Apogee Imaging Systems - Alta U4000 CCD Camera - Monochrome

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 U4000 Highlights

• 2048 x 2048 array, 7.4 x 7.4 micron pixels
  
• 5 MHz 12-bit digitization and 1 MHz 16-bit digitization
  
• 32 Mbyte camera memory
  
• USB 2.0 interface: no plug in cards or external controllers
  
• Programmable, intelligent cooling to 55°C below ambient (D02 housing)
  
• Binning up to 8 Horizontal x 2048 Vertical
  
• Subarray readout and fast sequencing modes
  
• 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
  
• Fused silica windows
  
• Runs from single 12V supply with input voltage monitor
  
• Compact enclosure
  
• Programmable status indicators
  

About the Kodak KAI-4022 Sensor

The Kodak KAI-04022 Image Sensor is a high-performance 4-million pixel sensor designed for a wide range of medical, scientific and machine vision applications. The 7.4 μm square pixels with microlenses provide high sensitivity and the large full well capacity results in high dynamic range. The two high-speed outputs and binning capabilities allow for 16-50 frames per second (fps) video rate for the progressively scanned images. The vertical overflow drain structure provides antiblooming protection and enables electronic shuttering for precise exposure control. Other features include low dark current, negligible lag and low smear.

Kodak KAI-4022 Sensor

• High resolution, high sensitivity and high dynamic range
  
• Low noise architecture and high frame rate
  
• Binning capability for higher frame rate and electronic shutter
  
• Industrial inspection and scientific imaging applications
  
• Total Number of Pixels: 2112 (H) x 2072 (V)
  
• Number of Effective Pixels: 2056 (H) x 2062 (V)
  
• Number of Active Pixels: 2048 (H) x 2048 (V)
  
• Pixel Size: 7.4μm (H) x 7.4μm (V)
  
• Active Image Size: 15.15mm (H) x 15.15mm (V) 21.43mm (diagonal)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1:1 - Number of Outputs: 1 or 2
  
• Charge Capacity: 40,000 e - Output Sensitivity: 33 μV/e
  
• Peak Quantum Efficiency (KAI-04022-ABA): 55%
  
• Peak Quantum Efficiency (KAI-04022-CBA) BGR: 45%, 42%, 35%
  
• Read Noise (f=10MHz): 9 electrons, rms
  
• Dark Current: < 0.5 nA/cm2 - Dark Current Doubling Temperature: 7°C
  
• Dynamic Range: 72 dB - Charge Transfer Efficiency: > 0.99999
  
• Blooming Suppression: 300X - Smear: -80 dB - Image Lag: <10 e
  
• Maximum Frame Rates: 8 fps (single output) - 16 fps (dual output)