Catalogue - OEM support catalog 2007 - Apogee Imaging Systems - (Version JPG)

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High-resolution camera, Optical filter, High speed camera, Objective lens, Cooler

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ASCENT vershjWÀLTA

SERIES CAMERAS


	r	, Ascent J
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	Apogee Instruments Inc.

The primary differences between the Ascent and Alta Series cameras: Ascent is very compact with much lower costs, much faster digitization, and programmable gain. Alta is larger, with better cooling, and lower noise electronics. See the chart below for an overview of the differences. See camera data sheets to get details of a specific model.


Feature		Ascent	Alta
Digitization		16 bit, programmable speed	Fast 12 and slower 16 bit
Maximum throughput		Up to 20 Mpixels/sec (Note 1)	Up to 7 Mpixels/sec (Note 1)
Dual channel interline readout		Standard	N/A
Maximum cooling		40C below ambient (Note 2)	55C below ambient (Note 2)
Programmable gain		Standard	N/A
USB2 interface		Standard	Standard
Ethernet lOObaseT interface		N/A	Optional
Electromechanical shutter		Optional, external (Note 4)	Standard, internal (Note 3)
Vane shutter		Standard, internal (Note 5)	N/A
Programmable fan speed		N/A	Standard
Field upgradeable firmware		Standard	Standard
Chamber window		BK7 (optional fused silica)	Fused silica
Peripheral communications		8 pin connector	Two serial COM outputs
General purpose I/O port		Standard	Standard
Programmable LEDs		Standard	Standard
Power input		6V	12V
Internal memory		32 Mbytes	32 Mbytes
Wide variety of CCDs		Yes	Yes
External triggering		Standard	Standard
Image sequences		Standard	Standard
Hardware binning		Up to 4 x height of CCD	Up to 8 x height of CCD
Subarray readout		Standard	Standard
TDI readout (Note 6)		Standard	Standard
Kinetics mode		Standard	Standard
C-mount interface (Note 7)		Optional, external (Note 7)	Standard for Dl housing
Software universality		Standard	Standard
Housing size		5.7" x 3.8" x 1.3"	6" x 6" x 2.5" (Note 8)
Warranty		2 years	2 years
Warranty against condensation		Lifetime	Lifetime
Note 1	Maximum speed varies from model to model.
Note 2	Maximum cooling varies from model to model.
Note 3	Electromechanical shutters are standard for full frame CCDs, and optional for interline CCDs.
Note 4	Electromechanical shutters are optional for all models.
Note 5	Vane shutters are standard for smaller full frame CCDs, optional for interline CCDs.
Note 6	Interline CCDs cannot do TDI readout.
Note 7	CCDs >1" video format are too large for C-mount optics (larger than a KAF-3200ME).
Note 8	Some housings are larger.

LOWER COSTS

Many applications require clean, quantitative images, but do not require the ultimate in cooling or low readout noise. The Ascent is an ideal solution for many applications where several thousand dollars may be more important than a few electrons.

HIGHER THROUGHPUT

Ascent was designed to operate at speeds up to the maximum allowed by USB2. Digitization speed is programmable so you can choose your ideal trade-off between speed and noise. All speeds digitize at a full 16 bits.

COMPACT HOUSING

The Ascent's smaller, more lightweight housing fits in many places that the larger Alta cannot.

There are many factors to consider when choosing a CCD camera: cost, resolution, speed, noise, cooling, sensitivity, housing size. Other features may contribute to a system's overall suitability, but most of these features are shared by the Alta and Ascent. In general, consider the following key requirements to determine the optimal platform:

Alta: Low readout noise Maximum cooling Back-illuminated CCDs Very large format CCDs Optional ethernet interface

Ascent: Low cost High speed readout Compact housing

LOW READOUT NOISE

Alta's readout electronics were designed to minimize readout noise. The higher speed software-selectable 12-bit mode is intended for focussing, and not optimized for low noise.

ADVANCED COOLING

To maximize heat dissipation, Alta's large inner chamber, back plate, and heatsinks are machined from a single block of aluminum. The four fans have four programmable speeds.

BACK-ILLUMINATED CCDs

Back-illuminated CCDs are much more expensive than front illuminated CCDs, so they are chosen when necessary for maximum signal-to-noise under low light conditions. Their higher dark current per square millimeter requires the higher cooling of larger Alta housing.

VERY LARGE FORMAT CCDS

The Alta platform is available in several housing sizes, accomodating CCDs up to 50mm on a side.

OPTIONAL ETHERNET

An optional ethernet lOObaseT interface is available for the Alta platform.

EMCCD SUPPORT

The Texas Instruments TC247 EMCCD is supported in the Ascent platform.

Dr. Nigel Woolf, University of California, San Diego won the second prize in the Nikon Small World 2001 contest with the Apogee KX85 camera, the predecessor to the U2000.

OEM support catalog 2007 - Apogee Imaging Systems - #3

High-resolution camera, Optical filter, High speed camera, Objective lens, Cooler