Related Manuals for Santa Barbara Instrument Group STXL Series
Summary of Contents for Santa Barbara Instrument Group STXL Series
- Page 1 Operating Manual STXL Advanced Series CCD Cameras Santa Barbara Instrument Group 150 Castilian Drive, Suite 101 Santa Barbara, CA 93117 (805) 571-7244 • www.sbig.com • sbig@sbig.com...
- Page 2 DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY We, Santa Barbara Instrument Group, a division of Aplegen, Inc., 150 Castilian Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93117 USA, (805) 308-6985, declare under our sole responsibility that the Model STXL CCD camera complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
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Page 3: Table Of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0. CAMERA HARDWARE ....................... 5 1.1. Introduction and Overview ................... 5 1.2. Unpacking the Camera ..................5 Standard Items: ....................6 Optional Items: ....................7 1.3. Parts and Assembly ....................8 1.4. Connectors ......................9 Remote Guide Head Port ................. 9 Power ....................... - Page 4 Appendix A – Adjustments and Maintenance ................24 Firmware Updates ....................... 24 Internal Tracker Focus ....................24 Desiccant Regeneration ....................24 Cleaning the CCD and the Window ................25 Appendix B - Capturing a Good Flat Field................26 B-1. Technique......................26 Appendix C –...
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Page 5: Camera Hardware
1.0. CAMERA HARDWARE Congratulations and thank you for buying one of Santa Barbara Instrument Group's STXL Series CCD cameras. These large format cameras are SBIG's ninth generation CCD cameras and represent the state of the art in CCD camera systems with their low noise and advanced capabilities. -
Page 6: Standard Items
Due to the large size of some CCDs used in the STXL series cameras, a 2” nosepiece is too small to use without vignetting the image. Rack handles are also attached to the camera body at the factory. In addition to making the camera easier to handle in the dark, these handles also protect the fan housing when the camera is placed on a flat surface or when it is packed in its carrying case. -
Page 7: Optional Items
A complete package of camera control software, drivers for both 32 bit and 64 bit Windows O/S and manuals are included. Custom Pelican Case The Pelican brand carrying cases provided for the STXL Series cameras are high quality, waterproof, dustproof, crushproof cases that carry a lifetime guarantee from the manufacturer. -
Page 8: Parts And Assembly
filter wheel for convenience when imaging through narrow band filters or anytime you wish to use an external guider. Canon EOS Lens Adapter This adapter allows the use of Canon EOS camera lenses on STXL cameras equipped with the standard filter wheel. 12VDC Power Cord A 12VDC power cord is available for field operation directly from a battery. -
Page 9: Connectors
1.4. Connectors Remote Guide Head Port This miniature connector is for attaching an optional remote guiding head or the FW8G- STXL Self-Guiding filter wheel guiding CCD. Both the remote guiding head and the FW8G-STXL contain a 16-bit, low-noise, KAI-340S guiding CCD identical to the guiding CCD built-in the camera. -
Page 10: Ethernet
operate reliably under full cooling power as the STL supply does not provide the required current for the STXL camera. If you wish to make a custom power cable, the pin outs for the connector may be found in the appendix of this manual. We recommend 16 gauge conductor for 10’... -
Page 11: Attaching The Camera To A Telescope
1.7. Attaching the Remote Head The Remote Guiding Head is an optional accessory for all models of the STXL Series cameras. When attached to the main camera body, the Remote Guiding Head can perform all of the functions of the guiding CCD that is built into the camera. -
Page 12: Connecting Water Hoses
1.8. Connecting water hoses STXL Series cameras are equipped with a heat exchanger that allows water circulation if conditions require additional cooling of the CCD. The cameras may be operated with or without water circulation. No special steps are necessary to use water circulation other than connection of a water supply. -
Page 13: Opening The Front Cover - Regenerating The Desiccant Plug
1.10. Opening the Front Cover - Regenerating the Desiccant Plug The CCD is housed in a sealed chamber located inside the front cover of the camera. The chamber is separate from the large front and rear cover plates, so that opening the front or rear cover plates will not expose the CCD chamber to the environment. -
Page 14: Opening The Back Cover - Changing The Fuse
voltage at the camera drops to 10.25V or less. At 10.25V or less, the camera will automatically shut down the TE cooling but otherwise continue to operate normally. The final red LED labeled 9V will light if the input voltage at the camera drops to 9.25V or less. At this point the camera's operation may be unreliable and you should shut it down until the voltage can be brought back up to the normal operating range. - Page 15 the jumpers are not on the top board, so it may be easier for this procedure to unplug the fan wiring harness from the digital board to get the wires out of the way. Then, remove the five long Phillips screws from the digital board as indicated by the arrows in the photo above. Note also the location of the rectangular box outline in the same photo.
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Page 16: Camera Resolution
1.15. Camera Resolution Resolution comes in two flavors these days. In the commercial world of digital devices, the word resolution is often used synonymously with the number of pixels used in a device. You are used to seeing ads for scanners with a "resolution" of 2,000 x 3,000 pixels, etc. Computer monitors have various "resolution"... -
Page 17: Camera Field Of View
note that cameras with smaller pixels may be binned 2x2 or 3x3 to create larger pixels and expand the useful range of the camera. For example, an STXL-16000 with 7.4 micron pixels can be binned 2x2 to give 14.8 micron pixels. The overall field of view of the CCD does not change however, and a camera with larger pixels and a larger field of view might be preferable if it will not be used on shorter focal length instruments. -
Page 18: Focal Length, Resolution And Field Of View
36.8 = 4,979 divided by 30 = 166 arcminutes. The table above shows the calculated field of view in arcminutes for each of the several large format CCDs at various focal lengths. Keep in mind however that when you vary the CCD field of view you are also varying the field of view for each pixel and are therefore also affecting the resolution of your system. -
Page 19: Camera Software
2.0. CAMERA SOFTWARE This section gets you up and running right away with your STXL camera. First you’ll install the Application Software and Drivers, then you’ll have Windows Link the Drivers to the Camera and finally you’ll connect to the Camera and take a few sample images. Please follow these instructions in order and do not attach your Camera to your Computer until instructed. -
Page 20: Linking The Drivers
Download the latest Drivers from our web site then click the Update button a 2 time. Your versions may be different than those shown. Linking the Drivers Once the Camera Drivers have been installed they need to be linked to the camera by Windows. -
Page 21: Using The Camera
2.2. Using the Camera This section gives you a quick introduction to using your Camera with CCDOps. Further information can be found in the CCDOps Manual on the CD ROM. Establishing a Link with CCDOps In order to control your Camera, CCDOps you must first establish a communications link with the camera as described below: •... -
Page 22: Further Investigations
you’ll see numerous bright or Hot Pixels. You’ll probably see some Hot Pixels with tails below them. These are in every CCD camera and repeat from image to image. By subtracting Dark Frames from your images you’ll remove these effects from the final image. Let’s try taking a Dark Frame with the Tracking CCD to see how it’s different: •... -
Page 23: Making The Autoguiding Connection
Making the Autoguiding Connection Like all SBIG cameras, the STXL has an Autoguider port that can be connected to your Telescope. Use the supplied 6-pin phone-jack based Autoguider Cable to connect the STXL to your Telescope. 2.4. Third Party Software The STXL is compatible with many third party Astronomical Software packages. -
Page 24: Appendix A - Adjustments And Maintenance
Appendix A – Adjustments and Maintenance This section describes the various adjustments and maintenance issues with the STXL. Firmware Updates The STXL was designed to allow updating its Firmware (internal software) in the field. This is accomplished through the STXL tab of the 64-Bit Driver Checker dialog. First you should Download and Update any driver changes through the Drivers tab and then switch to the STXL tab and apply upgrades there. -
Page 25: Cleaning The Ccd And The Window
you need to capture images, reduce your cooling to the zero degree C range - the CCD dark current will still be quite low. Cleaning the CCD and the Window The design of SBIG cameras allows for cleaning of the CCD. The optical heads are not evacuated and are quite easy to open and clean. -
Page 26: Appendix B - Capturing A Good Flat Field
Appendix B - Capturing a Good Flat Field This appendix describes how to take a simple flat field. A good flat field is essential for displaying features little brighter than the sky background. The flat field corrects for pixel non-uniformity, vignetting, dust spots (affectionately called dust doughnuts), and stray light variations. -
Page 27: Appendix C - Camera Specifications
Appendix C – Camera Specifications All STXL Cameras have the following specifications: Power Requirements Input Voltage 10.5 – 14 Volts DC with Indicating LEDs Current 8.5 Amps Maximum Embedded Resources Processors 85 MHz, 32-Bit CPU with RTOS, Dedicated USB microcontroller Frame Buffer 64 MB shared Frame Buffer and Processor Flash Memory... -
Page 28: Appendix D - Connector And Cables
Appendix D – Connector and Cables Power Jack The Pow er Jack has the follow ing pinouts: Function Shell Earth/ Chassis Ground 1,5,6 +12V, 8.5A 2,3,4 DC Return Scope Port The Scope Port is used for autoguiding your telescope and has the follow ing pinouts: I2C/AUX Port The I2C/ A UX Port is for connecting accessories to your STXL and has the follow ing pinouts: Function... -
Page 29: Appendix E - Mechanical Drawings And Backfocus Distances
Appendix E – Mechanical Drawings and Backfocus Distances Adapter ring drawings and thread specifications... -
Page 30: Backfocus: Camera Without Filter Wheel
Backfocus: Camera without filter wheel. -
Page 31: Backfocus: Camera With Standard Filter Wheel
Backfocus: Camera with Standard Filter Wheel. -
Page 32: Backfocus: Camera With Self-Guiding Filter Wheel
Backfocus: Camera with Self-Guiding Filter Wheel...