Features - Hamamatsu Photonics C11440-22C Insctruction Manual

C11440-22C Instruction manual_Ver.1.4

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 is greatly minimized.
In addition, there is the 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 (1.3 electrons) 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 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. 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 equipped in the camera has 6.5 µm x 6.5 µm pixel sizes that is the same
as the 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.
(5) Frame rate (readout speed)
The FL-400 realizes both low noise (1.3 electrons) and high speed readout (100
frame/s with 2048 pixels x 2048 pixels) simultaneously, owning to 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.
(6) Real-time correction functions
When using the camera, there is a chance that shading caused by uneven illumination
and optics is not negligible in the image. Also, there are a few pixels in FL-400 that
have slightly higher readout noise performance compared with surrounding pixels.
Therefore, the camera has real-time offset level, shading and defective pixel correction
features to further improve image quality. The correction is performed in real-time
without sacrificing the readout speed at all.
(7) CameraLink interface
The camera realizes 100 frames/s high-speed data transfer for 4.0 megapixels by
using the CameraLink interface. Data is output with 85 MHz x 10 tap (8 bit) that follows
the
CameraLink full configuration Deca mode
personal computer by using a CameraLink interface board available in the market.
10
, and images can be transferred into a