660 6.1mp Monochrome, Cooled CCD Camera
660 6.1mp Monochrome, Cooled CCD Camera
660 6.1mp Monochrome, Cooled CCD Camera
660 6.1mp Monochrome, Cooled CCD Camera
660 6.1mp Monochrome, Cooled CCD Camera
660 6.1mp Monochrome, Cooled CCD Camera
660 6.1mp Monochrome, Cooled CCD Camera
660 6.1mp Monochrome, Cooled CCD Camera
660 6.1mp Monochrome, Cooled CCD Camera

Quantum Scientific Imaging

660 6.1mp Monochrome, Cooled CCD Camera

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$ 3,781.00
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$ 3,781.00
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QSI 660 6.1mp Monochrome
Cooled CCD Camera

Next Generation Sony 6.1mp sensor with Peak QE of 77%

  • 6.1 megapixel Sony ICX694 sensor
  • 4.54µm pixel provides high resolution
  • High Speed USB 2.0 and read rates up to 8 MHz
  • 2-Stage TEC w/ cooling to 40°C below ambient
  • Electronic shutter w/ exposures to 100µsec
  • Available mechanical shutter
  • Available 5 or 8-position color filter wheel
  • Available Integrated Guider Port
  • Broad Software support
  • ASCOM-compatible Windows COM API
  • Linux drivers and API 

    The QSI 660 model camera employs a 6.1mp Sony CCD image sensor. This new generation of Sony sensor offers remarkable sensitivity with peak QE of 77%. The high senstivity, wide dynamic range, dual read rates, low noise performance and internal 5 or 8-position color filter wheels make the QSI 660 ideally suited to a broad range of demanding scientific, medical, astronomical, and industrial imaging applications.

    The QSI 660wsg is available with an Integrated Guider Port (IGP) allowing astronomers to guide using the light from the main telescope while picking off the light from the guide star in front of the filters

    The 660 camera system is supported by industry leading astronomy and microscopy image acquisition software plus a full camera control API is available for creating custom Windows or Linux applications.

    Electronic Shutter
     
    The QSI 660 utilizes the electronic shutter built into the Sony ICX694 CCD image sensor to control exposures. Shutter timing is very precise and can range from as short as 100 microseconds up to 240 minutes. The very fast acting shutter is possible due to two key features of the interline transfer architecture.

  • Any existing electrons can be removed from the pixels instantly with a single electronic pulse, beginning the exposure.
     
  • After the specified exposure duration, the entire image field can be instantaneously moved into a light-shielded holding area on the CCD. The image is then read out at the normal rate without being contaminated by any light still illuminating the CCD surface.
  •  

    Mechanical Shutter 

    The Model 660s model incorporates the optional internal, even-illumination mechanical shutter in the 'mid-size' camera body configuration. When operating with an interline transfer CCD, the mechanical shutter is not used to actually make the exposure. This is still the responsibility of the electronic shutter. The mechanical shutter is employed to cover the CCD and simplify the creation of Dark and Bias frames for subsequent image processing.

     

    Filter Wheel   

    The Model 660ws adds an internal five position filter wheel to the camera in a 'full-size' camera body. The 660ws-8 incorporates a larger 8-position filter wheel. Even with the large 4mp sensor, the short backfocus and close spacing provided by the internal color filter wheel allows the 660ws or ws-8 to work even with optics faster than f/2.8 with no vignetting. The filter wheel accepts any standard threaded 1.25" or unmounted 31mm filters. 

    The filter wheel can be easily removed and replaced to change or clean the glass filters. Additional filter wheels can be purchased allowing quick interchange of different filter set configurations.

    CCD Cooler Subsystem
     
    Key in the compact design of the 600 Series cameras is a very efficient custom 2-stage thermoelectric cooler (TEC) subsystem. Intelligent, programmable cooling fans are integrated into the rear of the camera body to remove the heat generated by the cooler. Typically, forced air cooling lowers the regulated CCD temperature by up to 45°C below ambient utilizing 85% power. Tight +/- 0.1°C temperature regulation is maintained at temperature settings of 10°C below ambient and lower. A slim liquid heat exchanger can be attached to the rear of the camera body to increase the cooling further, up to 55°C below the temperature of the circulating fluid. 

    Integrated Guider Port

    Selecting the best guiding solution for deep sky imaging has always required a compromise. The available Integrated Guider Port (IGP) solves many of the problems associated with existing guiding solutions. 

    The Right Guiding Solution

    Guiding with a separate guide scope provides the most flexibility, but differential flexure can be an issue, especially with long focal length scopes. With an internal guide chip, you're forced to guide with light through your filters and you can't guide at all while the shutter is closed or an image is being downloaded. This is especially problematic for narrowband imagers. To get around those issues, you could add an external off-axis guider, but a traditional OAG can add an inch or more of back focus plus more weight and two new mounting surfaces that need to be held rigidly.

    Guide with Light From in Front of the Filter Wheel

    The QSI 600 Series WSG models solves the problems with other guiding solutions by integrating a Precision Off-Axis Guider directly into the camera body with the pick-off prism positioned in front of the integrated color filter wheel – right where it belongs.

    Never Struggle With Finding a Guide Star

    One of the main challenges when using a camera with an internal guide chip is to find a star bright enough to guide by within the limited field of view of the internal guide sensor. When shooting through red, green or blue filters, ⅔ of the available light is blocked by the filter and not transmitted to the internal guider chip, guaranteeing lower signal-to-noise stars for guiding. This problem is compounded with narrowband filters where as little as 1% of the total light from a star reaches the guide chip. By positioning the pick-off prism in front of the filters, you alwayshave all the star's light available for guiding.

    Integrated Guide Port Supports Fast Optical Systems 

    By integrating the Off-Axis Guider into the camera, we're able to position the pick-off prism very close to the internal filter wheel adding minimal backfocus and eliminating any possibility of flexure or rotation compared to a traditional OAG. The large ½" square pick-off prism is optimally positioned close to the internal filter wheel, supporting the use of guide cameras with large sensors, while preventing any vignetting of the main sensor even with very fast optical systems.

    Flexible Guide Camera Options 

    The Integrated Guide Port (IGP) built into 600 Series WSG models is designed to support any camera with 12.5mm of back focus or less that can be attached using C-mount or T-mount threads. Many cameras are designed with 12.5mm of back focus to be compatible with CS-mount lenses. CS-mount lenses use the same thread as C-mount (1" x 32tpi) but with 12.5mm of back focus as opposed to 17.5mm for C-mount.

    Easy, Rigid Guide Camera Focusing

    The guide camera attaches to the WSG using a C-mount or T-mount threaded adapter (specified at time of order). The threaded adapter sits on top of the focus ring and allows the guide camera to be rotated to any position. The focus ring threads onto the focus base to allow 3mm of travel when focusing the guide camera. Once focus is achieved, the focus ring is locked with a set screw. The guide camera can still be rotated manually if desired without changing the focus. The end result is a rigid, easily focused guide camera that will not move or flex while your mount tracks the apparent motion of the night sky.

    Model 660 CCD Image Sensor Specifications 
     
    Feature Standard
    CCD Manufacturer & Model      Sony ICX694        
    CCD Architecture Interline Transfer
         Microlens Yes
         Anti-blooming Yes - 800x suppression
    Imager Size: (WxH) 12.48mm x 9.98mm
    Pixel Array (WxH): 2758 x 2208 active (6.1 megapixels)
    Pixel Size: 4.54µm x 4.54µm
      Typical Values
    Pixel Full Well Depth 14,000 e-
    Absolute Quantum Efficiency Peak: 77% at 560nm 
    Pixel Dark Current <0.002 electrons per second at -10°C
    Intrinsic Read Noise 3 electrons RMS
    Dynamic Range 73db
     


    Model 660 Camera Specifications  

    Feature Model 660i Model 660s Model 660ws(-8)
    CCD Image Sensor Sony ICX694
    Electronic Shutter 100µsec to 240 minutes 100µsec to 240 minutes 100µsec to 240 minutes
    Mechanical Shutter No Yes Yes
    Internal Color Filter Wheel No No ws    - 5-Position CFW
    ws-8 - 8-position CFW
    Holds 1.25" or opt. 31mm filters
    Camera Body Configuration Slim
    Encl.
    Med.
    Encl.
    Full
    Encl.
    Dimensions W4.45” x H4.45” x D1.68”
    (add 0.225" for T-Mount)
    W4.45” x H4.45” x D2.00”
    (add 0.225" for T-Mount)
    5-pos, W4.45” x H4.45” x D2.50”
    8-pos, W5.86” x H5.56” x D2.50”
    (add 0.225" for T-Mount)
    Weight, without Nosepiece 26 oz. /  740g 34 oz.  /  950g 5-pos, 40 oz.  /  1130g
    8-pos, 51 oz.  /  1450g
    Optical Back Focus
    (w/o Filters in path)
    0.58" w/ T-mount adapter
    0.68" w/ C-mount adapter
    0.35" w/ no adapter
    0.90" w/ T-mount adapter
    0.68" w/ C-mount adapter
    0.68" w/ no adapter
    1.40" w/ T-mount adapter
    1.18" w/ C-mount adapter
    1.18" w/ no adapter
    Thermoelectric CCD Cooling Temperature regulation +/- 0.1°C, @ 0°C  to -40°C CCD temperature
    In free air, 
    Fans @ Full Speed
    Typically 40°C below ambient air with 85% cooling power
    With Opt Liquid Cooling - Fans Off Typically 45°C below circulating liquid with 85% cooling power
    (adds 0.75" to camera depth)
    Cooling Fan Control Intelligent, user configurable
    Read Rate User Selectable High Quality mode at 800KHz, High Speed mode at 8MHz
    Camera Gain User Selectable High Gain 0.17 e-/ADU (default), Low Gain 0.40 e-/ADU
    Digital Resolution 16 bits (both High Quality and High Speed mode)
    Total System Read Noise 3 electrons RMS typical in High Quality mode
    7 electrons RMS typical in High Speed mode
    Pixel Dark Current <0.002 electrons per second at -10°C
    Full Image Read and Download Time Typically <9 second (host computer dependent) in High Quality Mode (800KHz)
    Typically <1 second (host computer dependent) in High Speed Mode (8MHz)
    Image download times will be reduced with binning and/or subframe (ROI)
    Binning Modes Symmetrical and Asymmetrical binning up to 9 pixels horizonally or vertically
    Status and Notification User configurable multi-color LED status indicator and multifunction
    audible beeper. Over-temperature and high/low voltage alarms.
    Power Consumption 12v, 2A (24 watts) at max cooling, max fans and filter moving
    (25 AC watts max with included 90-240V AC power supply)
    Operating Environment Temperature: -20°C to 30°C, Humidity: 10% to 90% non-condensing
    Computer Connectivity USB 2.0 High Speed (USB 1.1 compatible)
    Other Ports Optically isolated 4 channel control port for telescope guiding
    or input/output shutter trigger (See API Reference Manual for details)
    T Mounting Adapter Standard - T-Thread, 42mm x .75mm pitch

    C Mounting Adapter
    (1" x 32TPI)
    (Not recommeded for 540i

    Optional, C-Mount (Type I) lens focus compatible 
    (17.5mm backfocus)
    Optional, C-Mount (Type II) lens focus compatible 
    (17.5mm backfocus)
    Optional, for non-lens adapters and accessories 
    (standard C-Mount lens does not reach focus at infinity)
    Nosepiece Standard, T-Adapter to 2" nosepiece
    Optional, T-Adapter  to 1.25" nosepiece
     

    Additional Model 660wsg(-8) Camera Specifications  

    Feature QSI 600 Series wsg(-8)
    Camera Body Configuration Integrated Guider Port 
    Enclosure
    Dimensions 5-pos wsg,    W4.45” x H5.0” x D3.08”
    8-pos wsg-8, W5.86” x H6.1” x D3.08”
    (add 0.225" for T-Mount, 0.35" for 2.156" thread mount)
    Weight, without Nosepiece 5-pos, 46 oz.  /  1300g
    8-pos, 56 oz.  /  1600g
    Optical Back Focus
    (without Filters in path)
    2.10" (53.3mm) with 2.156" thread adapter (optional)
    1.98" (50.2mm) with T mounting adapter
    1.75" (44.5mm) w/o mounting adapter 
    Guide Camera Attachment  T-mount (42mm x 0.75mm) w/built-in manual rotator 
    C-mount (1" x 32 tpi) w/built-in manual rotator 
    Guide Camera Optical Focal Depth  12.5mm +/- 1.5mm (0.49" +/- 0.06") 
    Face Plate Adapter Standard adapter - T-mount (2.156" x 24tpi adapter available) 
    Nosepiece Standard T-mount to 2" nosepiece. 
    Optional 2" nosepiece for 2.156 adapter

     

     

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