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5. VACUUM ENVIRONMENT AND PRECAUTIONS
This section outlines information regarding using the camera in a vacuum environment and
highlights important precautions to be aware of.
5.1 CCD Sensor Precautions and Camera Storage
The camera is supplied with a temporary plate attached in front of the sensor for protection
during transit. An O-ring seal prevents dust ingress during shipping and handling.
Take care when removing this temporary plate as the CCD sensor surface will be exposed
and could suffer inadvertent mechanical damage (e.g. from the O-ring) or contamination
from the local environment, see Figure 4. It is recommended to keep the temporary plate
and O-ring for storage of the camera when not in use or for transportation.
Regarding
storage temperature, this can be seen from the specification table (-40
ͦ
C to +70
ͦ
C).
If the sensor becomes contaminated due to an accident or misuse, please contact Raptor
immediately.
5.2 Chamber Pumping and Venting
Take care when pumping (or venting) the vacuum chamber, ensuring that any gas flow
experienced by the sensor will not cause damage to the bond wires.
Make sure that particulate material does not strike the sensor during the venting process.
Always warm the sensor up to room temperature before venting the vacuum chamber.
Figure 4: Removing Front Plate and Temporary
O-ring.
