Santa Barbara Instrument Group (SBIG) - Single sensor, lightweight USB 2.0 camera with KAF-0402ME Class 2 CCD, Enhanced Cooling

Simple, Powerful, and Low Cost.

These were the design goals for the ST-402ME camera:  We wanted something simple and easy to use
yet powerful enough to carry the \”ST\” model prefix.  The new ST-402ME is seen at right equipped
with the optional T-thread to C-mount adapter ring and lens.  For use at the telescope, a 1.25\”
nosepiece screws into the T-threads of the front plate.
The ST-402ME uses the same Microlensed, Blue Enhanced, Full Frame KAF-0402ME CCD as the ST-7XME
camera.  The array is 765 x 510 pixels at 9 microns square.   The same technology that is used to
achieve such high quantum efficiency in the KAF-3200ME CCD is also used with the same
effectiveness in the KAF-0402ME CCD.  With a peak QE of nearly 85%, this camera bows its head to
no other when it comes to recording faint detail in dim objects.

A full frame download takes less than a second with the new USB 2.0 electronics.  Focus mode
updates the computer screen about 2X per second.  The small size and light weight makes this
camera very easy to handle and set up.  A custom internal filter wheel and shutter lets you take
dark frames and tri-color images automatically.  Best of all, the low noise and extraordinary QE
of the KAF-0402ME CCD makes this one of the most sensitive CCD cameras available to amateurs at
any price.  Simply put, there is nothing that can touch it in its class, except of course the
dual sensor, self-guiding ST-7XME camera.

Full Complement of Software for the PC:

The ST-402ME camera comes with more additional software than any introductory camera from any
manufacturer: 

CCDOPS Version 5:  SBIG\’s own complete camera control software, with image analysis,
processing functions, autoguiding, automated image acquisition, filter wheel control, and much
more.

CCDSoftV5, Software Bisque\’s professional astrometric and image processing program
including SBIG camera control and image link capability with TheSky and RealSky Palomar Sky
Survey data.

TheSky Version 5, Level II, also from Software Bisque.  TheSky version 5 is a premier
planetarium and star-charting program that includes telescope control for many popular commercial
GOTO systems.

Equinox by Microprojects is for Mac users.  It is a planetarium program that includes SBIG
Camera control.  This will control all SBIG cameras, including older parallel cameras with our E2P
adapter.  For Mac OS-X only.  Send SBIG a copy of your invoice and camera serial number and we
will send you a CD at no charge. 

Image or Autoguide

The ST-402ME is so sensitive one is vitrually guaranteed to find a guide star in the field of
view no matter where it is pointed using our small eFinder accessory lens (1\” f/4).   The
ST-402ME can autoguide or image, but like the ST-237A, it cannot do both at the same time. 
However, using SBIG\’s patented Track & Accumulate feature, a sequence of images can be captured
and automatically aligned and stacked (co-added) as you go.   The ST-402ME\’s internal relays
allow the camera to autoguide almost any commercial telescope with an autoguider port.  It will
also control an external Relay Adapter Box for unusual telescope drives or older ones that need
to be isolated electrically from the autoguider. 

Similarities to the ST-237A

Like the ST-237A, this single sensor camera is designed for light weight, low cost and high
performance.  The camera uses a monochrome CCD with an optional internal filter wheel and custom
filters enabling it to do both high sensitivity B&W imaging and RGB/LRGB color imaging with the
same camera.   The CCD is centered in the camera body and is correctly spaced for Celestron
telescopes having Fastar or Hyperstar optics.  The camera body is all metal construction (black
hard anodized aluminum).   Single stage, regulated, thermoelectric cooling with fan assist is
provided on the standard astronomical model.  At 4 x 5 inches, the camera head is somewhat wider
than the ST-237A, but it is not as deep and has all electrical connections on the side.  This
gives the camera the shortest possible protrusion from the rear of the telescope to allow maximum
clearance when imaging objects in the north with a fork mounted telescope.  This size and shape
also makes it possible to put the filter wheel inside the camera, even though the KAF-0402ME CCD
requires larger filters than the ST-237A.  Electronic relays provide typical autoguider output
from the RJ-11 jack, so the camera can be used as a highly sensitive autoguider with a larger
field of view than most other autoguiders. 

Differences from the ST-237A

The KAF-0402ME Imaging CCD is about 75% larger than the TC-237.  It also has better read noise,
lower dark current, significantly greater dynamic range and higher QE than the TC-237.  All of
these factors combine to make a more sensitive camera with greater field of view.  The
KAF-0402E/ME CCD is available only in NABG.   For fast systems such as the Faster, the KAF-0401LE
(ABG) version is also available as an option.  

All new electronics are contained entirely in the camera head.  There is no separate CPU box. 
The computer interface is USB 2.0 (USB 1.1 compatible).  The high speed readout rate is
approximately 2 Megapixels pixels per second.  With some overhead, a full frame, high resolution
image will download in approximately 0.8 seconds using USB2.

A regulated power supply is built into the camera so you can operate directly from a 12V battery
or other unregulated 12VDC source.  A wall transformer is also supplied for operation in North
America from 110VAC.  

Typical Specifications

CCD
CCD 	Kodak KAF-0402ME
Pixel Array 	765 x 510 pixels
CCD Size 	6.9 x 4.3 mm
Total Pixels 	390,000
Pixel Size 	9 x 9 microns
Full Well Capacity 	~100,000 e-
Dark Current 	1e¯/pixel/sec at 0° C
Antiblooming 	Optional

Readout Specifications
Shutter 	Electromechanical
Exposure 	0.04 to 3600 seconds,
10ms resolution
Correlated Double Sampling 	Yes
A/D Converter 	16 bits
A/D Gain 	1.5e- unbinned
2.0e- binned 2x2, 3x3
(1.0e- and 1.4e- for ABG CCD)
Read Noise 	13.8e¯ RMS Typical
Binning Modes 	1 x 1, 2 x 2, 3 x 3
Pixel Digitization Rate 	Up to 800.000 pixels per second with USB 2.0
Full Frame Download 	<1 second

System Specifications
Cooling - Enhanced 	Single Stage Thermoelectric,
Active Fan, -30 C from Ambient Typical
Cooling - Standard 	Single Stage Thermoelectric,
Active Fan, -20 C from Ambient Typical
Temperature Regulation 	±0.1°C
Power 	12VDC
Power supply included
Computer Interface 	USB 2.0
(USB 1.1 compatible)
Computer Compatibility 	Windows 98/2000/Me/XP
Mac OS-X

Physical Dimensions
Optical Head 	5 x 4 x 2.5 inches (including fan)
CPU 	All electronics integrated into
Optical Head, No CPU
Mounting 	T-Thread,
1.25” nosepieces included
Weight 	Approx. 20 oz. (0.6kg)
Backfocus
(C-mount compatible) 	0.69 inches