High sensitivity CCD cameras for ....

1
High sensitivity CCD cameras for ....
Warsaw University of Technology Faculty of
Electronics and Information Technology Institute
of Electronic Systems
2
Camera designers
Electronics Marcin Grajdab) Grzegorz
Kasprowicza), Slawomir Stankiewiczb),
Mount Henryk Czyrkowski, Mikolaj Cwiok,
Ryszard Dabrowski

• supervised by
• a) R. Romaniuk, K. Pozniak, Institute of
  Electronic Systems
• b) A.Burd, Institute of Electronic Systems
• project coordinators
• G.Wrochna, Institute for Nuclear Studies
• L.Mankiewicz, Center for Theoretical Physic PAS

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Required camera parameters

• low-noise, high sensitivity
• high resolution of optics and data
• wide observation angle
• fast camera-host computer data transfer
• mechanical shutter (107 duty cycles)
• side light beams attenuation
• lowest possible cost (possible multiplication)

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First steps (1) K0, K1
PCB with small corrections
Side view on the camera with (left) and without
case (top)
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First steps (2) K0, K1
K0, K1 on the mount
K1 shutter design
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Achieved goals

• two working low-noise cameras K2a, K2b
• precise mount able to point both cameras in any
  visible part of the Sky
• (RD) new, low-noise amplifier capable to
  amplify CCD signal with better parameters than
  now installed

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Achieved goals - camera parameters

• CCD 2048 x 2048 pixels, (15µm x 15µm)
  Fairchild CCD442
• ADC 16 bit Analog Devices ADC AD9826
• shortest possible readout time 1s
• 35O x 35O view angle
• data noise depend of readout speed (results
  later)
• 30.72 x 30.72mm image area
• dynamic range 100001

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Firmware download and security

• fully, remote upgradable firmware of FPGA and
  Cypress microcontroller
• watchdog reset system in the camera
• microcontroller firmware loaded only into RAM
  memory
• host computers can reset each other
• UPS suppliers

Security systems
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Variable parameters

• exposure - length/start
• readout time (1s-100s)
• ADC amplification (1,2,4,8 e/ADU)
• OP AMP amplification x8/x20
• ADC offset level - 300mV/300mV
• temperature of Peltiers stack

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K2 PCBs
K2 analog CCD PCB
K2 digital PCB
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K2 case
K2 lens, focus motor and temp. sensor
K2 tubular shape. Fan on the bottom
camera mechanics designed by H.Czyrkowski i
R.Dabrowski
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K2 test site Brwinow Poland
K2 ...on the roof. Sky test shoots were made
here
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K2 the mount
K2 the mount and one of its designers M.Cwiok
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First images
Too cloudy art purposes only...
Brwinow by night...
At last - the stars!!!
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Results of noise measurements
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Further plans

• prepare development boards for further RD
  (S.Stankiewicz)
• test a new low noise amplifier designed by dr
  A.Burd
• experiment with multisampling measurements and
  digital filters (M.Grajda)
• work out smaller, less expensive design suitable
  for schools, astronomy clubs etc. (G.Kasprowicz)

Summary

• CCD camera with 2000x2000 pixels have been
  designed
• one prototype and two final cameras have been
  built
• parameters achieved readout 2MHz/2s, noise 15e
  (e4uV), dynamic range 13.5 bits
• two cameras on a robotic mount will be installed
  at Las Campanas (Chile) in June