New design for the UCO/Lick Observatory CCD guide camera

Mingzhi Wei; Richard J. Stover

doi:10.1117/12.236103

25 March 1996 New design for the UCO/Lick Observatory CCD guide camera

Mingzhi Wei, Richard J. Stover

Proceedings Volume 2654, Solid State Sensor Arrays and CCD Cameras; (1996) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.236103
Event: Electronic Imaging: Science and Technology, 1996, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

A new CCD based field acquisition and telescope guiding camera is being designed and built at UCO/Lick Observatory. Our goal is a camera which is fully computer controllable, compact in size, versatile enough to provide a wide variety of image acquisition modes, and able to operate with a wide variety of CCD detectors. The camera will improve our remote-observing capabilities since it will be easy to control the camera and obtain images over the Observatory computer network. To achieve the desired level of operating flexibility, the design incorporates state-of-the-art technologies such as high density, high speed programmable logic devices and non-volatile static memory. Various types of CCDs can be used in this system without major modification of the hardware or software. Though fully computer controllable, the camera can be operated as a stand-alone unit with most operating parameters set locally. A stand-alone display subsystem is also available. A thermoelectric device is used to cool the CCD to about -45c. Integration times can be varied over a range of 0.1 to 1000 seconds. High speed pixel skipping in both horizontal and vertical directions allows us to quickly access a selected subarea of the detector. Three different read out speeds allow the astronomer to select between high-speed/high-noise and low-speed/low-noise operation. On- chip pixel binning and MPP operation are also selectable options. This system can provide automatic sky level measurement and subtraction to accommodate dynamically changing background levels.

Citation Download Citation

Mingzhi Wei and Richard J. Stover "New design for the UCO/Lick Observatory CCD guide camera", Proc. SPIE 2654, Solid State Sensor Arrays and CCD Cameras, (25 March 1996); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.236103

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