Details
The Alta Design Team at Apogee worked hard over a two year period to bring this advanced degree of integration and performance to the astronomy market. Alta has set new standards for imaging performance, connectivity, cooling, compactness, cost effectiveness, and the elimination of external support electronics. Like the AP and KX series, Alta is a platform, not a CCD or specific interface type. It is designed for a variety of CCDs, ranging from the smallest to those measuring 36mm on a side with 4096 x 4096 arrays.
So many improvements in such a small package: No more external controllers, plug-in cards, or frame grabbers. Dual digitization for high precision plus high speed focus. On-board camera memory for fast local sequences and no worries about transfer interruptions. Time delayed integration for imaging far beyond the size of the sensor. A single 12V power input for optional battery-powered operation. In addition, the Apogee Alta U Series cameras have dual digitization, 12 and 16 bit. The 12 bit mode is intended primarily as a focus mode.
Alta U Series cameras are available with a wide variety of sensors, including: Back-illuminated sensors with very high quantum efficiency, some with sensitivity in the deep UV; Interline transfer sensors with fast electronic shuttering and inherent anti-blooming; front-illuminated CCDs with high sensitivity in the near-IR without etaloning. In general, the larger the pixel size, the higher the dynamic range. Smaller pixels (about 7 microns) are typically used for microscopy (U32; U2000; U4000); larger pixels and larger arrays are typically used for astronomy (U42, U47 back-illuminated; U16M, U9000, U6 front-illuminated).
Apogee Alta Scientific Imaging Systems means you'll get High Speed, low noise, 16/12 bit dual digitization to 7 MHz, TEC cooling to >75C. Lifetime warranty on CCD chamber seal. Fast USB 2.0 advanced I/O control. The Apogee Alta imaging systems represent cost effective advanced imaging technology not found anywhere else. The Alta platform currently supports 11 different housing configurations, including high cooling, wide entrance angle, and low profile variants, many with a choice of fans or liquid circulation.
Apogee Alta U32 Highlights
- 2184 x 1472 array, 6.8 x 6.8 micron pixels
- 7 MHz 12-bit and 1 MHz 16-bit digitization
- 32Mbyte camera memory
- Fast focus mode: multiple subframes per second
- USB 2.0 interface: no plug in cards or external controllers
- Programmable, intelligent cooling to 50C below ambient
- Binning up to 10 Horizontal x 1472 Vertical
- Subarray readout and fast sequencing modes
- Precision time delayed integration readout
- Programmable fan speed for low / zero vibration
- Two serial port outputs for control of peripheral devices
- General purpose programmable I/O port
- External triggering and strobe controls
- ActiveX drivers included with every system
- Field upgradeable firmware
- Self-test capability with data simulators
- Fused silica windows
- Runs from single 12V supply with input voltage monitor
- Compact enclosure
- Programmable status indicators
About the Kodak Full Frame KAF-3200E/ME Sensor
The Kodak KAF-3200ME is a high performance monochrome area CCD (charge-coupled device) image sensor with 2184H x 1472V photoactive pixels designed for a wide range of image sensing applications in the 0.3 nm to 1.0 nm wavelength band. Typical applications include military, scientific, and industrial imaging. A 75dB dynamic range is possible operating at room temperature.
Kodak Full Frame KAF-3200E/ME Sensor
- 3.2 Million Pixel Area CCD - 2184 H x 1472V Pixels
- Transparent Gate True Two Phase Technology
- Microlens option - Enhanced Spectral Response
- 6.8 x 6.8μm Pixels - 14.85mm H x 10.26mm V Photosensitive Area
- 100% Fill Factor - High Output Sensitivity (20μV/e-)78 dB
- Dynamic Range - Low Dark Current (<7pA/cm2 @ 25oC)
- Pixel Count: 2184 (H) x 1510 (V) - Pixel Size: 6.8 μm (H) x 6.8 μm (V)
- Imager Size: 14.85 mm (H) x 10.26 mm (V) - Optical Fill-Factor: 100%
- Saturation Signal: 55,000 electrons - Output Sensitivity: 12 μV/electron
- Readout Noise (1 MHz): 7 electrons rms - Dynamic Range: (Sat Sig/Dark Noise): 78 dB
- Dark Current (25° C, Accumulation Mode): <7 pA/cm2 - Dark Current Doubling Rate: 6°C
- Quantum Efficiency with microlenses: 0.55, 0.70, 0.80
- Maximum Data Rate: 15 MHz - Transfer Efficiency (10 MHz, to –40° C): 15 MHz
- Package: CERDIP Package (sidebrazed) - Cover Glass: Clear or AR coated, 2 sides
Additional Information
| Model | U32-2 |
|---|---|
| Weight | 2.0000 |
