Chapter 3. Operating Features; Common Features; Readout Speed; Binning - Photometrics CoolSNAP cf User Manual

Chapter 3.

Common Features

Readout Speed

Binning

RS170/PAL Operation

CoolSNAP
ES
Features

Dual Mode Operation

Normal mode
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Operating Features
The features described in this section are identical in the CoolSNAP
CoolSNAP cameras. Features that are specific to the CoolSNAP
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described separately in the "CoolSNAP
The CoolSNAP and CoolSNAP
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offer greater than 10 full frames per second.
Both cameras support 1x, 2x, 3x, 4x, and 8x binning in the serial (horizontal)
direction and flexible binning in the parallel (vertical) direction. Binning
increases the frame rate and sensitivity but at the expense of resolution.
Choosing a smaller region of interest (ROI) further increases the frame rate.
Both CoolSNAP and CoolSNAP
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back of the PCI card, selectable between NTSC and PAL. The video signal is
derived from the digital data being transferred from the camera through the
PCI interface card. Thus, simultaneous video output and data transfer is
accomplished. If the image resolution is greater than the video format
(640x480 for RS170) then the 0,0 to 640,480 region is displayed. For image sizes
less than the video format, the entire region is displayed. Finally, since video
output comes from raw data, the signal is monochrome only.
Note: RS170/PAL is NOT available in CoolSNAP
The following subsections describe features that are specific to CoolSNAP
camera systems.
A unique feature of CoolSNAP
modes that allow you choose between speed and NIR sensitivity. In the
PVCAM ® implementation, the clocking modes are referred to as "normal" and
"alternate normal".
In "Normal" mode, the CCD is optimized for maximum anti-blooming protection
and frame rate. In this mode, the CCD can be clocked so that exposure and
readout happen simultaneously as shown in the example below.
Example: Consider a situation where the full frame readout time is 90 msec (at
20 MHz) and the exposure time is 200 msec. The readout of a frame will occur
during the exposure of the next frame. This is possible because the CCD has
alternate columns of sensitive and masked areas. While charge is integrating in
the sensor area, the previous frame, which is in the masked area, can be read out
(Figure 1). In this example, the time required to acquire the three-image sequence
is 690 ms (3 x 200 + 90) and the frame rate is approximately 4.3 fps.
" section.
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cameras operate at 20 MHz digitization and
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offer monochrome video output on the
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color systems.
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is that it allows two different CCD clocking
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and
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camera are
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