CoolSNAP hq Digital Camera

Media Cybernetics Provider of the Year Award

The Photometrics CoolSNAP hq Monochrome camera is a fast, high-resolution digital camera system designed for low-light scientific and industrial applications. This cooled CCD camera system provides 12-bit digitization at both 10 MHz and 20 MHz. The fine pitch of the pixels, 6.45 x 6.45 microns, is ideally matched to the resolution of optical microscopes. Megapixel resolution and small pixels allow imaging of very fine detail, yet the pixels can be easily binned to improve sensitivity. New interline CCD technology provides high quantum efficiency, most notably in the near-infrared (NIR) portion of the spectrum.

RS Image Software

The CoolSNAP hq system includes easy-to-use capture software for Windows 95/98/2000, Windows NT, and Macintosh operating systems. RS Image offers a number of powerful push-button features and pull-down menus, including auto-expose and color-balance functions. The intuitive toolbar makes acquiring and processing images quick and easy:

Push a single button for fast focusing using the whole field of view

Click on another button to acquire either a brilliant, high-fidelity color image or a high-resolution monochrome image (depending on camera model)

Zoom in and out on specific sections of your target image

Adjust brightness, contrast, and gamma settings on each color channel individually or on all channels simultaneously

Customize digital image acquisition with user-configurable experiment setup files

CoolSNAP hq

CoolSNAP hq Monochrome Specifications

CCD Image Sensor

Sony ICX285; progressive-scan CCD

CCD Format

	1392 x 1040 imaging pixels;
	6.45 x 6.45-µm pixels;
	8.77 x 6.6-mm imaging area (optically centered)

CCD Temperature

-30°C regulated

Grade

Grade 0: 0 point defects, 0 cluster defects, 0 column defects (based on CCD manufacturer’s cosmetic blemish definitions)

Linear full well

15,000 e - (single pixel); 30,000 e - (2x2 binned pixel)

Read Noise

	6 e - rms @ 10 MHz
	8 e - rms @ 20 MHz

Nonlinearity

<1%

Readout

12 bits @ 20 MHz or 10 MHz; software selectable; 100 ms/frame

Dark current

0.05 e - /p/s (-30°C)

Operating environment

0 to 30⁰ C ambient, 0 to 80% relative humidity non-condensing

Dimensions

4.4" x 5.0" x 2.5" (1.9 lb)

I/O

RS170/PAL selectable; TTL output while exposing (BNC connector)

Features	Benefits
10-MHz and 20-MHz digitization	Dual-mode readout for high-speed and high-sensitivity image capture
1392 x 1040 imaging array 6.45 x 6.45-µm pixels	Resolves fine detail and is ideally matched to optical microscopes
Flexible binning and readout	Increases light sensitivity while increasing the frame rate
12-bit digitization	Quantifies both bright and low-light signals in the same image
Thermoelectric cooling	Increases integration times for higher sensitivity
C-mount	Easily attaches to microscopes, standard lenses, or optical equipment
Enhanced quantum efficiency	Provides higher sensitivity, especially in the NIR, than typical interline cameras
PCI interface	Works with PC, Macintosh, or Linux
Interline, progressive-scan CCD	Electronic shuttering eliminates camera vibration and facilitates fast triggering
Video output	Compatible with standard video equipment

Product information within this page was obtained from the manufacturers written specifications. Due to ongoing product development, component availability and technology advancements specifications may change without notice. IPS is not responsible for the accuracy of the above specifications.