Moravian Instruments G0 User manual

G0 and G1 CCD Camera
Operating Manual

Version 2.3
Modified on January 16th, 2014
All information furnished by Moravian Instruments is believed to be
a urate. Moravian Instruments reserves the right to hange any information
ontained herein without noti e.
G0 and G1 CCD devi es are not authorized for and should not be used
within Life Support Systems without the spe ifi written onsent of the
Moravian Instruments. Produ t warranty is limited to repair or repla ement
of defe tive omponents and does not over injury or property or other
onsequential damages.
Copyright © 2000-2014, Moravian Instruments
Moravian Instruments
Masarykova 1148
763 02 Zlín
Cze h Republi
tel./fax: [phone]
internet: http://www.g xxd. om/
e-mail: info@gx d. om

Table of Contents
Introdu tion...............................................................................................5
Camera Te hni al Spe ifi ations.............................................................8
CCD Chip..........................................................................................10
Model G0-0300 and G1-0300.....................................................10
Model G0-0300C and G1-0300C................................................11
Model G1-0301...........................................................................11
Model G1-0301C.........................................................................11
Model G0-0800 and G1-0800.....................................................12
Model G0-0800C and G1-0800C................................................12
Model G0-2000 and G1-2000.....................................................12
Model G0-2000C and G1-2000C................................................12
Model G1-1200...........................................................................13
Model G1-1200C.........................................................................13
Model G1-1400...........................................................................13
Model G1-1400C.........................................................................14
Camera Ele troni s......................................................................14
CCD Chip Cooling............................................................................15
Power Supply....................................................................................16
G0 Camera Me hani al Spe ifi ations.............................................17
G1 Camera Me hani al Spe ifi ations.............................................18
Getting Started........................................................................................21
Camera System Driver Installation...................................................21
Windows 7 and 8 System Driver Installation..............................22
Windows XP and Windows Vista System Driver Installation....23
SIPS Software Installation................................................................24
SIPS onfiguration files...............................................................25
G0/G1 CCD Camera Driver for SIPS...............................................26
Camera Conne tion...........................................................................26
Camera LED state indi ator........................................................27
Working with Multiple Cameras.......................................................27
Camera Operation...................................................................................29
Camera and the Teles ope................................................................29
Temperature Control.........................................................................30
First Images.......................................................................................31
Brightness and Contrast – Image Stret hing.....................................32
Calibration.........................................................................................34
Color Images...........................................................................................36
Balan ing olors................................................................................39
Guiding...................................................................................................41
Guiding using SIPS software pa kage..............................................43

“Guiding Setup” tab of the CCD Camera ontrol tool................44
“Guiding” tab of the CCD Camera ontrol tool..........................49
Calibration of guiding subsystem................................................51
Some General Rules for Su essful Imaging.........................................53
Camera Maintenan e..............................................................................55
Changing the Teles ope Adapter of the G1 Camera.........................55

Introduction
Thank you for hoosing the Moravian Instruments CCD amera. These
ameras were developed to be small, lightweight and easily operated.
Despite their ompa tness and simpli ity, they are very sensitive for use in
low-light imaging appli ations in astronomy, mi ros opy and similar areas.
G0 and G1 ameras digitize image with 16 bit pre ision to fully exploit
CCD hip dynami range. Still the pixel digitization rate rea hes 8 Mpx/s in
fast read mode – downloading of image ontaining hundreds thousands
pixels takes only a small fra tion of a se ond. Slow read mode on the other
hand ensures very low read noise, approa hing the read noise limit of the
CCD hip itself, and still provides more than 2.5 Mpx/s digitization speed.
Also important design goal of G0 and G1 ameras was USB-powered
operation. Camera is atta hed to the host omputer only via single USB
able, whi h provides both amera-to-host ommuni ation and amera
power. No separate power supply is used with G1 ameras.
Both G0 and G1 series of CCD ameras provide also the RJ-12 onne tor
beside the USB-B onne tor, whi h allows dire t onne tion of the amera
head and the teles ope mount equipped with the standard “autoguider” port.
This onne tor (together with other amera features like very fast
download, ompa t and lightweight onstru tion, USB powered operation
et .) makes using of these ameras for guiding of teles ope mount very
simple. Using of G0 or G1 CCD for guiding is des ribed later in this
manual.
Simpli ity, ompa tness and qui k image download took pre eden e to
some other features, so G0 and G1 series of CCD ameras la k me hani al
shutter and filter wheel. Also power provided by USB able is not suffi ient
for power-hungry thermoele tri (Peltier) oolers. This is why the CCD
hip in these ameras annot be ooled below ambient temperature.
However, G1 ameras employ a small fan, whi h for es air flow inside the
amera head and removes the heat generated by amera ele troni s. The
CCD temperature an be lowered by many degrees Celsius ompared to
sealed designs, whi h results to lowering of CCD thermal noise by a fa tor
of two or more.
5

Please note the G0 and G1 CCD ameras are designed to work in
ooperation with a host Personal Computer (PC). Computer is ne essary for
operation ontrol, image download, pro essing and storage as well as for
guiding. To operate G0 or G1 CCD amera, you need a omputer whi h:
1. Is ompatible with a PC standard.
2. Runs a modern 32 or 64-bit Windows operating system.
Drivers for 32-bit and 64-bit Linux systems are also provided, but
amera ontrol and image pro essing software, supplied with the
amera, requires Windows operating system.
3. Provides at last one free USB port.
The G0 and G1 CCD ameras are designed to operate with
USB 2.0 high-speed (480 Mbps) hosts. Although they are fully
ba kward ompatible with USB 1.1 full-speed (12 Mbps) hosts,
image download time an be signifi antly longer if USB 1.1
onne tion is used.
A simple and heap devi e alled USB hub an expand number of
available USB port. Typi al USB hub o upies one omputer USB
port and offers four free ports. Make sure the USB hub is USB 2.0
high-speed ompatible.
But keep on mind that if more USB devi es onne ted to one hub
need to ommuni ate with a host PC, USB hub shares its single
up-link line to the host PC. Although G0 and G1 CCD ameras an
operate through a USB hub, it an negatively affe t the amera
performan e, like download time et . It is re ommended to
onne t other USB devi es through USB hub (e.g. the mouse) and
to provide the amera a dire t USB onne tion to the host PC.
Also note the G0 and G1 ameras are powered from the host PC
through the USB able. Unpowered USB hub may not provide
enough urrent to operate the amera. Always use USB hub with
its own power supply to onne t the amera. G0 and G1 amera
power onsiderations are des ribed later.
4. Alternatively it is possible to use the Gx Camera Ethernet Adapter.
This devi e an onne t up to four Gx ameras of any type (not
only G0 and G1, but also G2, G3 and G4) and offers 1 Gbps and
10/100 Mbps Ethernet interfa e for dire t onne tion to the host
6

PC. Be ause the PC then uses TCP/IP proto ol to ommuni ate
with the ameras, it is possible to insert e.g. WiFi bridge or other
networking devi e to the ommuni ation path.
The G0 or G1 CCD amera must be onne ted to some opti al system (e.g.
the teles ope) to apture images.
G1 ameras are equipped with CS-thread adapter, whi h allows usage of
CCTV lens with C/CS thread with the amera (it is ne essary to use 5 mm
distan e ring for C-mount lenses). Adapter for 1.25” teles ope fo user is
s rewed into the CS-thread adapter adapter.
G0 ameras are designed to be atta hed to the 1.25” teles ope fo user only
and CCTV lenses annot be dire tly used.
7

Camera Technical
Specifications
The G0 series of CCD ameras omprises of the following 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 µ
m
4.65×4.65 µ
m
Read mode Progressive Progressive Progressive Progressive
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 Progressive Progressive
Dimension 7.2×5.4 mm 7.2×5.4 mm
Color mas Not present RGB
(Bayer)
Interface USB 2.0 USB 2.0
8

The G1 series of CCD ameras omprises of the following 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 Progressive Progressive Progressive Progressive
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 ICX445AQ
A
Resolution 1032×778 1032×778 1296×966 1296×966
Pixel size 4.65×4.65 µ
m
4.65×4.65 µ
m3.75×3.75 µ m3.75×3.75 µ m
Read mode Progressive Progressive Progressive Progressive
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
9

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 µ
m6.45×6.45 µ m4.4×4.4 µm 4.4×4.4 µm
Read mode Progressive Progressive Progressive Progressive
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
CCD Chip
Sensitivity is an important feature of any CCD amera, no matter if it is
used as an imaging amera or automati guider. Imaging amera must not
waste light gathered by the opti al system to provide images with as good
signal/noise ratio as possible. A hieving of suffi ient S/N ratio in rather
short time is also important to allow perfe t guiding – the ne essity to
a umulate light for many minutes is often una eptable for high quality
guider. This is why the G1 ameras utilize sensitive Sony CCDs.
●The CCD quantum effi ien y ex eeds 50%.
●The CCD read noise is very low and rea hes 5 to 10 ele trons
RMS.
●G1 ameras support 16-bit digitization, signifi antly enhan ing the
dynami range ompared to 8-bit ameras.
●Strong anti-blooming prote tion keeps even bright stars round,
without blooming streaks.
●G1 ameras also provide very fas readout – pixel digitization speed
is 8 Mpx/s in fast read mode.
Model G0-0300 and G1-0300
G0/G1-0300 model uses progressive-s an VGA (640×480 pixels) Sony
ICX424AL CCD hip.
10

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 progressive-s an VGA (640×480 pixels) Sony
ICX424AQ CCD hip with Red, Green and Blue olor mask (Bayer mask)
applied dire tly on the CCD, whi h allows apturing of olor images by
single exposure.
Resolution 656 × 494 pixels
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 progressive-s an VGA (640×480 pixels) Sony
ICX424AL CCD hip.
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 progressive-s an VGA (640×480 pixels) Sony
ICX424AQ CCD hip with Red, Green and Blue olor mask (Bayer mask)
applied dire tly on the CCD, whi h allows apturing of olor images by
single exposure.
Resolution 656 × 494 pixels
Pixel size 9.9×9.9 µm
Imaging area 6.5×4.9 mm
Color mas RGBG (Bayer mask)
11

Model G0-0800 and G1-0800
G0/G1-0800 model uses progressive-s an XGA (1024×768 pixels) Sony
ICX204AL CCD hip.
Resolution 1032 × 778 pixels
Pixel size 4.65 × 4.65 µm
Imaging area 4.8 × 3.6 mm
Color mas Not present
Model G0-0800C and G1-0800C
G0/G1-0800C uses progressive-s an XGA (1024×768 pixels) Sony Super
HAD ICX204AK hip with Red, Green and Blue olor mask (Bayer mask)
applied dire tly on the CCD, whi h allows apturing of olor images by
single exposure.
Resolution 1032 × 778 pixels
Pixel size 4.65 × 4.65 µm
Imaging area 4.8 × 3.6 mm
Color mas RGBG (Bayer mask)
Model G0-2000 and G1-2000
G0/G1-2000 model uses progressive-s an UXGA (1600×1200 pixels) Sony
ICX274AL CCD hip.
Resolution 1628 × 1236 pixels
Pixel size 4.4 × 4.4 µm
Imaging area 7.2 × 5.4 mm
Color mas Not present
Model G0-2000C and G1-2000C
G0/G1-2000C uses progressive-s an UXGA (1600×1200 pixels) Sony
Super HAD ICX274AQ hip with Red, Green and Blue olor mask (Bayer
mask) applied dire tly on the CCD, whi h allows apturing of olor images
by single exposure.
Resolution 1628 × 1236 pixels
12

Pixel size 4.4 × 4.4 µm
Imaging area 7.2 × 5.4 mm
Color mas RGBG (Bayer mask)
Model G1-1200
G1-1200 model uses progressive-s an HD (1280×960 pixels) Sony
ICX445ALA hip. The ICX445 dete tor is manufa tured using so- alled
ExView HAD te hnology, whi h enhan es its sensitivity espe ially in red
and near infra-red portion of the spe trum. Also absolute quantum
effi ien y of this CCD hip very high, omparable to ICX285 based
models.
Resolution 1296 × 966 pixels
Pixel size 3.75 × 3.75 µm
Imaging area 4.9 × 3.6 mm
Color mas Not present
Model G1-1200C
G1-1200C model uses progressive-s an HD (1280×960 pixels) Sony
ICX445AQA hip with Red, Green and Blue olor mask (Bayer mask)
applied dire tly on the CCD, whi h allows apturing of olor images by
single exposure. The ICX445 dete tor is manufa tured using so- alled
ExView HAD te hnology with absolute absolute quantum effi ien y
omparable to ICX285 based models.
Resolution 1296 × 966 pixels
Pixel size 3.75 × 3.75 µm
Imaging area 4.9 × 3.6 mm
Color mas RGBG (Bayer mask)
Model G1-1 00
G1-1400 model uses progressive-s an SXGA (1280×1024 pixels) Sony
ICX285AL hip. The ICX285 dete tor is manufa tured using so- alled
ExView HAD te hnology, whi h enhan es its sensitivity espe ially in red
and near infra-red portion of the spe trum. Also absolute quantum
13

effi ien y of this CCD hip is highest from all dete tors used in other G1
amera models.
Resolution 1392 × 1040 pixels
Pixel size 6.45 × 6.45 µm
Imaging area 9.0 × 6.7 mm
Color mas Not present
Model G1-1 00C
G1-1400C model uses progressive-s an SXGA (1280×1024 pixels) Sony
ICX285AQ hip with Red, Green and Blue olor mask (Bayer mask)
applied dire tly on the CCD, whi h allows apturing of olor images by
single exposure. The ICX285 dete tor is manufa tured using so- alled
ExView HAD te hnology, whi h enhan es its sensitivity espe ially in read
and near infra-red portion of the spe trum.
Resolution 1392 × 1040 pixels
Pixel size 6.45 × 6.45 µm
Imaging area 9.0 × 6.7 mm
Color mas RGBG (Bayer mask)
Camera Electronics
16-bit A/D onverter with orrelated double sampling ensures high dynami
range, in fa t ex eeding the pixel well apa ity of the used CCD. Fast USB
interfa e ensures image download time within a small fra tion of se ond.
Maximum length of single USB able is 5 m. This length an be extended
to 10 m by using single USB hub or a tive USB extender able. Up to 5
hubs or a tive extenders an be used in one onne tion.
Gx Camera Ethernet Adapter devi e allows onne tion of up to four Gx
ameras of any type through Ethernet interfa e and TCP/IP network.
Be ause TCP/IP proto ol an be routed, the distan e between amera and
host PC an be virtually unlimited.
ADC resolution 16 bits
Sampling method Correlated double sampling
Read modes Fast (8 Mpx/s)
14

Slow (2.5 Mpx/s)
Computer interface USB 2.0 high-speed
USB 1.1 full-speed ompatible
1. Camera driver allows arbitrary software binning up to 4×4 pixels
of downloaded images.
Image download time and system read noise depends on the CCD hip used
in parti ular amera model and on the read mode.
Camera model G0/G1-
0300
G0/G1-
0800
G0/G1-
2000
G1-1400
Download time (fast mode) 0.05 s 0.1 s 0.25 s 0.18 s
Download time (slow
mode)
0.15 s 0.32 s 0.8 s 0.58 s
1. Download times are valid for USB 2.0 host and may vary
depending on host PC. Times stated here were measured on
1.5 GHz Pentium M based laptop omputer.
2. Download times an be signifi antly longer when onne ted to
USB 1.1 host.
Some ele troni s hara teristi s like system gain or system read noise
annot be determined without knowledge of some CCD parameters (e.g.
output node sensitivity), whi h are not published by Sony.
CCD Chip Cooling
The G0 and G1 series of CCD ameras does not use a tive ooling with
Peltier TEC modules, so the CCD annot be ooled below ambient
temperature.
Working ele troni s (in luding the CCD hip itself) produ e quite amount
of heat, whi h rise the amera internal temperature many degrees above
ambient temperature. Be ause the CCD thermal noise typi ally doubles
every 5 or 7 °C, the thermal noise an be signifi antly higher after some
time of amera operation.
15

The G1 series of CCD ameras ontain small fan, whi h effi iently removes
the heat from the amera body and keeps the CCD temperature as lose to
ambient temperature as possible. The fan operation an be ontrolled from
the software.
G0 and G1 ameras also in lude the embedded temperature sensor, whi h
measures the urrent CCD temperature. This feature enables ontrolling of
the CCD temperature and ensuring the used dark frame was taken in the
same or similar temperature as the light exposure et .
Power Supply
G0 and G1 ameras are powered from the USB able. No external power
supply is ne essary.
The urrent limit for single USB devi e is 500 mA from 5 V supply. The
urrent required by G1 CCD ameras varies depending on the amera
operation mode. The following table summarizes amera onsumption.
Either way, G1 ameras do not rea h the allowed 500 mA limit, defined in
USB spe ifi ation.
Camera operation mode Required current
Idle, fan off 185 mA
Idle, fan on 260 mA
Image digitization, fan off 285 mA
Image digitization, fan on 360 mA
G0 ameras are not equipped with fan, so their power onsumption equals
to power onsumption of G1 ameras with fan off.
1. If the amera is onne ted through non-powered USB hub, the
urrent available for the onne ted devi es an be as low as
100 mA, whi h is insuffi ient. Always use powered USB hubs
when using G1 ameras.
2. Note the so- alled “a tive USB extender able” is in fa t nothing
more than standard USB able with a hub with single USB
onne tor on the far side. Su h hub onsumes some energy and
may not work with G1 ameras.
16

3. Some USB ables in orporate very thin power lines with relatively
high resistan e. If the USB devi e onsumes several hundreds
milliamperes, the voltage drop on su h able an be around one
volt. Although the G1 amera should work, some features (e.g.
temperature measurement) may be negatively affe ted. Always
make sure the used USB able is as short as possible and with low-
resistan e power lines.
G0 Camera Mechanical Specifications
G0 amera head has just 40 mm diameter (approx. 1.6 in h) and 85 mm
length (approx. 3.3 in h), in luding the 18 mm long 1.25” nose in the front
part of the amera. All onne tors (USB and autoguider) are pla ed on the
rear side of the amera.
G0 ameras are designed to be atta hed dire tly to standard 1.25” teles ope
fo users. There is no C/CS thread available, so the G0 amera annot be
used with ommon CCTV lenses.
Illustration 1: G0 camera head
17

Illustration 2: G0 camera dimensions
The G0 ameras use Interline Transfer CCDs allowing ele troni exposure
ontrol, so they do not ontain me hani al shutter. But it is ne essary to
over the teles ope manually to take dark or bias frame.
Internal mechanical shutter No
Shortest exposure time 0.000125 s
Longest exposure time Limited by hip saturation only
Head dimensions 40 mm (diameter) × 85 mm (length)
Camera head weight 0.1 kg
G1 Camera Mechanical Specifications
Compa t and robust amera head measures only 83 × 76 × 26 mm (approx.
3.25 × 3 × 1 in h). The head is CNC-ma hined from high-quality aluminum
and bla k anodized.
The amera is supplied with CS adapter for onne ting various CS
ompatible lenses. The C-thread to 1.25" adapter an be s rewed into the
head to atta h the amera to any teles ope fo user a epting standard 1.25"
eyepie es.
18

Both C and CS standards use the same thread spe ifi ation (C-thread with
1 in h diameter, 32 threads per in h). The differen e between them is in the
ba k fo al distan e – while the standard C-thread ba k fo al distan e is
17.5 mm, the CS ba k fo al distan e is 12.5 mm. Both variants are available
for G1 CCD ameras.
Illustration 3: G1 camera head
The G1 ameras use Interline Transfer CCDs allowing ele troni exposure
ontrol, so they do not ontain me hani al shutter. But it is ne essary to
over the teles ope manually to take dark or bias frame.
Internal mechanical shutter No
Shortest exposure time 0.000125 s
Longest exposure time Limited by hip saturation only
Head dimensions 83 mm × 76 mm × 26 mm
Bac focal distance 12.5 mm (CS standard)
17.5 mm (C standard)
Camera head weight 0.2 kg
1. Camera dimensions do not in lude the CS-thread adapter. This
adapter depth is 6.4 mm, so the amera depth in luding the CS-
thread adapter is 32.4 mm.
19

Illustration 4: G1 camera dimensions
20