Fujifilm - e2v L3 Vision

Click to edit Master title styleL3Vision CCD Technology

INTRODUCTION

Click to edit Master title styleL3Vision TechnologyHow sensitive is a CCD?

• How low the noise floor is� Noise sets the limit to the minimum detectable signal

Three key factors determine the low light sensitivi ty of a CCD:

Interline transfer

Frame transfer

• Number of photons / pixel / unit time� Dependent on pixel area

� With all else equal, a 16 µm square pixel gathers 4x the light of an 8 µm square pixel

• How well light is converted to signal electrons� High quantum efficiency

� Back illuminated CCDs convert over 90% of 550 nm light to signal electrons

• Maximum open area ratio� Frame transfer CCDs are 100% fill factor� Interline transfer CCDs are not 100% fill factor

Click to edit Master title styleL3Vision TechnologyMaximizing Signal to Noise

• Shot Noise on the Dark Signal

� Cool sensor to eliminate dark current

• Noise from the CCD Output Amplifier

� Reduce readout rate

• Noise added by the video chain electronics

� Optimise design of electronics

Main Sources of Noise

Reduce the noise = Improve the CCD Sensitivity

Benefit from L3Vision Technology

Click to edit Master title styleL3Vision TechnologyWhat L3Vision is…

• Low Light Level Technology

• A CCD technology that provides <1 photo-electron equivalent read noise at video rates or higher

• An impact ionisation gain process within the CCD that amplifies signal electrons up to 1000 times so that they may be detected above the CCD output and electronics noise.

• A unique technology developed by e2v technologies

Click to edit Master title styleL3Vision TechnologyWhat L3Vision is NOT…

• L3Vision CCDs do NOT use image intensifiers

• L3Vision CCDs are NOT electron bombarded CCDs (EBCCDs).

• L3Vision CCDs are NOT CMOS image sensors

… L3Vision CCDs are simply CCDs

… and are sometimes known as EMCCDs (Electron Multiplying CCDs)

Click to edit Master title styleL3Vision TechnologyConventional CCD

Charge to Voltage Conversion

Iφφφφ1Iφφφφ2Iφφφφ3Image/Store Areas

Rφφφφ1 Rφφφφ2 Rφφφφ3

Readout Register

Click to edit Master title styleL3Vision TechnologyL3Vision CCD

Iφφφφ1Iφφφφ2Iφφφφ3

Rφφφφ1Rφφφφ2Rφφφφ3 Rφφφφ2HV

Multiplication Register

Click to edit Master title styleL3Vision TechnologyHow the gain process works

• The charge multiplication elements

Click to edit Master title styleL3Vision TechnologyOther noise sources

• Dark current� The CCD must be cooled to completely eliminate dark current – even at 1000

frames per second

• Clock-induced charge or spurious charge� Can be almost eliminated by reducing clock rise times & careful voltage adjustment

� <0.1 e/pixel/frame is possible in inverted mode, <0.003 e/pixel/frame is possible in non-inverted mode

� See L3Vision Technical Note #4 for more details….

• Excess Noise Factor…� The gain process adds noise due to the gain probability distribution.

σout2 = σin

2 x Gmean2 x F 2

Where σout2 = variance of output signal

σin2 = variance of input signal

Gmean = mean gain

F = excess noise factor

Click to edit Master title styleL3Vision TechnologyCCD Quantum Efficiency

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100

Wavelength (nm)

QE

(%

)

Back-illuminated w/ midband AR coating (-20C)Back-illuminated

w/ broadband AR coating (-20C)

Front-illuminated (+20C)

Front-illuminated with lumogen coating (+20C)

Click to edit Master title styleL3Vision TechnologyL3Vision CCDs vs ICCDs

ICCD Advantages• Gated operation• Mature and accepted technology• Low power consumption

ICCD Disadvantages• Poor daylight performance• Susceptible to damage• Poor resolution• High excess noise factor

Image Intensifier

CCD

Fiber optic coupling

Click to edit Master title styleL3Vision TechnologyL3Vision CCDs vs ICCDs

L3Vision CCD Advantages

• Increased spatial resolution & SNR givinggreater dynamic range

• No halo from bright sources allowing visible detail in adjacent pixels

• Not susceptible to damage from bright lights• No scintillations giving improved image quality• High photo-sensitivity (QE up to ~95%)• Solid state giving lower life-cycle cost• No high voltages required• Excellent for day and night operation

L3Vision CCD Disadvantages• Moderate power consumption

Click to edit Master title styleL3Vision TechnologyCamera Features

• High Dynamic Range

Click to edit Master title styleL3Vision TechnologyCamera Features

• Fast recovery from bright lights

Click to edit Master title style

• Spot light performance is far superior to Gen III ICCD

L3Vision TechnologyCamera Features

Click to edit Master title styleL3Vision TechnologyFeature Summary

• Electron Multiplication allows even the smallest sig nals to be seen

• Back-illumination means superb quantum efficiency� ~95% QE at 550 nm with mid-band AR coating

• Square pixels, scientific format sensors are available

• Large pixels for high signal to noise ratio available� High full well capacity and dynamic range

• Cameras are available that fully exploit the L3visio n features� Automatic level control

� Digital image enhancement (filtering, dynamic gamma)

� Digital & analogue outputs� Ultra-low light level performance


Quarter Moonlight

L3 Vision TechnologyCamera comparison

e2v

L3C65 Analogue

Sony

Ex-view

e2v

L3C95Digital

Omni-4 Gen3 ICCD


Sub Starlight

(0.5 mlux)

L3 Vision TechnologyCamera comparison

e2v

L3C95Digital

Omni-4 Gen3 ICCD

e2v

L3C65 Analogue

Sony

Ex-view


Custom L3Vision camera for C130-J upgrade


L3 Vision - Defence & Aerospace Market

•Reconnaissance Pod

Images courtesy of Thales Optronics UK

Click to edit Master title styleL3Vision TechnologyLegacy Camera Products

L3C60� 128(H) x 128(V)

� 500 frames per second

� Analog video output

� Internally cooled CCD for reduction of dark current

� IMO for reduced dark current

� Automatic gain control adjusts to varied lighting

L3C65� 576(H) x 488(V) or 576(H) x 576(V)

� Analog video output


� Automatic gain control adjusts to varied lighting

L3C95 / L3C85� 768(H) x 488(V) or 768(H) x 576(V)

� Analog or Digital video output


� Digital control of operating modes – USB2.0 or RS232

� Real time digital image enhancement

� Extremely low minimum usable light level (10x lower than L3C65)

� Fully automatic operation over NINE decades of illumination.

Customization available

Click to edit Master title styleL3Vision TechnologyNew Video Camera Product

L3C216� 768(H) x 488(V) or 768(H) x 576(V)

� Analog or Digital video output

� Internally cooled CCD for reduction of dark current (fan-less)

� Back-thinned L3Vision CCD with QE up to ~95%

� Digital control of operating modes – Camera Link or RS232

� Real time digital image enhancement

� Extremely low minimum usable light level (10x lower than L3C65)

� Fully automatic operation over NINE decades of illumination.

� Reduced power consumption (6W typical, 12W max)

� Reduced size (and modular design version planned)

� RoHS Compliant

Customization available


• Camera customisation to meet military specifications and airborne applications

• Also available as a sensor-head board and driver board-set and as CCD sensors

Please send us you requirements!

L3Vision TechnologyVideo Camera Customization

Click to edit Master title styleL3Vision TechnologyScientific CCD products

• Back-illumination and sub-electron-equivalent read noise� Basic process mid-band and broadband AR coatings available� QE up to ~95%. Near theoretical detection limit

• CCD201 (BI and FI)� 1024 x 1024 frame transfer� 13um square pixels� Up to 15MHz readout� Dump drain for fast ROI readout

• CCD97 (BI and FI)� 512 x 512 frame transfer� 16um square pixels� Up to 10 MHz readout � Dump drain for fast ROI readout

• CCD60 (BI and FI)� 128 x 128 frame transfer� 24um pixels� Up to 1000 fps� Dump drain for fast ROI readout

• CCD39 (BI and FI)�80 x 80 split frame transfer�24um square pixels�Up to 1000 Frames per second�Particularly suited for the tracking of point source objects

Click to edit Master title styleL3Vision TechnologyApplication areas

• Scientific imaging� Single molecule fluorescence

� High throughput screening� Adaptive optics / wave-front sensing

� Photon counting

� Ground based astronomy� See www.ing.iac.es/~smt/LLLCCD/marcl3.htm

• Surveillance and Reconnaissance � TV format� Airborne & Ground-based surveillance

� Underwater Imaging

� Driver view enhancement� Commander’s night-sight

� Pushbroom imagers


The End

Thank you for listening, do you have any questions?

L3Vision Technology