Scientific Charge-Coupled Devices

Janesick, James R.; Elliott, Tom; Collins, S. A.; Blouke, Morley M.; Freeman, Jack

doi:10.1117/12.7974139

Cited by 427 publications

(255 citation statements)

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“…This kind of multi-level clocking is efficient to reduce the spurious charge [10]. We thus confirm the high potential and high flexibility for our new system.…”

Section: Driver Systemsupporting

confidence: 54%

Fast and flexible CCD-driver system using fast DAC and FPGA

Miyata

Natsukari

Akutsu

et al. 2001

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A:

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We have developed a completely new type of general-purpose CCD data acquisition system which enables one to drive any type of CCD using any type of clocking mode. A CCD driver system widely used before consisted of an analog multiplexer (MPX), a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), and an operational amplifier. A DAC is used to determine high and low voltage levels and the MPX selects each voltage level using a TTL clock. In this kind of driver board, it is difficult to reduce the noise caused by a short of high and low level in MPX and also to select many kinds of different voltage levels.Recent developments in semiconductor IC enable us to use a very fast sampling (∼ 10MHz) DAC with low cost. We thus develop the new driver system using a fast DAC in order to determine both the voltage level of the clock and the clocking timing. We use FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) to control the DAC. We have constructed the data acquisition system and found that the CCD functions well with our new system. The energy resolution of Mn Kα has a full-width at half-maximum of ≃ 150 eV and the readout noise of our system is ≃ 8 e − .

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“…This kind of multi-level clocking is efficient to reduce the spurious charge [10]. We thus confirm the high potential and high flexibility for our new system.…”

Section: Driver Systemsupporting

confidence: 54%

Fast and flexible CCD-driver system using fast DAC and FPGA

Miyata

Natsukari

Akutsu

et al. 2001

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A:

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“…With the ever advancing CCD technology and despite the recent competition by the complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) active pixel sensor (APS) imaging devices, CCDs have constantly been, and still remain, detectors of choice for scientific applications since they were invented in 1969 at the Bell Telephone Laboratories (Janesick et al 1987a;Smith 2010, and references therein).…”

Section: Charge-coupled Devicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dark signal correction for a lukecold frame-transfer CCD

Hochedez

Timmermans²,

Hauchecorne

et al. 2013

A&A

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Context. Astrophysical observations must be corrected for their imperfections of instrumental origin. When charge-coupled devices (CCDs) are used, their dark signal is one such hindrance. In their pristine state, most CCD pixels are cool, that is, they exhibit a low quasi-uniform dark current, which can be estimated and corrected for. In space, after having been hit by an energetic particle, pixels can turn hot, viz. they start delivering excessive, less predictable, dark current. The hot pixels therefore need to be flagged so that a subsequent analysis may ignore them. Aims. The image data of the PICARD-SODISM solar telescope require dark signal correction and hot pixel identification. Its E2V 42-80 CCD operates at −7.2• C and has a frame-transfer architecture. Both image and memory zones thus accumulate dark current during integration and readout time, respectively. These two components must be separated in order to estimate the dark signal for any given observation. This is the main purpose of the dark signal model presented in this paper. Methods. The dark signal time-series of every pixel was processed by the unbalanced Haar technique to timestamp when its dark signal changed significantly. In-between these instants, the two components were assumed to be constant, and a robust linear regression, with respect to integration time, provides first estimates and a quality coefficient. The latter serves to assign definitive estimates for this pixel and that period. Results. Our model is part of the SODISM Level 1 data production scheme. To confirm its reliability, we verified on dark frames that it leaves a negligible residual bias (5 e − ) and generates a small rms error (25 e − rms). We also examined the distribution of the image zone dark current. The cool pixel level is found to be 4.0 e − pxl −1 s −1 , in agreement with the predicted value. The emergence rate of hot pixels was investigated as well. It yields a threshold criterion at 50 e − pxl −1 s −1 . The growth rate is found to be on average ∼500 new hot pixels per day, that is, 4.2% of the image zone area per year. Conclusions. A new method for dark signal correction of a frame-transfer CCD operating near −10• C is described and applied. It allows making recommendations about the implementation and scientific usage of such CCDs. Moreover, aspects of the method (adaptation of the unbalanced Haar technique, dedicated robust linear regression) have a generic interest.

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“…All these defects were more apparent in astronomical CCD cameras, working at low fluxes and in cryogenic conditions. And these astronomical cameras became the best testbed to understand the physics of the CCDs (Janesick et al 1987). The work done in astronomy laboratories working closely with the engineers in industry to optimise the performances of these devices was essential to design new generation CCDs with better performances.…”

Section: Detectors: the Symbiotic Activitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Astronomy, technology development and industry

Vigroux

2009

Proc. IAU

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Abstract. Astronomy is perhaps the best example of fundamental research aiming to increase our knowledge well beyond our human neighborhood. But astronomy is also a Big Science, which is partly technology-driven. Progress in observational capabilities is due to progress in detectors, telescopes, satellites, etc. I use three examples -radio astronomy, adaptive optics and detectorsto describe the complex interactions between astronomy, technology development and industry. I conclude by a short description of the global economic impact of astronomy.

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Scientific Charge-Coupled Devices

Cited by 427 publications

References 0 publications

Fast and flexible CCD-driver system using fast DAC and FPGA

Fast and flexible CCD-driver system using fast DAC and FPGA

Dark signal correction for a lukecold frame-transfer CCD

Astronomy, technology development and industry

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