In order to meet NASA's need for high frame rate/ultra low noise CCD cameras, we intend to develop a prototype high speed, low noise CCD camera/controller specifically optimized for the EEV CCD39. This commercially available CCD imaging array was specifically designed for adaptive optics applications. It is significantly different from its counterpart, the MIT Lincoln Labs 64x64 imaging array, and promises lower readout noise for the same read out rate and potentially lower dark current because of its substrate biasing paradigm. Our prototype will incorporate an innovative filtering, clocking and biasing scheme that will significantly reduce the readout noise below that normally expected for a traditional clamp and sample read-out cycle. It also will lower the dark current by up to two orders of magnitude to a point where cooling the chip below ambient or even somewhat elevated temperatures would be unnecessary for many adaptive optics applications. In many applications this would eliminate the need for cryogenic chambers and cooling systems thus simplifying and reducing the size, weight and cost of the camera.
Potential Commercial Applications:There is a large market for small, versatile, low cost wavefront sensor cameras in astronomy, communications and defense. Especially problematic is the need for a large, heavy and costly cryogenic dewar; thermoelectric cooling of the CCD; the need for large, heavy and costly power supplies for the CCD and the lack of a commercially available CCD. The EEV CCD39 promises to offer the possibility to eliminate the use of a cryogenic dewar, reduce the power requirements, size and weight of the camera head, is inexpensive and is commercially available.
