Moravian Instruments G3-6300 User manual

G3 and G4 CCD
Operating Manual

Version 2.3
Modified on December 4th, 2012
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.
G3 and G4 CCD 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
dama es.
Copyri ht © 2000-2012, Moravian Instruments
Moravian Instruments
Masarykova 1148
763 02 Zlín
Czech Republic
tel./fax: [phone]
www: http://www. xccd.com/
e-mail: ccd@ xccd.com

Table of Contents
Introduction....................................................................................................5
Camera Technical Specifications...................................................................7
CCD Chip...............................................................................................10
Model G3-6300.................................................................................10
Model G3-1000.................................................................................11
Model G3-11000...............................................................................11
Model G3-11000C............................................................................11
Model G4-9000.................................................................................12
Model G4-16000...............................................................................12
Camera Electronics.................................................................................12
Model G3-6300.................................................................................13
Model G3-1000.................................................................................13
Model G3-11000...............................................................................13
Model G4-9000.................................................................................14
Model G4-16000...............................................................................14
CCD Chip Coolin .................................................................................15
Power Supply..........................................................................................15
Mechanical Specifications......................................................................16
Packa e Contents....................................................................................17
Optional components..............................................................................18
Filter wheel for five 2 inch threaded filter cells................................19
LRGB filter set..................................................................................19
Clear (C) filter...................................................................................19
UBVRI filter set................................................................................20
Separate filters...................................................................................20
Telescope adapters for G3 cameras..................................................20
Telescope adapters for G4 cameras..................................................22
Gettin Started..............................................................................................24
Camera System Driver Installation.........................................................24
Windows 7 System Driver Installation.............................................25
Windows XP and Windows Vista System Driver Installation.........25
Windows 2000 System Driver Installation.......................................26
SIPS Software Installation......................................................................27
SIPS confi uration files....................................................................27
G3 and G4 CCD Camera Driver for SIPS..............................................28
Usin of multiple confi uration files for different cameras.............29
Croppin of the CCD area................................................................30
Camera Connection................................................................................31
Camera LED state indicator..............................................................32

Workin with Multiple Cameras............................................................32
Camera Operation.........................................................................................34
Camera and the Telescope......................................................................34
Temperature Control...............................................................................36
First Ima es............................................................................................38
Bri htness and Contrast – Ima e Stretchin ..........................................40
Calibration..............................................................................................41
Color Ima es with monochrome camera and filters...............................43
Color ima es with color camera.............................................................46
Balancin colors.....................................................................................48
Some General Rules for Successful Ima in ...............................................50
Camera Maintenance....................................................................................53
Desiccant exchan e................................................................................53
Chan in Filters......................................................................................54
Chan in the Whole Filter Wheel..........................................................56
Chan in the Telescope Adapter............................................................56
Power Supply Fuse.................................................................................57

Introduction
Thank you for choosin the lar e-format CCD camera. G3 and G4 series of
CCD cameras were developed for ima in under extremely low-li ht
conditions in astronomy, microscopy and similar areas. Desi n of this series
inherits from G2 cameras, with which they share precise electronics providin
uniform frames without artifacts and extremely low read noise limited only by
CCD detector itself. Also the robust construction, rich software support and
easy manipulation are the same. However, G3 and G4 CCD camera head is
lar e enou h to contain detector up to 24×36 mm for G3 series and 36×36 mm
for G4 series.
G3 cameras can contain also filter wheel with 5 positions for 2 inch (50 mm)
diameter filters. Internal filter wheel is not available for G4 cameras, because
a filter wheel capable to carry 50×50 mm square filters is too bi .
External Filter wheels with 5 positions for 50×50 mm square filters or
7 positions for 2 inch (50 mm) diameter filters are available for G4 cameras.
Also G3 cameras can be equipped with external filter wheel, but it is not
possible to combine internal and external wheels on sin le camera. G3 camera
mus be made without internal filter wheel to be compatible with external filter
wheels.
Please note the G3 and G4 CCD cameras are desi ned to work in cooperation
with a host Personal Computer (PC). As opposite to di ital still cameras, which
are operated independently on the computer, the scientific slow-scan, cooled
cameras usually require computer for operation control, ima e download,
processin and stora e etc. To operate the 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.
G3 and G4 cameras are desi ned to operate with USB 2.0 hi h-speed
5

(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
somewhat 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 G3 and G4 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.
The G3 and G4 cameras need an external power supply to operate. It is not
possible to run the camera from the power lines provided by the USB cable,
which is common for webcams or very simple ima ers. G3 and G4 CCD
cameras inte rate hi hly efficient CCD chip coolin , shutter and possibly filter
wheel, so their power requirements si nificantly exceed USB line power
capabilities. On the other side separate power source eliminates problems with
volta e drop on lon USB cables or with drawin of laptop batteries etc.
Also note the camera must be connected to some optical system (e. . the
telescope) to capture ima es. The camera is desi ned for lon exposures,
necessary to acquire the li ht 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 tar et object smoothly durin the exposure.
6

Camera Technical Specifications
G3 and G4 series of CCD cameras are manufactured with two kinds of CCD
detectors:
●G3 and G4 cameras with Kodak KAF Full Frame (FF) CCD
architecture. Almost all Full Frame CCD detector area is exposed to
li ht. This is why these detectors provide very hi h quantum
efficiency. FF CCD detectors, intended for research applications, are
not equipped with so-called Anti Bloomin Gate (ABG – a ate,
which prohibits bloomin of the char e to nei hborin pixels when
ima e is over-exposed) to ensure linear response to li ht throu h the
whole dynamic ran e. FF CCD detectors used for astrophoto raphy
are equipped with ABG to eliminate disruptin bloomin streaks
within field of view.
Cameras with Full Frame, non-ABG detectors are suitable for
scientific applications, where linear response is necessary for
photometric applications in astronomy, microscopy etc. Hi h quantum
efficiency could be used also for narrow-band ima in , where
overexposure is a rare exception, and for ima in of small objects
without a bri ht star in the field of view.
7
Illustration 1: “Full Frame” CCD schematic diagram

●G3 cameras with Kodak KA nterline Transfer ( T) architecture
(G4 cameras are not produced with IT detectors). There is a shielded
column of pixels just beside each column of active pixels on these
detectors. The shielded columns are called Vertical re isters. One
pulse moves char e from exposed pixels to shielded pixels on the end
of each exposure. The the char e is moved from vertical re isters to
horizontal re ister and di itized in the same way like in the case of
Full Frame detectors. This mechanism is also known as “electronic
shutterin ”, because it allows very short exposures and also
di itization of the ima e without mechanically shieldin of the
detector from incomin li ht.
Also G3 cameras with IT CCDs are equipped with mechanical shutter,
because electronic shutter does not allow dark-frame exposures,
necessary for proper ima e calibration etc.
The price for electronic shutter if lower quantum efficiency
(sensitivity) of IT detectors compared to FF ones. Also all IT detectors
are equipped with ABG, so they can acquire ima es of very bri ht
objects without char e bloomin to nei hborin pixels.
8
Illustration 2: “Interline Transfer” CCD schematic diagram

G3 camera models:
Model G3-6300 G3-1000 G3-11000 G3-11000C
CCD chip KAF-6303E KAF-1001E KAI-11002 KAI-11002
Resolution 3072×2048 1024×1024 4032×2688 4032×2688
Pixel size 9×9 µm 24×24 µm 9×9 µm 9×9 µm
CCD area 27.7×18.4 mm 24.6×24.6 mm 36.3×24.2 mm 36.3×24.2 mm
ABG No No Yes Yes
Color mask No No No Yes
G4 camera models:
Model G4-9000 G4-16000
CCD chip KAF-09000 KAF-16803
Resolution 3056×3056 4096×4096
Pixel size 12×12 µm 9×9 µm
CCD area 36.8×36.8 mm 36.9×36.9 mm
ABG Yes Yes
Color mask No No
Cameras with “C” suffix contains CCD detector covered with so-called Bayer
mask. Color filters of three basic colors (red, reen, blue) cover all pixels, so
every pixels detects only li ht of particular color.
9

These cameras are able to acquire color ima e in sin le exposure, without the
necessity to chan e color filters. On the other side color mask brin s lower
sensitivity and limits the capability to perform exposures usin narrow-band
filters etc.
Because each pixel is covered by one of three basic color filters, it is necessary
to compute (interpolate) remainin two colors for each pixel, which of course
limits resolution of color ima e. Ima in usin color detectors is described in
the “Color ima es” chapter.
CCD Chip
Quantum efficiency (sensitivity) of CCD detectors used in G3 and G4 cameras
depends on the particular camera model.
Inherent dark current of these detectors is quite low compared to other CCD
detectors, suitable for scientific applications, which results into very ood
si nal/noise ratio.
Model G3-6300
G3-06300 uses 6 MPx Kodak KAF-6303E Class 1 or 2 CCD chip.
10
Illustration 3: Quantum efficiency of Koda CCD detectors used in G3 and G4 cameras

Resolution 3072×2048 pixels
Pixel size 9×9 µm
maging area 27,7×18,4 mm
Full well capacity Approx. 100 000 e-
Output node capacity Approx. 220 000 e-
Dark current 1 e-/s/pixel at 0°C
Dark signal doubling 6.3 °C
Model G3-1000
G3-01000 model uses 1 MPx Kodak KAF-1001E Class 1 or 2 CCD chip.
Resolution 1024×1024 pixels
Pixel size 24×24 µm
maging area 24.6×24.6 mm
Full well capacity Approx. 220 000 e-
Output node capacity Approx. 650 000 e-
Dark current 17 e-/s/pixel at 0°C
Dark signal doubling 5.5 °C
Model G3-11000
G3-11000 uses 11 MPx CCD Kodak KAI-11002 Class 1 or 2.
Resolution 4032×2688 pixels
Pixel size 9×9 µm
maging area 36,3×24,2 mm
Full well capacity Approx. 60 000 e-
Dark current 12 e-/s/pixel at 0°C
Dark signal doubling 7 °C
Model G3-11000C
G3-11000C uses 11 MPx CCD Kodak KAI-11002 Class 1 or 2 with color
(Bayer) mask.
11

Model G4- 000
G4-9000 uses 9 MPx CCD Kodak KAF-09000.
Resolution 3056×3056 pixels
Pixel size 12×12 µm
maging area 36,8×36,8 mm
Full well capacity Approx. 110 000 e-
Dark current 0,5 e-/s/pixel at 0°C
Dark signal doubling 7 °C
Model G4-16000
G4-16000 uses 16 MPx CCD Kodak KAF-16803.
Resolution 4096×4096 pixels
Pixel size 9×9 µm
maging area 36,9×36,9 mm
Full well capacity Approx. 100 000 e-
Dark current 0,3 e-/s/pixel at 0°C
Dark signal doubling 6,3 °C
Camera Electronics
16-bit A/D converter with correlated double samplin ensures hi h dynamic
ran e and CCD chip-limited readout noise. Fast USB interface ensures ima e
download time within seconds. Maximum len th of sin le USB cable is 5 m.
This len th can be extended to 10 m by usin sin le USB hub or active USB
extender cable. Up to 5 hubs or active extenders can be used in one connection.
Third party USB extenders allow extendin of one USB connection up to
100 m.
ADC resolution 16 bits
Sampling method Correlated double samplin
Read modes Standard
Low-noise
Horizontal binning 1 to 4 pixels
12

Vertical binning 1 to 4 pixels
Sub-frame readout Arbitrary sub-frame
TD readout Only for KAF-equipped cameras
Computer interface USB 2.0 hi h-speed
USB 1.1 full-speed compatible
Binnin can be combined independently on both axes.
Ima e download time and system read noise depends on the CCD chip used in
particular camera model.
Model G3-6300
Gain 1.5 e-/ADU (1×l binnin )
2.3 e-/ADU (other binnin s)
System read noise 12 e- (LN read)
15 e- (Standard read)
Full frame download 9.8 s (LN read)
8.1 s (Standard read)
Model G3-1000
Gain 3 e-/ADU (1×l binnin )
5 e-/ADU (other binnin s)
System read noise 12 e- (LN read)
15 e- (Standard read)
Full frame download 2.0 s (LN read)
1.7 s (Standard read)
Model G3-11000
Gain 0.8 e-/ADU (1×l binnin )
1.6 e-/ADU (other binnin s)
System read noise 11,5 e- (LN read)
13

13 e- (Standard read)
Full frame download 16.9 s (LN read)
14.1 s (Standard read)
Model G4- 000
Gain 1.5 e-/ADU (1×l binnin )
1.7 e-/ADU (other binnin s)
System read noise 10 e- (LN read)
12 e- (Standard read)
Full frame download 16.3 s (LN read)
13.1 s (Standard read)
Model G4-16000
Gain 1.6 e-/ADU (all binnin s)
System read noise 9 e- (LN read)
11 e- (Standard read)
Full frame download 26 s (LN read)
22 s (Standard read)
System read noise depends on the particular CCD detector. For instance KAF-
6303 can be read with 11 e- RMS.
Download times are valid for USB 2.0 host and may vary dependin on host
PC.
G4-16000 cameras use the same ain for unbinned and binned readin when
used with system driver version 2.3 and hi her. When older driver is used,
stated ain 1.6 e-/ADU is used for 1×l binnin only, while all other binnin use
2.7 e-/ADU. Gain settin was unified to utilize the full A/D converter dynamic
ran e, because particular detector output node cannot pass hi her output si nal
levels either way.
The ain in binnin modes of G4-9000 cameras was adjusted from 2.5 e-/ADU
to 1.7 e-/ADU be innin with system driver version 2.3 from the same reasons.
14

CCD Chip Cooling
Re ulated two-sta e thermo-electric coolin is capable to cool the CCD chip up
to 45 °C below ambient temperature. The Peltier hot side is cooled by a fans.
The CCD chip temperature is re ulated with ±0.1 °C precision. Hi h
temperature drop and precision re ulation ensure very low dark current for lon
exposures and allow ima e proper calibration.
The camera head contains two temperature sensors – the first sensor measures
directly the temperature of the CCD chip. The second one measures the
temperature of the air coolin the Peltier hot side.
The coolin performance depends on the environmental conditions and also on
the power supply. If the power supply volta e drops below 12 V, the maximum
temperature drop is lower.
CCD chip cooling Thermoelectric (Peltier modules)
TEC modules Two sta es
Maximal ∆T45 °C below ambient
Regulated ∆T40 °C below ambient (75% coolin )
Regulation precision ±0.1 °C
Hot side cooling Forced air coolin (two fans)
Optional heat exchan er for liquid coolant
Maximum temperature difference between CCD and ambient air may exceed
45 °C when the coolin runs at 100% power. However, temperature cannot be
re ulated in such case, camera has no room for lowerin the CCD temperature
when the ambient temperature rises. The 40 °C temperature drop can be
achieved with coolin runnin at approx. 85% power, which provides enou h
room for re ulation.
Power Supply
The 12 V DC power supply enables camera operation from arbitrary power
source includin batteries, wall adapters etc. Universal 100-240 V AC/50-
60 Hz, 60 W “brick” adapter is supplied with the camera. Althou h the camera
power consumption does not exceed 55 W, the 60 W power supply ensures
noise-free operation.
15

Camera head supply 12 V DC
Camera head power consumption 14 W without coolin
52 W maximum coolin
Adapter input voltage 100-240 V AC/50-60 Hz
Adapter output voltage 12 V DC/5 A
Adapter maximum power 60 W
1. Power consumption is measured on the AC side of the supplied 12 V
AC/DC power supply. Camera consumes less ener y from 12 V power
supply than state here.
2. The camera contains its own power supplies inside, so it can be
powered by unre ulated 12 V DC power source – the input volta e
can be anywhere between 10 and 14 V. However, some parameters
(like coolin efficiency) can de rade if the supply drops below 12 V.
3. G3 and G4 camera measures its input volta e and provides it to the
control software. Input volta e is displayed in the Coolin tab of the
CCD Camera control tool in the SIPS. This feature is important
especially if you power the camera from batteries.
Warnin :
The power connector on the camera head uses center-plus pin. Althou h all
modern power supplies use this confi uration, always make sure the polarity is
correct if you use own power source.
Mechanical Specifications
Compact and robust camera head measures only 154×154×74 mm (approx.
6×6×3 inches). The head is CNC-machined from hi h-quality aluminum and
black anodized. The head itself contains USB-B (device) connector and
12 V DC power plu , no other parts (CPU box, USB interface, etc.), except a
“brick” power supply, are necessary. Inte rated mechanical shutter allows
streak-free ima e readout, as well as automatic dark frame exposures, which
are necessary for unattended, robotic setups. Inte rated filter wheel contains
5 positions for standard 2-inch filter cells with M48×0.75 thread. There are
three M3 threaded holes around each filter position, which allow fixin of
16

filters without cells (only a lass) up to 51 mm diameter.
nternal mechanical shutter Yes, blade shutter
Shortest exposure time 0.25 s
Longest exposure time Limited by chip saturation only
nternal filter wheel
(G3 cameras only)
5 positions 2" threaded filter cells or lass
filters up to 51 mm diameter
Head dimensions 154×154×77 mm (G3 with wheel)
154×154×65 mm (G3 without wheel, G4)
Back focal distance 29 mm (G3 with wheel)
17 mm (G3 without wheel, G4)
Camera head weight 1.7 k (G3 with wheel)
1.5 (G3 without wheel, G4)
Package Contents
G3 and G4 CCD cameras are supplied in the foam-filled, hard carryin case
containin :
●Camera body with a user-chosen telescope adapter. The standard 2"
barrel adapter is included by default for G3 cameras. G4 cameras are
equipped with M68×1 threaded adapter. If ordered, the filter wheel is
already mounted inside the camera head and filters are threaded into
place (G3 cameras only).
If the camera is ordered with external filter wheel, the external filter
wheel is attached to the camera head.
●A 100-240 V AC/50-60 Hz input, 12 V DC/5 A output power supply
adapter with 1.5 m lon output cable. The adapter includes AC cable.
17

Illustration 4: 12 V DC/5 A power supply adapter for
G3 and G4 CCD Camera
●5 m lon USB A-B cable for connectin camera to host PC.
Warnin :
5 m (approx. 15 feet) is the maximum allowed len th of USB cable.
Do not try to connect 5 m USB A-B cable with USB A-A extension
cable to et a lon er connection. When the distance between camera
and host PC is lon er, USB hub or an active USB extender cable can
be used as a repeater to provide up to 10 m lon connection. Third-
party USB extenders allow USB connection tens or even hundreds
meters lon .
●An USB Flash Driver or CD-ROM with camera system drivers,
drivers for third party software packa es, SIPS software packa e with
electronic documentation and PDF version of this manual.
●A printed copy of this manual.
Optional components
Number of optional parts are available for G3 and G4 CCD cameras. These
parts can be ordered separately. Refer to our web site for the pricin , please.
18

Filter wheel for five 2 inch threaded filter cells
Because the filter wheel is not necessary for some applications (e. . in
microscopy), a version of G3 camera without filter wheel is also offered. Make
sure you choose the variant with filter wheel included, even if you plan to use
own filters and you order camera without LRGB filters.
G3 cameras without filter wheel do not allow later installation of the internal
filter wheel. They can be only attached to external filter wheel. It is of course
possible to supply a camera intended for installation of the internal filter
without the wheel, but it is necessary to state such requirement in the camera
order.
It is not possible to install internal filter wheel into G4 camera head. G4
cameras can be used with external filter wheel only.
Another filter wheel can be also ordered separately. Replacin the whole filter
wheel is easier than replacin individual filters. It is possible to thread for
instance LRGB filter set into one wheel, BVRI set into second wheel and
narrow-band filters (Hα, OIII, ...) into the third one.
LRGB filter set
Hi h quality 2" LRGB filter set optimized for CCD ima in . This set contains
hi h-pass Red, Green and Blue filters plus Luminance filter coverin the
combined RGB spectral ran e, blockin IR and UV portion of spectrum for
maximum color accuracy.
Clear (C) filter
Optional clear filter (optical lass with AR coatin s) of the same thickness like
RGB filters can be used in addition to (or instead of) Luminance filter to use
maximum chip QE for luminance ima es. Optical lass is used instead of
simple empty hole in filter wheel to ensure proper focus and to eliminate
refocusin when chan in from filtered to unfiltered exposures.
The Clear filer can be also combined with RGB so it is possible to install
CRGB filter set and to leave one empty filter wheel position.
19

UBVRI filter set
Scientific- rade UBVRI filter set with AR coatin s in 2" cells. This set
contains scientific Blue, Visual, Red and Infra-red filters for photometric
applications.
Separate filters
Number of 2" filters for narrow-band ima in and other special applications
(UHC, Hα, Hβ, OIII, SII, etc.) are available. Visit our web site for current filter
offerin .
Telescope adapters for G3 cameras
The G3 cameras are supplied with standard 2" barrel adapter by default, but the
user can choose any other adapter he/she prefers. Another adapters can be
ordered separately.
It is possible to choose amon various telescope/lens adapters:
2" barrel adapter Adapter for 2" focusers.
T-thread short M42×0.75 mm inner thread,
7.5 mm lon .
T-thread long M42×0.75 mm inner thread,
preserves 55 mm back focal
distance as defined by
Tamron.
20