Design, development, and performance of the STEREO SECCHI CCD cameras

Waltham, Nick; Eyles, C. J.

doi:10.1117/12.733835

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Spectral acquisition times are anticipated to be in the range 0.1-60 s and the use of suitable CCD operating modes (and given the full well capacity of the detector pixels and anticipated instrument noise levels) will deliver a dynamic range of 10 3 -10 4 for intense Raman bands (dynamic ranges of more than 10 4 have been demonstrated on flight-representative instruments). The camera will be driven by a mature flight-qualified electronics package with significant space heritage [27,28]. The system is supplied by the Rutherford Appleton Laboratories in the UK and is based around a custom ASIC which digitizes the analogue video signal from the CCD by correlated double sampling.…”

Section: (B) the Exomars Missionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Raman spectroscopy on Mars: identification of geological and bio-geological signatures in Martian analogues using miniaturized Raman spectrometers

Hutchinson

Ingley

Edwards

et al. 2014

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A.

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The first Raman spectrometers to be used for in situ analysis of planetary material will be launched as part of powerful, rover-based analytical laboratories within the next 6 years. There are a number of significant challenges associated with building spectrometers for space applications, including limited volume, power and mass budgets, the need to operate in harsh environments and the need to operate independently and intelligently for long periods of time (due to communication limitations). Here, we give an overview of the technical capabilities of the Raman instruments planned for future planetary missions and give a review of the preparatory work being pursued to ensure that such instruments are operated successfully and optimally. This includes analysis of extremophile samples containing pigments associated with biological processes, synthetic materials which incorporate biological material within a mineral matrix, planetary analogues containing low levels of reduced carbon and samples coated with desert varnish that incorporate both geo-markers and biomarkers. We discuss the scientific importance of each sample type and the challenges using portable/flight-prototype instrumentation. We also report on technical development work undertaken to enable the next generation of Raman instruments to reach higher levels of sensitivity and operational efficiency.

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Section: (B) the Exomars Missionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Raman spectroscopy on Mars: identification of geological and bio-geological signatures in Martian analogues using miniaturized Raman spectrometers

Hutchinson

Ingley

Edwards

et al. 2014

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A.

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“…A key component of the camera electronics is a custom-designed and space-qualified CCD video signal processing and digitization ASIC [3,4]. It provides 2 Mpixels/s video amplification, CDS processing and 16 bit digitization of a 1 V input signal.…”

Section: Camera Readout Electronicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Systems approach to the design of the CCD sensors and camera electronics for the AIA and HMI instruments on solar dynamics observatory

Waltham

Beardsley

Clapp

et al. 2017

International Conference on Space Optics — ICSO 2010

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Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) is imaging the Sun in many wavelengths near simultaneously and with a resolution ten times higher than the average high-definition television.In this paper we describe our innovative systems approach to the design of the CCD cameras for two of SDO's remote sensing instruments, the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) and the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI). Both instruments share use of a custom-designed 16 million pixel science-grade CCD and common camera readout electronics. A prime requirement was for the CCD to operate with significantly lower drive voltages than before, motivated by our wish to simplify the design of the camera readout electronics. Here, the challenge lies in the design of circuitry to drive the CCD's highly capacitive electrodes and to digitize its analogue video output signal with low noise and to high precision. The challenge is greatly exacerbated when forced to work with only fully space-qualified, radiation-tolerant components. We describe our systems approach to the design of the AIA and HMI CCD and camera electronics, and the engineering solutions that enabled us to comply with both mission and instrument science requirements.

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“…In late 1999, these constraints led us to develop our CCD video processing and digitisation ASIC, our first mixed-signal ASIC. We qualified the design for the CCD camera electronics for the Sun Earth Connection Coronal and Heliospheric Investigation (SECCHI) remote-sensing instruments on NASA's twin Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory (STEREO) spacecraft, launched in 2006 [1,2]. An updated design with greater bandwidth was subsequently developed for the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) and the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) remote-sensing instruments on NASA's flagship Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), launched in 2010 [3,4].…”

Section: Fig 1 Architectural Design Of a Ccd Camera Readout Electromentioning

confidence: 99%

The design and development of low- and high-voltage asics for space-borne CCD cameras

Waltham

Morrissey

Clapp

et al. 2017

International Conference on Space Optics — ICSO 2016

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The CCD remains the preeminent visible and ultra-violet wavelength image sensor in space-science, Earth and planetary remote sensing. However, the design of space-qualified CCD readout electronics is a significant challenge with requirements for low-volume, low-mass, low-power, high-reliability and sufficient tolerance to the effects of space radiation. Appropriate space-qualified components that are acceptable to international space agencies are frequently unavailable and up-screened commercial components may not meet project requirements. We have adopted an alternative approach of designing and space-qualifying a series of both low-and high-voltage mixed-signal ASICs to meet these requirements. In this paper we describe our latest ASIC developments including two entirely new high-voltage devices, and our work to upgrade the performance of our earlier devices after many years of successful flight heritage. A challenging sub-system of any CCD camera is the video processing and digitisation electronics. Our first CCD video ASIC was developed in late 1999 and now has considerable flight heritage in cameras on NASA's Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory and Solar Dynamics Observatory. In this paper, we describe our more recent developments to improve its performance and radiation tolerance to single event latchup. Alongside the CCD video processing electronics, the circuitry to generate a CCD's DC bias voltages and drive clocks constitute a significant proportion of a typical CCD camera and present a number of design challenges, exacerbated by the limited range of space-qualified components. To resolve these issues, we have embarked on a programme to develop two high-voltage CCD drive ASICs. Implemented in a 0.35 μm, 50 V tolerant CMOS process, they combine low-voltage 3.3 V transistors that are used within interface logic, voltage reference and digital-to-analogue circuitry, and also high-voltage 50 V diffused MOSFET transistors that can drive a CCD's DC bias and clock electrodes directly. Our DC bias voltage generator ASIC provides 24 independent and programmable 0-32 V bias outputs. Each channel consists of a 10-bit DAC and a high-voltage output buffer to provide current drive of up to 20 mA into loads of 10 μF, and is current-limited for short circuit protection. An on-board telemetry system featuring a 12-bit ADC and programmable gain buffer allows measurement of the outputs from the bias generators as well as up to 32 single-ended and 4 differential external voltages. One ASIC can drive one or more CCDs directly and replaces an entire PCB of discrete electronics in our current camera electronic systems. Our clock driver ASIC provides 6 independent and programmable drivers with sufficient current drive for even a large-format CCD's capacitive electrodes. Each driver allows the clock rise-time, fall-time, clock-low and clock-high voltage levels to be programmed independently. It allows the one design to be configured and optimised to drive a CCD's typically 0.1-2 MHz serial readout register clocks or 10-100 ...

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Design, development, and performance of the STEREO SECCHI CCD cameras

Cited by 5 publications

References 2 publications

Raman spectroscopy on Mars: identification of geological and bio-geological signatures in Martian analogues using miniaturized Raman spectrometers

Raman spectroscopy on Mars: identification of geological and bio-geological signatures in Martian analogues using miniaturized Raman spectrometers

Systems approach to the design of the CCD sensors and camera electronics for the AIA and HMI instruments on solar dynamics observatory

The design and development of low- and high-voltage asics for space-borne CCD cameras

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