21
Version 1.5 rev 26 Sep
2016
Apogee Astronomy
Alta and Ascent Manual
8. Apogee cameras are connected via USB2 or Ethernet mode, depending on model, can operate in
16-bit
mode. This provides the highest dynamic range.
9.
Fan Setting
controls the camera's fan speed. Higher speeds provide better cooling, but may result in slightly
more noise and vibration.
10. The
Configure…
button in the
Advanced Settings
group allows you to access some advanced camera
control parameters, described below. Note that most of these are intended for laboratory environments, and
inappropriate use may adversely affect camera performance and image quality.
11.
Color Synthesis
is used to adjust automatic color generation settings. Some cameras include Bayer matrix
color filters, and are capable of "one shot color". If the Bayer matrix is not properly aligned, the color may not
be displayed correctly. This can be corrected adjusting the
X
and
Y
offset controls. The
Use Bgd
option
automatically tries to adjust the background level to neutral during the conversion process.
12. The
Exposure and Shutter Options
include a camera
Mode
dropdown whose entries depend on the specific
camera in use. In
Normal
mode the software controls both the start time and duration of the exposure. In
TDI
(Time Delayed Integration) mode, the camera operates continuously, shifting out new row of data at a
specified interval: this is appropriate if the image is moving smoothly across the CCD sensor. In
Kinetics
mode the sensor must be masked so that a specified number of full-width but reduced-height images known
as sections can be rapidly acquired on a single CCD frame. Readout occurs only after all requested sections
have been imaged. For further information, consult the documentation for your camera.
13. For cameras with firmware v17 and later, the exposure process can be further modified by the
Exposure
Triggering
options. The instrument waits for a TTL signal pulse before starting the exposure if
First
is
checked. A separate pulse is required for each subsequent TDI row or Kinetics section if
Next
is checked.
Cameras with earlier firmware do not support TDI or Kinetics, but provide a separate
Triggered
exposure
mode equivalent to
Normal
with
First
checked.
14. The next two options modify the duration of the exposure.
External Shutter Signal
allows the
shutter to be gated open by an external TTL-level signal, with readout occurring at the trailing edge
of this pulse.
Ext. Shutter and Readout
is similar but readout is controlled by a separate TTL-level
signal, allowing the shutter to open and close more than once during the same exposure. In either
external shutter mode, the
Enable Amp Output
checkbox disables the CCD voltage while the
shutter strobe input is high.
15.
IO Port Settings
displays the
Apogee I/O Port Settings
dialog box. This allows you to configure
each I/O pin for a predefined function. These should be self-explanatory; for advanced use please
contact us for assistance.
