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Polaroid CCD Camera User Manual

Page 11

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Section 2 - Introduction to CCD Cameras

Page 7

Host Computer

Clock

Drivers

Preamp

16 Bit

A/D

Micro-

controller

Tracking CCD

Imaging CCD

Shutter

TE Cooler

PC

Interface

Telescope

Interface

Desktop

Power

Supply

Parallel Interface

Figure 2.2 - CCD System Block Diagram

As you can see from Figure 2.2, the ST-7E, ST-8E, ST-9E, ST-10E and ST-1001E are completely
self contained. Unlike our previous products, the ST-7E, ST-8E, ST-9E, ST-10E and ST-1001E
contain all the electronics in the optical head. There is no external CPU like the ST-5C, ST-237,
ST-6 and STV.

At the "front end" of any CCD camera is the CCD sensor itself. As we have already

learned, CCDs are a solid state image sensor organized in a rectangular array of regularly
spaced rows and columns. The ST-7E, ST-8E, ST-9E and ST-10E use two CCDs, one for
imaging (Kodak KAF series) and one for tracking (TI TC211, like the ST-4/4X). Table 2.1 below
lists some interesting aspects of the CCDs used in the various SBIG cameras.

Camera

CCD

Array

Dimensions

Number of

Pixels

Pixel Sizes

Tracking CCD

TC211

2.6 x 2.6 mm

192 x 164

13.75 x 16 µ

ST-5C

TC255

3.2 x 2.4 mm

320 x 240

10 x 10 µ

ST-237

TC237

4.7 x 3.6 mm

640 x 480

7.4 x 7.4 µ

STV

TC237

4.7 x 3.0 mm

320 x 200

14.8 x 14.8 µ

ST-6

TC241

8.6 x 6.5 mm

375 x 242

23 x 27 µ

ST-7E

KAF0401E 6.9 x 4.6 mm

765 x 510

9 x 9 µ

ST-8E

KAF1602E 13.8 x 9.2 mm

1530 x 1020

9 x 9 µ

ST-9E

KAF0261E 10.2 x 10.2 mm

512 x 512

20 x 20 µ

ST-10E

KAF3200E 14.9 x 10.0 mm

2184 x 1472

6.8 x 6.8 µ

ST-1001E

KAF1001E 24.6 x 24.6 mm

1024 x 1024

24 x 24 µ

Table 2.1 - Camera CCD Configurations