Moravian Instruments C1+ Series Manual de usuario
C1+ Series
Cooled CMOS Cameras
User’s Guide
Version 1.1
Modified on September 2nd, 2020
All information furnished by Moravian Instruments is believed to be
accurate. Moravian Instruments reserves the right to change any
information contained herein without notice.
C1+ cameras are not authorized for and should not be used within Life
Support Systems without the specific written consent of the Moravian
Instruments. Product warranty is limited to repair or replacement of
defective components and does not cover injury or property or other
consequential damages.
Copyright © 2000-2020, Moravian Instruments
Moravian Instruments
Masarykova 1148
763 02 Zlín
Czech Republic
phone: +420 577 107 171
web: http://www.gxccd.com/
e-mail: [email protected]
Table of Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................. 5
C1+ Camera Overview ................................................................................... 8
C1+ Camera System .................................................................................. 9
CMOS Sensors and Camera Electronics ...................................................... 11
Camera Electronics .................................................................................. 12
Sensor linearity ................................................................................... 13
Download speed ................................................................................. 14
Camera gain ........................................................................................ 15
Conversion factors and read noise ...................................................... 15
Exposure control ................................................................................. 16
Cooling and power supply ........................................................................... 17
Power supply ........................................................................................... 19
Autoguider port .......................................................................................... 21
Mechanical Specifications ........................................................................... 23
C1+ Camera with C1 compatible adapter ............................................... 25
C1+ Camera with C2 compatible adapter ............................................... 25
C1+ Camera with “XS” External Filter Wheel .......................................... 26
Optional accessories ................................................................................... 28
Telescope adapters ................................................................................. 28
Adapters for C1+ cameras with C1 compatible adapter base ............. 28
Adapters for C1+ cameras with C2 compatible adapter base and
external filter wheel ............................................................................ 29
Attaching camera head to telescope mount ........................................... 30
Moravian Camera Ethernet Adapter ....................................................... 31
Adjusting of the telescope adapter ............................................................. 32
Camera Maintenance .................................................................................. 35
Desiccant exchange ................................................................................. 35
Exchanging the silica-gel...................................................................... 36
Changing the telescope adapter ............................................................. 38
Changing the C1 compatible adapter .................................................. 38
Changing the C2 compatible adapter .................................................. 38
5
Introduction
Thank you for choosing the Moravian Instruments camera. C1+ camera
models are designed to fulfil the gap between small and lightweight C1
models, intended as Moon and planetary cameras and auto-guiders, and
C2 cameras, equipped with active sensor cooling and mechanical shutter
and thus intended for more serious astronomical imaging and research.
C1+ cameras are able to work as C1 ones, only being somewhat heavier
and bulkier, and at the same time C1+ can replace the cooled C2 models,
only with slightly less cooling performance and lack of mechanical shutter.
C1+ cameras are designed to operate from USB power lines only. However,
some functions are available only if external 12 V DC power supply is
connected. C1+ functions equal to C1 cameras when powered from USB
only:
Image acquisition.
Mount guiding through standard “autoguider” 6-pin connector.
When a 12 V DC power is plugged in, C1 camera functions extend with:
Active and regulated sensor cooling with Peltier cooler.
Ability to control external filter wheel.
Still, C1+ capabilities lack some functionality, available in larger and heavier
C2 cameras only:
C1+ have no mechanical shutter, necessary for automatic dark
and bias frame acquisition in remote or robotic setups.
C1+ lack the possibility to use internal filter wheel.
C1+ cooling performance is slightly lower than in the case of C2,
but the sensor temperature difference is only a few degrees
Celsius.
Mechanical design of this series makes it fully compatible with vast range
of telescope adapters, off-axis guider adapters, internal or external filter
wheels, Camera Ethernet adapters, guiding cameras etc.
6
Rich software and driver support allows usage of C1+ camera without
necessity to invest into any 3rd party software package thanks to included
free SIPS software package. However, ASCOM (for Windows) and INDI (for
Linux) drivers, shipped with the camera, provide the way to integrate C1+
camera with broad variety of camera control programs.
The C1+ cameras are designed to work in cooperation with a host Personal
Computer (PC). As opposite to digital still cameras, which are operated
independently on the computer, the scientific slow-scan, cooled cameras
usually require computer for operation control, image download,
processing and storage etc. To operate the camera, you need a computer
which:
1. Is compatible with a PC standard and runs modern 32 or 64-bit
Windows operating system.
2. Is compatible with a PC standard and runs 32 or 64-bit Linux
operating system.
Drivers for 32-bit and 64-bit Linux systems are provided, but the
SIPS camera control and image processing software, supplied
with the camera, requires Windows operating system.
3. Support for x64 based Apple Macintosh computers is also
included.
Only certain software packages are currently supported on Mac.
C1+ cameras are designed to be attached to host PC through very fast
USB 3.0 port. While C1+ cameras remain compatible with older (and
slower) USB 2.0 interface, image download time is significantly longer.
Alternatively, it is possible to use the “Moravian Camera Ethernet Adapter”
device. This device can connect up to four Cx (and Gx) cameras of any type
(not only C1+, but also C1, C2, C3 and C4) and offers 1 Gbps and
10/100 Mbps Ethernet interface for direct connection to the host PC.
Because the PC then uses TCP/IP protocol to communicate with the
cameras, it is possible to insert WiFi adapter or other networking device to
the communication path.
7
Please note while the USB standard allows usage of cable no longer
than approx. 5 meters, the TCP/IP communication protocol used to
connect the camera over the Ethernet adapter is routable, so the
distance between camera setup and the host PC is virtually unlimited.
Download speed is naturally significantly slower when camera is attached
over Ethernet adapter, especially when compared with direct USB 3
connection.
Note the camera must be connected to some optical system (e.g. the
telescope) to capture images. The camera is designed for long exposures,
necessary to acquire the light from faint objects. If you plan to use the
camera with the telescope, make sure the whole telescope/mount setup is
capable to track the target object smoothly during long exposures.
Figure 1: Comparison of the C1+ camera head (middle) with C1 camera (left) and C2
camera (right)
8
C1+ Camera Overview
C1+ camera head is designed to be as small and compact as a cooled
camera with rich features and compatible with broad set of accessories
can be.
C1+ cameras are equipped with tiltable telescope interface and tripod
mounting threaded holes. They are also compatible with external filter
wheels designed for larger C2 cameras – camera head contains connector
to control filter wheel. If the external filter wheel is used, the tiltable
mechanism on the camera head is inactive and tiltable adapters for
external filter wheels are used instead. Therefore, C1+ cameras can utilize
vast range of telescope and lens adapters including off-axis guider
adapters.
Figure 2: C1+ Camera without (left) and with (right) with attached External filter
wheel
There are two sizes of the External filter wheels, each capable to accept
two sizes of filters, available for the C1+ cameras:
9
Extra small “XS” size wheel for 8 unmounted filters D31 mm or
filters in 1.25” threaded cells.
Extra small “XS” size wheel for 7 unmounted filters D36 mm.
Small “S” size wheel for 12 unmounted filters D31 mm or filters in
1.25” threaded cells.
Small “S” size wheel for 10 unmounted filters D36 mm.
C1+ Camera System
Figure 3: Schematic diagram of C1+ camera system components
10
Components of the C2 Camera system include:
1. C1+ camera with C1 compatible adapter
2. C1+ camera with C2 compatible adapter
When used without spring and pushing screws, this adapter also
works as base for External filter wheels.
3. External Filter Wheel “XS” size (7 or 8 positions)
4. External Filter Wheel “S” size (10 or 12 positions)
5. C1 guider camera
C1 cameras are completely independent devices with their own
USB connection to the host PC. They can be used either on OAG
or on standalone guiding telescope.
6. Off-Axis Guider with M48×0.75 thread
7. C1 compatible Nikon bayonet adapter
8. C1 compatible Canon EOS bayonet adapter
9. C1 compatible M42×0.75 (T-thread) adapter, 55 mm BFD
10. C1 compatible M48×0.75 adapter, 55 mm BFD
11. C2 compatible M42×0.75 (T-thread) or M48×0.75 threaded
adapter, 55 mm BFD
12. C2 compatible Canon EOS bayonet adapter
13. C2 compatible Nikon bayonet adapter
14. Camera Ethernet Adapter (x86 CPU)
15. Camera Ethernet Adapter (ARM CPU)
Moravian Camera Ethernet Adapter allows connection of up to
four Cx cameras of any type on the one side and 1 Gbps
Ethernet on the other side. This adapter allows access to
connected Cx cameras using routable TCP/IP protocol over
unlimited distance.
16. 8-positions external filter wheel “XS” for 1.25”/D31 mm filters
17. 7-positions external filter wheel “XS” for D36 mm filters
18. 12-positions external filter wheel “S” for 1.25”/D31 mm filters
19. 10-positions external filter wheel “S” for D36 mm filters
20. 7-positions external filter wheel “S” for 2”/D50 mm filters
Este manual sirve para los siguientes modelos
7
Tabla de contenidos
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