Apogee Imaging Systems - Alta U9000 CCD Camera

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 U9000 Features

• 3056 x 3056 array, 12 x12 micron pixels


• 5 MHz 12-bit and 1 MHz 16-bit digitization


• 32Mbyte camera memory


• USB 2.0 interface: no plug in cards or external controllers


• Programmable, intelligent cooling to 45C below ambient (D07 housing) / 65-70C below ambient (D09 housing)


• Binning up to 10 Horizontal x 3056 Vertical


• Subarray readout and fast sequencing modes


• Precision time delayed integration (TDI) 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 (other software sold separately)


• 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 KAF-09000 Imaging Sensor

Combining high resolution with outstanding sensitivity, the Kodak KAF-09000 image sensor has been specifically designed to meet the needs of next-generation low cost digital radiography and scientific imaging systems. The high sensitivity available from 12-micron square pixels combine with a low noise architecture to allow system designers to improve overall image quality, or to relax system tolerances to achieve lower cost. The excellent uniformity of the KAF-09000 image sensor improves overall image integrity by simplifying image corrections, while integrated anti-blooming protection prevents image bleed from over-exposure in bright areas of the image. To simplify device integration, the KAF-09000 image sensor uses the same pin-out and package as the KAF-16801 image sensor.

Kodak KAF-09000 Imaging Sensor Features

• Large Pixel Size - Large Image Area - High Quantum Efficiency -


• Low Noise Architecture - Broad Dynamic Range


• Digital radiography, Astronomy and Life Sciences Applications


• Blooming Protection (4ms exposure time) > 100X saturation exposure - Maximum Data Rate: 10 MHz


• Saturation Signal 110 K e- Output Sensitivity 24 μV/e- Quantum Efficiency (550nm) 64%


• Responsivity (550 nm) 2595 ke/μJ/cm2 62.3 V/μJ/cm2 - Read Noise (f=3 MHz) 7 e-


• Linear Dynamic Range (f=4 MHz) 84 dB - Read Noise (f=3 MHz) 7 e-