Roper Digital Camera CoolSnap User Manual

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10  CoolSNAP
cf 
/CoolSNAP
ES
 
If the exposure time is 50 ms, which is less than the readout time, the camera 
operates in "nonoverlapped" mode (see Figure 2). The effective frame rate for 
this is 7.14 fps (1/[0.05+0.090]). While in normal mode, the camera firmware 
automatically calculates the readout times, taking into account binning and/or 
subregion, and carries out the exposure-readout sequence to maximize the 
frame rate. 
Exposure
Readout
50ms
90ms
90ms
90ms
90ms
90ms
50ms
50ms
50ms
50ms
50ms
 
Figure 2.  Normal Mode, Nonoverlapped
Alternate Normal mode 
 
In "Alt-Normal", it is possible to achieve higher QE in the NIR (peak QE of 
approximately 65%) by manipulating the CCD clock voltages. Also, in this 
high-sensitivity mode, the preamplifier is switched off during the exposure to 
eliminate the background generated by preamplifier glow. In this clocking 
mode, irrespective of what the exposure time is, the camera operates in 
"nonoverlapped" or "sequential" mode. 
alternate-normal - high sensitivity
normal - high frame rate
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Wavelength (nm)
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000 1100
QE (%)
 
Figure 3.  QE for Normal and Alternate Normal Modes 
Antiblooming 
Typically, interline CCD devices are designed with antiblooming capabilities. To 
prevent excess electronic charge from migrating to adjacent pixels, "drains" are 
built into the CCD. These drains remove any excessive charge generated from an 
overexposed pixel. Sony interline CCDs will prevent blooming for optical 
signals greater than 1000 times the full-well capacity of a single pixel. However, 
the extended QE capabilities of the Sony ICX285 in the CoolSNAP
ES
 
 reduce the 
antiblooming suppression for certain modes. In normal mode, the CCD operates 
with typical antiblooming suppression. But in alternate normal mode, the 
enhanced sensitivity causes a reduction in antiblooming to greater than 100 
times single-pixel full-well capacity.