Overview; Features - Hamamatsu Photonics C11440-22CU Instruction Manual

4. OVERVIEW

C11440-22CU/C11440-22CU01 is equipped with the new scientific image sensor FL-400,
an advanced CMOS device that realizes the multiple benefits of high resolution, high
readout speed, and low noise all at once.
The camera provides 4.0 megapixels resolution at 100 frame/s (and up to 25 655 frame/s by
sub-array readout) while achieving 1.0 electrons (median) 1.6 electrons (r.m.s) readout
noise performance. Moreover, the camera delivers high sensitivity through its on-chip micro
lens, 37 000:1 high dynamic range that make the camera suitable for almost any scientific
application from bright field imaging to low-light fluorescence imaging across a wide spectral
range. Various external trigger functions and timing output functions ensure proper timing
control with peripheral equipment to cover a wide range of applications.
The camera is the new scientific digital camera for life science microscopy, semiconductor
inspection, x-ray scintillator readout or industrial imaging.

5. FEATURES

(1) Readout noise
In the camera, the pixel amplifier is optimized: it has high gain from optimizing the
semiconductor process, and the difference among pixel amplifiers are greatly
minimized. In addition, there is on-chip CDS (correlated double sampling) circuit, which
plays an important role in achieving low noise. Moreover, the sensor features a split
readout scheme in which the top and bottom halves of the sensor are readout
independently, and the data of each horizontal line is read by 2 lines of column
amplifier and A/D in the top and the bottom in parallel and simultaneously. As a result, it
achieves very fast readout speed while keeping very good low-noise performance.
The camera has lower readout noise (1.0 electrons (median), 1.6 electrons (r.m.s))
than the conventional cooled CCD camera. Moreover, high-speed readout (100
frame/s with 2048 pixels × 2048 pixels) with very low readout noise, which was
impossible, can now be achieved.
(2) Cooling structure
In the camera, the FL-400 sensor is cooled down by the peltier element to suppress the
dark current. If FL-400 is exposed to the atmosphere, condensation of the moisture
from the air might occur. However the camera has a special hermetic chamber
structure to isolate the sensor from the atmosphere, and the chamber is filled with
nitrogen gas.
(3) Pixel number and pixel size
The FL-400 sensor has 6.5 µm x 6.5 µm pixel sizes that is equivalent to conventional
CCD image sensor (2/3 inch, 1.3 megapixels). Also, the camera can observe a wider
field of view because the pixel number is about 3 times that of the conventional CCD
image sensor (2/3 inch, 1.3 megapixels)
(4) Readout method
The camera has a variety of readout modes. In addition to full resolution readout mode,
sub-array readout and binning readout are supported.
C11440-22CU/C11440-22CU01 Instruction manual_Ver.1.4
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