CCD Primer
Optical Windows on Princeton Instruments Cameras
- Details
- Category: CCD Primer
The optical windows used on Princeton Instruments standard product line are some of the highest quality available. Still, for some applications, optional windows may be required.
- UV/AR
- NIR/AR
- MG/FL
- VIS/AR
Signal-to-Noise Ratio
- Details
- Category: CCD Primer
Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) describes the quality of a measurement. In CCD imaging, SNR refers to the relative magnitude of the signal compared to the uncertainty in that signal on a per-pixel basis. Specifically, it is the ratio of the measured signal to the overall measured noise (frame-to-frame) at that pixel. High SNR is particularly important in applications requiring precise light measurement.
Spurious Charge
- Details
- Category: CCD Primer
When using CCDs for applications where binning of more than 4 pixels is required, care has to be taken to design the CCD driver circuit to avoid the generation of spurious charge. During the design phase and, most of all, during the final camera test and calibration procedure, precaution is taken to deliver all cameras tuned to generate no additional spurious charge.
Saturation and Blooming
- Details
- Category: CCD Primer
Saturation and blooming are phenomena that occur in all CCDs and that affect both their quantitative and qualitative imaging characteristics. If each individual pixel can be thought of as a well of electrons, then saturation refers to the condition where the well becomes filled. The amount of charge that can be accumulated in a single pixel is determined largely by its area. However, due to the nature of the potential well, which holds charge within a pixel, there is less probability of trapping an electron within a well that is approaching saturation. Therefore, as a well approaches its limit, the linear relationship between light intensity and signal degrades. As a result, the apparent responsivity of a saturated pixel drops.