MallinCam SKYRAIDER DS16C TEC User manual

MALLINCAM
SkyRaider DS16CTEC
User
Manual
Volume
1
[Version 6.0]
Michael Burns
Rock Mallin

M A L L I N C A M S K Y D S 1 6 C T E C U S E R M A N U A L
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C1: The MallincamSky DS16CTEC User
Manual
Use this User Manual to obtain a deep understanding of all the
features of both the MallincamSky and the SkyRaider
DS16CTEC camera. See the Quick Guide for an expeditious
look at getting up and running with the camera and software.
o save time for those of you who are familiar with Mallincam imaging cameras, this
User Guide will provide a Table of Contents to allow you to quickly locate the
commands and controls you need in controlling the DS16CTEC camera. It will include
instructions on how to install the Software and Drivers and how connect the SkyRaider
DS16CTEC Camera to your computer. This manual will provide explanations of all the camera’s
settings so you can get up and running quickly and can experience the wonders of video
imaging.
The ICONS at the left are quick indications of what that section performs.
Chapter
1
T
I C O N K E Y
Take Note
Hardware connection
Download
Running Software
Commands
Camera Controls

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C1: The MallincamSky DS16CTEC User Manual........................................................1
Introduction ..............................................................................................................9
The Contents of the DS16C TEC ..............................................................................10
Specifications:................................................................................................................. 10
In the Box ....................................................................................................................... 11
System Requirements: ................................................................................................... 11
Dimensions..................................................................................................................... 11
Download and Install MallincamSky.......................................................................12
Connecting the DS16CTEC to your computer.........................................................15
Running MallincamSky............................................................................................17
C2: The MallincamSky Window.............................................................................18
Quick Work-Flow Procedures .................................................................................19
Quick Workflow for Starting MallincamSky.................................................................... 19
Detailed Work-Flow Procedures.............................................................................22
Detailed Workflow of Video Imaging Planetary Objects ................................................ 22
Detailed Workflow of Video Imaging Deep Sky Objects................................................. 28
C3: Quick Overview of the Left Sidebar.................................................................37
C4: Detailed Description of MallincamSky Controls ...............................................42
Top Line Menu ........................................................................................................43
File .................................................................................................................................. 43
Open Image...............................................................................................................................43
Open Video ..............................................................................................................................44
Save..........................................................................................................................................45
JPEG....................................................................................................................................................46
PNG ....................................................................................................................................................46
TIFF.....................................................................................................................................................47
JPEG 2000...........................................................................................................................................47
TFT......................................................................................................................................................47
Batch Save….............................................................................................................................48
Directory:............................................................................................................................................48
Name Format:.....................................................................................................................................48
File Prefix:...........................................................................................................................................48
File Type: ............................................................................................................................................48
Sample:...............................................................................................................................................48
Paste as New File .....................................................................................................................49
Recent Files ..............................................................................................................................49
Exit ...........................................................................................................................................50
Edit ................................................................................................................................. 51
Cut............................................................................................................................................51
Copy .........................................................................................................................................51
Paste.........................................................................................................................................51
Paste Shortcut..........................................................................................................................51
Image Select.............................................................................................................................52
Select All...................................................................................................................................52
Select None..............................................................................................................................52

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View................................................................................................................................ 52
Browse .....................................................................................................................................53
Thumbnail ................................................................................................................................54
Sidebar .....................................................................................................................................54
Histogram.................................................................................................................................55
Grids.........................................................................................................................................55
No Grids..............................................................................................................................................56
Auto Grids...........................................................................................................................................56
Manual Grids ......................................................................................................................................57
Divide..................................................................................................................................................57
Remove All Grids ................................................................................................................................58
Add Preset..........................................................................................................................................58
Preset Management...........................................................................................................................58
Preset .................................................................................................................................................58
Best Fit................................................................................................................................................58
Actual Size ..........................................................................................................................................58
Full Screen ..........................................................................................................................................58
Pipette................................................................................................................................................59
Track...................................................................................................................................................59
Video Frame .......................................................................................................................................59
Reticles ...............................................................................................................................................59
Browse............................................................................................................................ 60
Sort...........................................................................................................................................60
Icons.........................................................................................................................................60
Refresh.....................................................................................................................................60
Properties.................................................................................................................................60
Open Record Folder .................................................................................................................61
Open Image Folder...................................................................................................................61
Setup .............................................................................................................................. 61
ST4 Test… .................................................................................................................................61
Capture........................................................................................................................... 61
Capture Image..........................................................................................................................62
Auto Capture............................................................................................................................62
Start Record…...........................................................................................................................62
Batch Record............................................................................................................................63
Image.............................................................................................................................. 65
Mode........................................................................................................................................65
Adjust.......................................................................................................................................66
Adjust Brightness/Contrast.................................................................................................................66
Color...................................................................................................................................................66
RGB .................................................................................................................................................................. 67
CMYK................................................................................................................................................................ 67
HIS.................................................................................................................................................................... 67
HSI.................................................................................................................................................................... 68
HMS....................................................................................................................................................68
Curve ..................................................................................................................................................68
Filter Color..........................................................................................................................................69
Extract Color.......................................................................................................................................69
Invert..................................................................................................................................................69
Edge Preserving Smooth.....................................................................................................................69
Detail Enhance....................................................................................................................................70
Rotate.......................................................................................................................................70
Flip......................................................................................................................................................71
Crop..........................................................................................................................................71

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Image Scale ..............................................................................................................................71
Width and Height: ..............................................................................................................................72
Reset:..................................................................................................................................................72
Constrain Proportions: .......................................................................................................................72
Scale method:.....................................................................................................................................72
Histogram.................................................................................................................................72
Pixels: .................................................................................................................................................74
Level: ..................................................................................................................................................74
Count:.................................................................................................................................................74
Percentile: ..........................................................................................................................................74
Process ........................................................................................................................... 75
Stitch: .......................................................................................................................................75
Image Stacking .........................................................................................................................78
Options........................................................................................................................... 80
Record......................................................................................................................................80
Directory:............................................................................................................................................80
File:.....................................................................................................................................................80
Limit:...................................................................................................................................................81
Batch Record............................................................................................................................81
Auto Capture............................................................................................................................82
Directory:............................................................................................................................................82
File:.....................................................................................................................................................82
Capture Mode: ...................................................................................................................................83
Capture every frame: ....................................................................................................................................... 83
Time Slot: ......................................................................................................................................................... 83
Total Images:......................................................................................................................................83
File............................................................................................................................................83
Target.......................................................................................................................................84
Grids.........................................................................................................................................84
Grid Style:...........................................................................................................................................84
Grid Line Style:....................................................................................................................................84
Grid Line Color:...................................................................................................................................84
Reticle Color: ......................................................................................................................................84
Video........................................................................................................................................85
Metadata..................................................................................................................................85
Misc..........................................................................................................................................85
Window .......................................................................................................................... 86
Close All....................................................................................................................................86
Reset Window Layout ..............................................................................................................86
Windows ..................................................................................................................................87
About.............................................................................................................................. 87
MallincamSky Toolbar.............................................................................................88
Open............................................................................................................................... 88
Save ................................................................................................................................ 89
Browse............................................................................................................................ 90
Thumbnail....................................................................................................................... 91
Target ............................................................................................................................. 91
Image Type ..................................................................................................................... 91
Auto Capture .................................................................................................................. 91
Batch Record .................................................................................................................. 92
Pause Video Capture ...................................................................................................... 92
Open Video Folder.......................................................................................................... 92

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Zoom............................................................................................................................... 92
Track............................................................................................................................... 93
Histogram....................................................................................................................... 93
Reticle............................................................................................................................. 94
ST4 Test ...................................................................................................................... 94
Advance/Reverse............................................................................................................ 94
Stitch .......................................................................................................................... 95
Automated ...............................................................................................................................95
Manual.....................................................................................................................................96
Panorama Straighten:.........................................................................................................................97
Projection Type:..................................................................................................................................97
Seam Finder:.......................................................................................................................................97
Exposure Compensation:....................................................................................................................97
Bundle Adjust: ....................................................................................................................................97
Preferences .................................................................................................................... 99
Customize..................................................................................................................... 100
Toolbar...................................................................................................................................100
Customize...............................................................................................................................100
Controlling the SkyRaider with Left Side Bar ........................................................101
Camera List................................................................................................................... 102
Capture and Resolution................................................................................................ 102
Resolution.........................................................................................................................................103
Snap..................................................................................................................................................103
Record ..............................................................................................................................................104
If in Video Mode ...............................................................................................................................104
If in Trigger Mode.............................................................................................................................104
Gain ..................................................................................................................................................105
Video Mode.................................................................................................................. 105
Exposure Target................................................................................................................................ 106
Exposure Time..................................................................................................................................106
Trigger Mode................................................................................................................ 107
Options............................................................................................................................................. 108
Number in Sequence ........................................................................................................................109
Sequence.......................................................................................................................................... 109
Bit Depth....................................................................................................................... 109
White Balance .............................................................................................................. 109
White Balance .................................................................................................................................. 110
Color Adjustment ......................................................................................................... 110
Hue...................................................................................................................................................110
Saturation......................................................................................................................................... 111
Brightness.........................................................................................................................................111
Contrast............................................................................................................................................111
Gamma............................................................................................................................................. 111
Frame Rate ................................................................................................................... 112
Color/Gray.................................................................................................................... 112
Flip................................................................................................................................ 112
Rotate........................................................................................................................... 113
Sampling....................................................................................................................... 113
ROI................................................................................................................................ 113

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Digital Binning .............................................................................................................. 115
Method.............................................................................................................................................115
Number ............................................................................................................................................116
Usage suggestion in digital binning...................................................................................................116
Dark Field subtraction in Digital Binning........................................................................................... 117
Histogram..................................................................................................................... 117
Dark Field Correction.................................................................................................... 119
Flat Field Correction ..................................................................................................... 121
Introduction:..................................................................................................................................... 121
Optical Path Noise: ...........................................................................................................................121
Taking Flats:......................................................................................................................................121
Black Level.................................................................................................................... 123
Live Stack...................................................................................................................... 124
Conversion Gain ........................................................................................................... 127
Cooling.......................................................................................................................... 129
Sharpen ........................................................................................................................ 131
Misc .............................................................................................................................. 131
Preset ........................................................................................................................... 131
C5: Installing Optional Software .........................................................................134
Installing MallincamSky and its Driver.......................................................................... 135
Installing DirectShow Driver......................................................................................... 137
Installing Mallincam ASCOM Driver ............................................................................. 138
C6: Using Third Party Software ...........................................................................141
Imaging in SharpCap.............................................................................................141
Imaging in MaximDL.............................................................................................146
Sequence Generator Pro and SkyRaider DS16CCTEC..............................................148
The SkyX and the SkyRaider DS16CCTEC .............................................................150
C7: First Aid .......................................................................................................152
How do I................................................................................................................152
How do I get rid of the Green Exposure Rectangle? .................................................... 152
How do I Select a part of the Image and Zoom in? ...................................................... 152
How do I automatically save 1 image every 30 seconds? ............................................ 153
How do I adjust the brightness in my monochrome SkyRaider?.................................. 153
How do I Broadcast my image onto Night Skies Network (NSN)?................................ 153
Can I Use MallincamSky with One SkyRaider and Auto-Guide with another? ............. 153
How Do I Pause the Video? .......................................................................................... 153
How do I Undo an Operation?...................................................................................... 154
How do I make my ROI the whole Image Again? ......................................................... 154
How do I Turn Off Dark Field correction?..................................................................... 154
How Do I take Another Dark Field?.............................................................................. 154
My ROI Window is Black?............................................................................................. 154

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Upgrading my SkyRaider Camera Software.........................................................155
Uninstall SkyRaider Software ....................................................................................... 155
Uninstall SkyRaider DirectShow Drivers....................................................................... 156
Uninstall SkyRaider ASCOM Drivers ............................................................................. 158
Finish the Uninstalling Procedure ................................................................................ 158
First Aid for the SkyRaider Series.........................................................................159
When I click on the SkyRaider camera from the Camera list, a message pops up saying
Failed to Start: SkyRaider ............................................................................................. 159
When I try to connect I receiver message “Catastrophic failure (Exception from
HRESULT:0x8000FFF (E_UNEXPECTED))” ..................................................................... 159
All I see is a White image.............................................................................................. 159
The computer keeps beeping when I plug in the USB 3.0 cable .................................. 159
MallincamSky acts Strange After Update..................................................................... 160
How do I Optimize my Computer? ............................................................................... 160
Stacking is going terribly slow or Stops completely? ................................................... 161
I see a Pink Floyd Kaleidoscope effect on my Screen................................................... 164
Explanations .........................................................................................................165
Dark Field Explanation.................................................................................................. 165
Dark Frame Subtraction............................................................................................................165
Dark Field Correction................................................................................................................165
Histogram Explanation ................................................................................................. 167
Electronic Assisted Astronomy vs Live Video Imaging ................................................. 169
Electronic Assisted Astronomy..................................................................................................169
Live Video Imaging ...................................................................................................................169
Can the Mallincam SkyRaider Camera do EAA ...........................................................................169
Process .............................................................................................................................................169
Lossless File Formats used by MallincamSky..............................................................................170
FITS (Flexible Image Transport System)............................................................................................ 170
TIFF (Tagged Image File Format).......................................................................................................170
An Introduction to the Stacking Algorithm .........................................................171
Historic Review............................................................................................................. 171
CCD (Charge Coupled Device) ...................................................................................... 171
CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor)................................................. 172
CMOS Imaging .............................................................................................................. 172
What is happening when you Live Stack .............................................................173
Average......................................................................................................................... 173
Additive ........................................................................................................................ 174
Setting up to Broadcast on LiveSkies...................................................................176
Introduction.................................................................................................................. 176
Obtaining a Broadcast Account.................................................................................... 177
Logging into Liveskies ................................................................................................... 178
This section explains how to Capture and Broadcast Using either SplitCam or OBS ... 180

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Live Chat....................................................................................................................... 182
Finished ........................................................................................................................ 182
Using OBS (Open Broadcast Software) –This is a more challenging process to initially
setup............................................................................................................................. 183
Viewing a Live Skies Channel........................................................................................ 189
If you want to participate in the Live Chat ................................................................... 189
To Live Chat .................................................................................................................. 191
To exit........................................................................................................................... 191
One Page Broadcast Summary ..................................................................................... 192
Customizing the Screen........................................................................................193
Focal Reducers......................................................................................................194
MFR-10 Focal Reducer.................................................................................................. 194
Universe .5X focal reducer ........................................................................................... 194
User Notes ............................................................................................................195

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Introduction
MallinCam Introduces the new MallinCam DS16CTEC - designed from the ground up to
Introducing the new MallinCam DS16cTEC / DS16mTEC - designed from the ground up to
accommodate the most demanding wide field astronomical video imaging applications. Since
most CMOS sensors cannot be directly cooled via a cold finger without causing damage and
delamination with time which will ultimately shorten their life, a new cooling system had to be
developed. MallinCam developed a unique cooling system that provides no direct physical
contact between the Peltier cooler and the sensor. Instead, the Peltier cooler creates
a convection system “refrigerator-like” environment that cools the sensor without actually
contacting it. This cooling system is unique to MallinCam and not found on other
astronomical imaging cameras.
Since the Panasonic 16MP class 1 CMOS sensor of the MallinCam DS16cTEC / DS16mTEC is
cooled via convection, thermal shock to it and its associated circuitry is reduced. CMOS
sensors have other components mounted on the same wafer with the imaging section which
do not requires or can be adversely affected by cooling. This includes the digital logic circuitry
(interface, timing, processing, output amplifiers, pad rings and associated oscillators), clocks
and timing controls, analog signal processing, analog-to-digital converter (which when under
cooling from direct cold finger and Peltier results in instability). These parts of the CMOS
sensor do not need to be direct cooled from a cold finger application.
MallinCam has successfully design a working alternative - a cooling chamber called
refrigeration cooling - which subjects the CMOS sensor to cooling inside a triple sealed
vacuumed sensor chamber controlled with a heating element mounted around the internal
optical window to control and avoid dew formation on the optical window and surroundings.
A vacuumed sealed chamber is used to eliminate the use of desiccant material and keep dew
free environment permanently.
The result of this new technology, the SkyRaider DS16cTEC / DS16mTEC, is design for live
visual application or video imaging. It is built to laboratory specifications, where CNC
machining is used throughout to provide the rigid tolerances needed to provide precise
component matching. The chamber has six stainless steel screws securing the chamber cover
under 100 pounds of pressure to avoid possible air leaks into the chamber.
The internal electronics use Grade 1 components with tolerance of 0.5%, a military and
aerospace standard in some cases. The camera contains 4Gb DDR3 internal memory to insure
the smooth flow of data to the computer. The DS16cTEC also has a built-in USB2 hub that can
support a guider or a USB type focuser or filter wheel.
So, thank you for your purchase, and let the adventure begin.