CCD camera
Overview
- CCD chip maker is Loral - two butted chips in camera
- Chip size is 2048 by 2048 pixels (edge buttable on two sides)
- Thermoelectric cooling to -50 deg C
- Camera is cylindrical, 7 in diameter, less than 8 kg dry
- Readout rate is 250 kpixels/sec
- 14 bit pixels (gain is 6 e-/DN)
- 50% detection in all 3 scans at 19.6 mag (68 sec integration)
- Field of view is 3.17 deg by 1.58 deg
- Readout time is 34 sec
- Pixels size 15 micrometers, (2.8 arcsec)
- 40% maximum quantum efficiency
- Built by Chris Stubbs, Alan Diercks and John Angione of the
University of Washington, Seattle
Details
-
An 8 Megapixel Thermoelectrically Cooled CCD
Imaging System
(PostScript only)
by A. H. Diercks, J. Angione, and C. W. Stubbs of
the Department of Physics and Department of Astronomy, University of
Washington, Seattle, WA.
Current status
-
As of 26 April 1995, the camera is complete except for the field
flattener. We expect the field flattener to be installed as soon as it
arrives and we will receive the camera shortly thereafter.
Picture
Schematics
Camera Schematic This cut away view shows the focal plane and
flattening lens mounting scheme. The heatsink bolts to the lens mount
with stainless steel bolts which are not shown and holds the
thermoelectric cooler (TEC) in place against the back of the focal
plane.
CCD Mount Schematic The initial system employs two 2048 x 2048
chips mounted side by side as shown. All of the clocking signals are
carried on wires which pass through the large hole and are soldered to
the printed circuit board. The circuit board is bolted in a recessed
area to bring it to the same laevel as the CCDs for wire
bonding. Upgrading to 2048 x 4096 CCDs requires only replacement of
this part.
Last updated 12 Feb 1996
Go (Back) to the previous page.
Go (Back) to Lowell Observatory's Home Page