Moravian Instruments G0 User manual

G0 and G1 CCD Camera
User's Guide

Version 3.0
Modified on December 15th, 2015
All information furnished by Moravian Instruments is believed to be
accurate. Moravian Instruments reserves the ri ht to chan e any information
contained herein without notice.
G0 and G1 CCD devices 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 dama es.
Copyri ht © 2000-2015, Moravian Instruments
Moravian Instruments
Masarykova 1148
763 02 Zlín
Czech Republic
tel./fax: [phone]
internet: http://www. cxxd.com/
e-mail: info@ xccd.com

Table of Contents
Introduction...............................................................................................4
Camera Technical Specifications.............................................................7
CCD Chip............................................................................................9
Model G0-0300 and G1-0300.......................................................9
Model G0-0300C and G1-0300C..................................................9
Model G1-0301...........................................................................10
Model G1-0301C.........................................................................10
Model G0-0800 and G1-0800.....................................................10
Model G0-0800C and G1-0800C................................................11
Model G0-2000 and G1-2000.....................................................11
Model G0-2000C and G1-2000C................................................11
Model G1-1200...........................................................................11
Model G1-1200C.........................................................................12
Model G1-1400...........................................................................12
Model G1-1400C.........................................................................12
Camera Electronics......................................................................13
CCD Chip Coolin ............................................................................14
Power Supply....................................................................................15
G0 Camera Mechanical Specifications.............................................16
G1 Camera Mechanical Specifications.............................................17
Guidin ...................................................................................................20
Camera Maintenance..............................................................................23
Chan in the Telescope Adapter of the G1 Camera.........................23

Introduction
Thank you for choosin the Moravian Instruments CCD camera. These
cameras were developed to be small, li htwei ht and easily operated.
Despite their compactness and simplicity, they are very sensitive for use in
low-li ht ima in applications in astronomy, microscopy and similar areas.
G0 and G1 cameras di itize ima e with 16 bit precision to fully exploit
CCD chip dynamic ran e. Still the pixel di itization rate reaches 8 Mpx/s in
fast read mode – downloadin of ima e containin hundreds thousands
pixels takes only a small fraction of a second. Slow read mode on the other
hand ensures very low read noise, approachin the read noise limit of the
CCD chip itself, and still provides more than 2.5 Mpx/s di itization speed.
Also important desi n oal of G0 and G1 cameras was USB-powered
operation. Camera is attached to the host computer only via sin le USB
cable, which provides both camera-to-host communication and camera
power. No separate power supply is used with G1 cameras.
Both G0 and G1 series of CCD cameras provide also the RJ-12 connector
beside the USB-B connector, which allows direct connection of the camera
head and the telescope mount equipped with the standard “auto uider” port.
This connector (to ether with other camera features like very fast
download, compact and li htwei ht construction, USB powered operation
etc.) makes usin of these cameras for uidin of telescope mount very
simple. Usin of G0 or G1 CCD for uidin is described later in this
manual.
Simplicity, compactness and quick ima e download took precedence to
some other features, so G0 and G1 series of CCD cameras lack mechanical
shutter and filter wheel. Also power provided by USB cable is not sufficient
for power-hun ry thermoelectric (Peltier) coolers. This is why the CCD
chip in these cameras cannot be cooled below ambient temperature.
However, G1 cameras employ a small fan, which forces air flow inside the
camera head and removes the heat enerated by camera electronics. The
CCD temperature can be lowered by many de rees Celsius compared to
sealed desi ns, which results to lowerin of CCD thermal noise by a factor
of two or more.
4

Please note the G0 and G1 CCD cameras are desi ned to work in
cooperation with a host Personal Computer (PC). Computer is necessary for
operation control, ima e download, processin and stora e as well as for
uidin . To operate G0 or G1 CCD camera, you need a computer which:
1. Is compatible with a PC standard.
2. Runs a modern 32 or 64-bit Windows operatin system.
Drivers for 32-bit and 64-bit Linux systems are also provided, but
camera control and ima e processin software, supplied with the
camera, requires Windows operatin system.
3. Provides at last one free USB port.
The G0 and G1 CCD cameras are desi ned to operate with
USB 2.0 hi h-speed (480 Mbps) hosts. Althou h they are fully
backward compatible with USB 1.1 full-speed (12 Mbps) hosts,
ima e download time can be si nificantly lon er if USB 1.1
connection is used.
A simple and cheap device called USB hub can expand number of
available USB port. Typical USB hub occupies one computer USB
port and offers four free ports. Make sure the USB hub is USB 2.0
hi h-speed compatible.
But keep on mind that if more USB devices connected to one hub
need to communicate with a host PC, USB hub shares its sin le
up-link line to the host PC. Althou h G0 and G1 CCD cameras can
operate throu h a USB hub, it can ne atively affect the camera
performance, like download time etc. It is recommended to
connect other USB devices throu h USB hub (e. . the mouse) and
to provide the camera a direct USB connection to the host PC.
Also note the G0 and G1 cameras are powered from the host PC
throu h the USB cable. Unpowered USB hub may not provide
enou h current to operate the camera. Always use USB hub with
its own power supply to connect the camera. G0 and G1 camera
power considerations are described later.
4. Alternatively it is possible to use the Gx Camera Ethernet Adapter.
This device can connect up to four Gx cameras of any type (not
only G0 and G1, but also G2, G3 and G4) and offers 1 Gbps and
10/100 Mbps Ethernet interface for direct connection to the host
5

PC. Because the PC then uses TCP/IP protocol to communicate
with the cameras, it is possible to insert e. . WiFi brid e or other
networkin device to the communication path.
The G0 or G1 CCD camera must be connected to some optical system (e. .
the telescope) to capture ima es.
G1 cameras are equipped with CS-thread adapter, which allows usa e of
CCTV lens with C/CS thread with the camera (it is necessary to use 5 mm
distance rin for C-mount lenses). Adapter for 1.25” telescope focuser is
screwed into the CS-thread adapter adapter.
G0 cameras are desi ned to be attached to the 1.25” telescope focuser only
and CCTV lenses cannot be directly used.
6

Camera Technical
Specifications
The G0 series of CCD cameras comprises of the followin models:
Model G0-0300 G0-0300C G0-0800 G0-0800C
CCD chip ICX424AL ICX424AQ ICX204AL ICX204AK
Resolution 656×494 656×494 1032×778 1032×778
Pixel size 7.4×7.4 µm7.4×7.4 µm4.65×4.65 µm 4.65×4.65 µm
Read mode Pro ressive Pro ressive Pro ressive Pro ressive
Dimension 4.9×3.7 mm 4.9×3.7 mm 4.8×3.6 mm 4.8×3.6 mm
Color mas Not present RGB (Bayer) Not present RGB (Bayer)
Interface USB 2.0 USB 2.0 USB 2.0 USB 2.0
Model G0-2000 G0-2000C
CCD chip ICX274AL ICX274AQ
Resolution 1628×1236 1628×1236
Pixel size 4.4×4.4 µm 4.4×4.4 µm
Read mode Pro ressive Pro ressive
Dimension 7.2×5.4 mm 7.2×5.4 mm
Color mas Not present RGB (Bayer)
Interface USB 2.0 USB 2.0
7

The G1 series of CCD cameras comprises of the followin models:
Model G1-0300 G1-0300C G1-0301 G1-0301C
CCD chip ICX424AL ICX424AQ ICX414AL ICX414AQ
Resolution 656×494 656×494 656×494 656×494
Pixel size 7.4×7.4 µm7.4×7.4 µm9.9×9.9 µm9.9×9.9 µm
Read mode Pro ressive Pro ressive Pro ressive Pro ressive
Dimension 4.9×3.7 mm 4.9×3.7 mm 6.5×4.9 mm 6.5×4.9 mm
Color mas Not present RGB (Bayer) Not present RGB (Bayer)
Interface USB 2.0 USB 2.0 USB 2.0 USB 2.0
Model G1-0800 G1-0800C G1-1200 G1-1200C
CCD chip ICX204AL ICX204AK ICX445ALA ICX445AQA
Resolution 1032×778 1032×778 1296×966 1296×966
Pixel size 4.65×4.65 µm 4.65×4.65 µm3.75×3.75 µm3.75×3.75 µm
Read mode Pro ressive Pro ressive Pro ressive Pro ressive
Dimension 4.8×3.6 mm 4.8×3.6 mm 4.9×3.6 mm 4.9×3.6 mm
Color mas Not present RGB (Bayer) Not present RGB (Bayer)
Interface USB 2.0 USB 2.0 USB 2.0 USB 2.0
Model G1-1400 G1-1400C G1-2000 G1-2000C
CCD chip ICX285AL ICX285AQ ICX274AL ICX274AQ
Resolution 1392×1040 1392×1040 1628×1236 1628×1236
Pixel size 6.45×6.45 µm6.45×6.45 µm4.4×4.4 µm 4.4×4.4 µm
Read mode Pro ressive Pro ressive Pro ressive Pro ressive
Dimension 9.0×6.7 mm 9.0×6.7 mm 7.2×5.4 mm 7.2×5.4 mm
Color mas Not present RGB (Bayer) Not present RGB (Bayer)
Interface USB 2.0 USB 2.0 USB 2.0 USB 2.0
8

CCD Chip
Sensitivity is an important feature of any CCD camera, no matter if it is
used as an ima in camera or automatic uider. Ima in camera must not
waste li ht athered by the optical system to provide ima es with as ood
si nal/noise ratio as possible. Achievin of sufficient S/N ratio in rather
short time is also important to allow perfect uidin – the necessity to
accumulate li ht for many minutes is often unacceptable for hi h quality
uider. This is why the G1 cameras utilize sensitive Sony CCDs.
●The CCD quantum efficiency exceeds 50%.
●The CCD read noise is very low and reaches 5 to 10 electrons
RMS.
●G1 cameras support 16-bit di itization, si nificantly enhancin the
dynamic ran e compared to 8-bit cameras.
●Stron anti-bloomin protection keeps even bri ht stars round,
without bloomin streaks.
●G1 cameras also provide very fas readout – pixel di itization speed
is 8 Mpx/s in fast read mode.
Model G0-0300 and G1-0300
G0/G1-0300 model uses pro ressive-scan VGA (640×480 pixels) Sony
ICX424AL CCD chip.
Resolution 656 × 494 pixels
Pixel size 7.4 × 7.4 µm
Imaging area 4.9 × 3.7 mm
Color mas Not present
Model G0-0300C and G1-0300C
G0/G1-0300C model uses pro ressive-scan VGA (640×480 pixels) Sony
ICX424AQ CCD chip with Red, Green and Blue color mask (Bayer mask)
applied directly on the CCD, which allows capturin of color ima es by
sin le exposure.
Resolution 656 × 494 pixels
9

Pixel size 7.4 × 7.4 µm
Imaging area 4.9 × 3.7 mm
Color mas RGBG (Bayer mask)
Model G1-0301
G0/G1-0300 model uses pro ressive-scan VGA (640×480 pixels) Sony
ICX424AL CCD chip.
Resolution 656 × 494 pixels
Pixel size 9.9×9.9 µm
Imaging area 6.5×4.9 mm
Color mas Not present
Model G1-0301C
G0/G1-0300C model uses pro ressive-scan VGA (640×480 pixels) Sony
ICX424AQ CCD chip with Red, Green and Blue color mask (Bayer mask)
applied directly on the CCD, which allows capturin of color ima es by
sin le exposure.
Resolution 656 × 494 pixels
Pixel size 9.9×9.9 µm
Imaging area 6.5×4.9 mm
Color mas RGBG (Bayer mask)
Model G0-0800 and G1-0800
G0/G1-0800 model uses pro ressive-scan XGA (1024×768 pixels) Sony
ICX204AL CCD chip.
Resolution 1032 × 778 pixels
Pixel size 4.65 × 4.65 µm
Imaging area 4.8 × 3.6 mm
Color mas Not present
10