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Chapter 1
Introduction
The Princeton Instruments PI-MAX
®
3 Intensified CCD camera is designed for general
macro-imaging and microscopy imaging applications. It is ideal for applications
involving ultra low light measurements, or measurements of transient effects. PI-MAX3
uses a proximity-focused microchannel plate (MCP) image intensifier (Gen II and
Filmless Gen III intensifiers available) fiber-optically coupled to a CCD array. The
fastest intensifiers can be gated in as little as 3 ns or less with an exceptionally high
on/off light-transmission ratio. The CCD array provides a low noise, high dynamic range
readout device that can be scanned at a variety of pixel rates. A number of different
arrays are available to match the PI-MAX3to the widest possible range of experimental
requirements. In operation, data acquired by the camera is routed to the computer for
processing and display. The computer controls both the system configuration and data
acquisition via software, of which Princeton Instruments WinView/32 is an example.
PI-MAX3 System Components
All PI-MAX3 systems consist of
standard hardware and software as
well as the appropriate interface
hardware for your computer
system.
Camera Head
The PI-MAX3 camera head
houses the CCD and intensifier
and it supplies all of the high
voltages needed to operate the
intensifier (see Chapter 3 for more
information).
Figure 1. Typical PI-MAX3 System Components
Cooling within the camera head is performed by a cooling fan and a multi-stage Peltier
cooler that is thermally coupled to the CCD (liquid coolant circulation can also be used
for the PI-MAX3 camera). Photocathode cooling to reduce equivalent background
illumination (EBI) can be achieved via a dry nitrogen source. C-, F-, and spectroscopy
mount adapters are supplied (one of which is factory-installed).
The camera can be operated in one of the following two modes: Safe mode and Gate mode.
In Safe mode, the photocathode is gated off. In Gate mode, the photocathode is biased on
only during the time each gate pulse is applied.
The PI-MAX3 contains the analog and digital electronics, scan control and exposure
timing hardware, and controller I/O connectors. Readout modes supported include full
resolution, simultaneous multiple subimages, and nonuniform binning. Single or multiple
software-defined regions of interest can also be tested without having to digitize all the
pixels of the array. Flexible exposure, set through software, is also fully supported.
Summary of Contents for PI-MAX 3 System
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