QSI 6120

The QSI 6120 model camera employs a 12mp Sony CCD image sensor. This new generation of Sony sensor offers remarkable sensitivity with peak QE of over 75%. The high senstivity, wide dynamic range, dual read rates, low noise performance and internal 5 or 8-position color filter wheels make the QSI 6120 ideally suited to a broad range of demanding scientific, medical, astronomical, and industrial imaging applications.

The QSI 6120wsg is available with an Integrated Guider Port (IGP) allowing astronomers to guide using the light from the main telescope while picking off the light from the guide star in front of the filters.

The 6120 camera system is supported by industry leading astronomy and microscopy image acquisition software plus a full camera control API is available for creating custom Windows or Linux applications.

The 4250×2838 sensor in the QSI 6120,provides extremely high resolution with its 3.1µm pixel.

The compact design and internal color filter wheel of the QSI 6120ws allows unvignetted, filtered images even with very fast optical systems.

The QSI 6120 camera employs a Sony ICX834 12 megapixel interline transfer CCD image sensor with microlens technology. The Sony ExView sensor has exceptional sensitivity across the visual band with peak quantum efficiency of 77% along with remarkably low dark current. The sensor has antiblooming protection and a fast electronic shutter. Micro lenses cover the surface of the CCD to focus the light into each 3.1µm pixel to increase optical response. See the Specifications tab below for additional details.

High Performance Design

Two separate analog processing chains, providing dual read rates, allow the QSI 600 Series to meet two seemingly incompatible imaging goals. The QSI 600 Series High Quality mode provides the highest possible Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) for applications that require the lowest noise and widest possible dynamic range. High Speed mode has a read rate of 8MHz providing high speed reads at multiple frames per second. The read mode is easily changed under program control providing exceptional flexibility it tuning the camera’s performance to the desired imaging goals.

All significant performance characteristics, including Linearity,Read Noise, and Photon Transfer (Gain), are tested and confirmed during manufacture. Each camera’s timing and voltages are carefully set during manufacture to ensure maximum Charge Transfer Efficiency, and to minimize charge injection and other secondary noise sources. QSI’s exclusive ResearchSpec profiling ensures optimal performance in every camera.
Sophisticated mixed-signal design practices are utilized throughout the camera. This permits a very compact design while eliminating interference from conducted and radiated noise. ROHS compliant multi-layer circuit boards and surface-mount components are used exclusively. A unique circuit board stacking methodology eliminates interconnecting wires that could reduce reliability.
A carefully designed and isolated switching power supply generates all of the voltages needed to operate the camera from a single 12VDC power source. Low noise design practices and advanced filtering techniques completely eliminate any measurable impact on camera noise performance.
Arguably, the most important aspect of a CCD camera design is the video processing subsystem. This is where almost all of the camera’s performance characteristics are established. The 600 Series video processing begins with a very low noise, precision preamp to accurately amplify the microvolt level pixel signal from the CCD image sensor. This signal is then processed through a Correlated Double Sampler (CDS) to reduce temporal read noise in the pixel signal. Subsequent signal conditioning then feeds the pixel level to a high-speed, precision 16 bit Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) where it is converted to a digital value between 0 and 65535.The Read Noise contributed by this entire subsystem is exceedingly small. So small in fact, that it is virtually undetectable, contributing less than 1/30 of the combined read noise of a typical image sensor. The low read noise and carefully chosen camera gain yield excellent Dynamic Range. Linearity is also outstanding, limited only by the CCD image sensor itself.

Model 6120 CCD Image Sensor Specifications

Feature	Standard
CCD Manufacturer & Model	Sony ICX834
CCD Architecture	Interline Transfer
Microlens	Yes
Anti-blooming	Yes – 800x suppression
Imager Size: (WxH)	13.2mm x 8.8mm
Pixel Array (WxH):	4250 x 2838 active (12 megapixels)
Pixel Size:	3.1µm x 3.1µm
	Typical Values
Pixel Full Well Depth	9,000 e-
Absolute Quantum Efficiency	Peak: 77% at 560nm
Pixel Dark Current	<0.002 electrons per second at -10°C
Intrinsic Read Noise	1.6 electrons RMS
Dynamic Range	75db

Model 6120 Camera Specifications (See additional 6120wsg(-8) specifications below)

Feature	Model 6120i	Model 6120s	Model 6120ws(-8)

CCD Image Sensor	Sony ICX834
Electronic Shutter	100μsec to 240 minutes	100μsec to 240 minutes	100μsec to 240 minutes
Mechanical Shutter	No	Yes	Yes
Internal Color Filter Wheel	No	No	ws – 5-Position CFW ws-8 – 8-position CFW Holds 1.25″ or opt. 31mm filters

Camera Body Configuration	Slim Enclosure	Medium Enclosure	Full Enclosure
Dimensions	W4.45” x H4.45” x D1.68” (add 0.225″ for T-Mount)	W4.45” x H4.45” x D2.00” (add 0.225″ for T-Mount)	5-pos, W4.45” x H4.45” x D2.50” 8-pos, W5.86” x H5.56” x D2.50” (add 0.225″ for T-Mount)
Weight, without Nosepiece	26 oz. / 740g	34 oz. / 950g	5-pos, 40 oz. / 1130g 8-pos, 51 oz. / 1450g
Optical Back Focus (w/o Filters in path)	0.58″ w/ T-mount adapter 0.68″ w/ C-mount adapter 0.35″ w/ no adapter	0.90″ w/ T-mount adapter 0.68″ w/ C-mount adapter 0.68″ w/ no adapter	1.40″ w/ T-mount adapter 1.18″ w/ C-mount adapter 1.18″ w/ no adapter

Thermoelectric CCD Cooling	Temperature regulation /- 0.1°C, @ 0°C to -40°C CCD temperature
In free air, Fans @ Full Speed	Typically 40°C below ambient air with 85% cooling power
With Opt Liquid Cooling – Fans Off	Typically 45°C below circulating liquid with 85% cooling power (adds 0.75″ to camera depth)
Cooling Fan Control	Intelligent, user configurable

Read Rate	User Selectable High Quality mode at 800KHz, High Speed mode at 8MHz
Camera Gain	User Selectable High Gain 0.13 e-/ADU (default), Low Gain 0.28 e-/ADU
Digital Resolution	16 bits (both High Quality and High Speed mode)
Total System Read Noise	<4 electrons RMS (typically <3.5 e- RMS, CCD specification limited) in High Quality mode Typically <7 electrons RMS (CCD specification limited) in High Speed mode
Pixel Dark Current	<0.002 electrons per second at -10°C
Full Image Read and Download Time	Typically <16 second (host computer dependent) in High Quality Mode (800KHz) Typically <2 second (host computer dependent) in High Speed Mode (8MHz) Image download times will be reduced with binning and/or subframe (ROI)
Binning Modes	Symmetrical and Asymmetrical binning up to 9 pixels horizonally or vertically

Status and Notification	User configurable multi-color LED status indicator and multifunction audible beeper. Over-temperature and high/low voltage alarms.
Power Consumption	12v, 2A (24 watts) at max cooling, max fans and filter moving (25 AC watts max with included 90-240V AC power supply)
Operating Environment	Temperature: -20°C to 30°C, Humidity: 10% to 90% non-condensing
Computer Connectivity	USB 2.0 High Speed (USB 1.1 compatible)
Other Ports	Optically isolated 4 channel control port for telescope guiding or input/output shutter trigger (See API Reference Manual for details)

T Mounting Adapter	Standard – T-Thread, 42mm x .75mm pitch
C Mounting Adapter (1″ x 32TPI) (Not recommeded for 540i)	Optional, C-Mount (Type I) lens focus compatible (17.5mm backfocus)	Optional, C-Mount (Type II) lens focus compatible (17.5mm backfocus)	Optional, for non-lens adapters and accessories (standard C-Mount lens does not reach focus at infinity)
Nosepiece	Standard, T-Adapter to 2″ nosepiece Optional, T-Adapter to 1.25″ nosepiece

Additional Model 6120wsg(-8) Camera Specifications

Feature	QSI 600 Series wsg(-8)

Camera Body Configuration	Integrated Guider Port Enclosure
Dimensions	5-pos wsg, W4.45” x H5.0” x D3.08” 8-pos wsg-8, W5.86” x H6.1” x D3.08” (add 0.225″ for T-Mount, 0.35″ for 2.156″ thread mount)
Weight, without Nosepiece	5-pos, 46 oz. / 1300g 8-pos, 56 oz. / 1600g
Optical Back Focus (without Filters in path)	2.10″ (53.3mm) with 2.156″ thread adapter (optional) 1.98″ (50.2mm) with T mounting adapter 1.75″ (44.5mm) w/o mounting adapter

Guide Camera Attachment	T-mount (42mm x 0.75mm) w/built-in manual rotator C-mount (1″ x 32 tpi) w/built-in manual rotator
Guide Camera Optical Focal Depth	12.5mm /- 1.5mm (0.49″ /- 0.06″)

Face Plate Adapter	Standard adapter – T-mount (2.156″ x 24tpi adapter available)
Nosepiece	Standard T-mount to 2″ nosepiece. Optional 2″ nosepiece for 2.156 adapter