Digital Charge Coupled Device (CCD) Camera System Architecture

S. K. Babey; C. D. Anger; B. D. Green

doi:10.1117/12.950306

11 December 1985 Digital Charge Coupled Device (CCD) Camera System Architecture

S. K. Babey, C. D. Anger, B. D. Green

Proceedings Volume 0570, Solid-State Imaging Arrays; (1985) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.950306
Event: 29th Annual Technical Symposium, 1985, San Diego, United States

Abstract

The features of two-dimensional CCD imaging arrays have led to widespread use of these devices as quantitative optical and x-ray image sensors. In this paper we discuss the desirable attributes that a general purpose digital CCD camera system should have to exploit these capabilities and provide applications flexibility. These include wide dynamic range, flexible readout format and high speed clocking and data acquisition. The ability to digitally sum a number of successive image frames increases the dynamic range and reduces array cooling requirements in intensified-CCD and x-ray applications. We discuss the ways in which these goals have been achieved through the architecture of the DCS-2 Digital Camera System. The system consists of a camera head and controller connected by a datalink over which control information and image data are transmitted. Camera operation is controlled by a Micro-programmable Control Unit (MCU) in response to commands received from the controller over the serial channel in the datalink. The MCU controls all aspects of the CCD readout including integration time and generation of clock signals. The CCD video signal undergoes correlated double sampling and is digitized and transmitted to the controller over the parallel channel in the datalink on a pixel-sequential basis. The instrument controller is based around a microcomputer system with floppy and Winchester disk storage. Successive image frames received from the camera head are summed directly into the Summation Video Memory (SVM). The SVM is a novel three-port design which provides ports for the camera and computer and which also provides an output signal to drive a real-time display monitor. A menu-driven software package provides an interactive environment for control of the CCD readout configuration and image acquisition.

Citation Download Citation

S. K. Babey, C. D. Anger, and B. D. Green "Digital Charge Coupled Device (CCD) Camera System Architecture", Proc. SPIE 0570, Solid-State Imaging Arrays, (11 December 1985); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.950306

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $17.00

Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART

PROCEEDINGS
7 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Get copyright permission Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace

KEYWORDS

Charge-coupled devices

Cameras

Imaging systems

Video

CCD cameras

Clocks

Head

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years