e- (Standard read)Full frame download 0.6 s (LN
Model G2-4000Gain 1.0 e-/ADU (all binnings)System read noise 7 e- (LN read)10 e- (Standard read)Full frame download 6.8 s (LN read)5.7 s (Standard rea
TEC modules Two stagesMaximal ∆T>50 °C below ambientRegulated ∆T48 °C below ambient (85% cooling)Regulation precision±0.1 °CHot side cooling Forced
control software. Input voltage is displayed in the Cooling tab of the CCD Camera control tool in the SIMS. This feature is important especially if yo
Package ContentsG2 CCD cameras are supplied in the foam-filled, hard carrying case containing:● Camera body with a user-chosen telescope adapter. The
● A CD-ROM with camera drivers, SIMS software package with electronic documentation and PDF version of this manual.● A printed copy of this manual.Opt
Version 2.3Modified on November 26th, 2009All information furnished by Moravian Instruments is believed to be accurate. Moravian Instruments reserves
Another filter wheel can be also ordered separately. Replacing the whole filter wheel is easier than replacing individual filters. It is possible to t
contains high-pass Red, Green and Blue filters plus Luminance filter covering the combined RGB spectral range, blocking IR and UV portion of spectrum
Telescope adapterThe camera is supplied with standard 2" barrel adapter by default, but the user can choose any other adapter he/she prefers. Ano
Canon EOS lens adapterStandard Canon bayonet adapterNikon F lens adapterStandard Nikon F bayonet adapterPSB-1100 adapter Threaded adapter for TeleVue
Getting StartedAlthough the camera is intended for operation at night (or for very low-light conditions at day), it is always better (and highly recom
site. Reject this offer (choose “No, not this time”) and click “Next” button.2. Choose the “Install the software automatically” in the next step.Inser
USB port (different USB connector on the PC or through the USB hub), Windows reports “found new hardware” again and asks you to install the software.
g1ccd = g1ccd.dllg2ccd2 = g2ccd2.dllg3ccd = g3ccd.dll[GPS]GarminUSB = gps18.dllNMEA = nmeagps.dll[Telescope]NexStar = nexstar.dllLX200 = lx200.dllIndi
to provide information about available filters (if the particular camera has the integrated filter wheel, of course). But the user can order camera wi
Camera ConnectionCamera connection is pretty easy. Plug the power supply into the camera and connect the camera to the computer USB port using the sup
Table of ContentsIntroduction...5Camera Technical Spe
starts to rotate and the camera control unit searches for the filter wheel home position. This operation takes a few seconds, during which the camera
directly to USB ports available on the computer I/O panel or through the USB hub. The operating system assigns unique name to every connected USB devi
Camera OperationCamera operation depends on the software used. Scientific cameras usually cannot be operated independently on the host computer and G2
Camera and the TelescopeThe camera needs some optical system to capture real images. It depends on the telescope adapter to which telescopes (or lense
(SIMS User's Guide explains why cooling is important to reduce thermal noise). If you plug the G2 CCD to power supply, you may notice the fans on
target temperature is displayed in cyan color on the graph. The current chip temperature is displayed in red. Also notice the blue line, which display
First ImagesActual exposure is performed from the “Exposure” tab of the CCD Camera tool.Illustration 15: Exposure tab of the CCD Camera Control toolIt
options for every exposure type separately. So it is possible e.g. to define separate folders for dark frames and for flat fields.Always check whether
better with the related horizontal sliders. Observe how the image view is changed when you alter these values.The best positions of Low and High contr
Illustration 17: The raw image downloaded from the cameraThe Dark frame is taken with the same exposition time at the same CCD chip temperature. Becau
First Images...36Brightness and Contrast – Image Stretching..
Illustration 20: Flat field represents the telescope/camera response to uniformly illuminated field Illustration 21: Fully calibrated image with dark
● Color CCD chips have one fixed set of filters without the possibility to exchange them or to completely remove them. Monochrome chip is capable to t
Illustration 22: “(L)RGB Image Add“ tool in SIMS...Illustration 23: ...and a resulting image42
If we take images for individual colors and also luminance image, possibly with different binning and exposure times, the calibration starts to be rel
There are several algorithms for calculating missing color components of individual pixels – from simply using of color from neighboring pixels (this
the original raw image.Also please note the settings of the “Bayer X odd” and “Bayer Y odd” check boxes must be altered when any geometric transformat
46Illustration 25: Histogram and Stretch tool shows histograms of individual colors
Some General Rules for Successful ImagingAdvanced CCD cameras caused a revolution in amateur astronomy. Amateurs started to capture images of deep-sky
● Focus image properly. Almost unnoticeable focuser shift affects star diameter. Focusing, especially on fast telescopes, is critical for sharp images
successful night out. Nights can become cloudy or foggy, the full Moon can shine too much, the seeing can be extremely bad… Number of things can come
IntroductionThank you for choosing the G2 CCD camera. The cooled, slow-scan series of G2 CCD cameras were developed for imaging under extremely low-li
Camera MaintenanceThe G2 CCD camera is a precision optical and mechanical instrument, so it should be handled with care. Camera should be protected fr
amount of water absorbed – it is bright orange when it is dry and turns to transparent without any color hue when it becomes wet. The temperature rang
The desiccant chamber used in G2 cameras revision 3 and higher can be filled with a hot silica-gel without a danger of damaging of the container.Chang
53
Warning:Do not fill the plastic chamber in the G2 cameras revision 1 and 2 with hot silica gel. Let it cool down first, preferably in some hermetical
Camera cannot be opened in such case.Opening the camera head of G2 cameras revision 1 and 2The blade shutter rotates 180° between individual snapshots
Every filter position in the wheel is defined by the index hole. The hole defining the first position is preceded by another hole.Older versions of G2
57Illustration 29: Filter positions on filter wheels with 5 and 6 positions and 98 mm diameterIllustration 30: Filter positions on filter wheels with
Changing the Whole Filter WheelThe whole filter wheel can be changed at once. It is necessary to remove the front part of the camera case the same way
to the host PC. Although G2 CCD cameras can operate through a USB hub, it can negatively affect the camera performance, like download time etc. It is
Camera Technical SpecificationsG2 series of CCD cameras are manufactured with two kinds of CCD detectors:● G2 cameras with Kodak KAF (Full Frame – FF)
● G2 cameras with Kodak KAI (Interline Transfer – IT) architecture. There is a shielded column of pixels just beside each column of active pixels on t
G2 camera models with Full Frame CCD detectors:Model G2-0402 G2-1600 G2-3200CCD chip KAF-0402ME KAF-1603ME KAF-3200MEResolution768×512 1536×1024 2184×
Komentáře k této Příručce