Charge-coupled devices (CCDs) in scientific research

Talk in the scope of the Seminar: Selected Topics in Physics - SoSe 2013

Markus Teucher

Mai 21st, 2013

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Structure0

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.. History

.. CCD sensor

.. Architecture

.. Parameter

.. Intensified CCD (ICCD)

.. Electron-multiplying CCD (EMCCD)

.. CCDs in researchImage source: http://www.leica-microsystems.com/typo3temp/pics/DFC450_CCD_09_54c6d47e08.jpg

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0 History

W. Boyle & G. E. Smith (1969): invention of CCD

→ storage device M. F. Tompsett (1970):

first CCD imaging sensors Nobel prize (2009)

Image source: J. R. Janesick: Scientific Charge Coupled Devices, page 4, SPIE Press, 2001

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1 CCD sensor

Image source: http://www.axis.com/files/whitepaper/wp_ccd_cmos_40722_en_1010_lo.pdf

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1 CCD sensor

Image sources: http://www.axis.com/files/whitepaper/wp_ccd_cmos_40722_en_1010_lo.pdfhttp://www.microscopyu.com/articles/digitalimaging/ccdintro.html

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1 CCD sensor – Photodiode (Pixel)

Image source: http://www.microscopyu.com/articles/digitalimaging/ccdintro.html

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1 CCD sensor – Pixel structure

Image source: http://www.microscopyu.com/articles/digitalimaging/ccdintro.html

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1 CCD sensor – Readout process

Image source: S. A. Taylor: CCD and CMOS Imaging Array Technologies, Xerox, Technical Report EPC-1998-106

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1 CCD sensor – Readout process

Image source: S. A. Taylor: CCD and CMOS Imaging Array Technologies, Xerox, Technical Report EPC-1998-106

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1 CCD sensor

Image source: http://www.axis.com/files/whitepaper/wp_ccd_cmos_40722_en_1010_lo.pdf

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1 CCD sensor – color filters

Image source: http://www.axis.com/files/whitepaper/wp_ccd_cmos_40722_en_1010_lo.pdf

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1 CCD sensor – Bayer pattern

Image source: http://larrytatum.mml.cam.ac.uk/chucol/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/process_sensor.png

50% green, 25% each for red and blue RGBG →

green: biggest contribution to contrast and sharpness perception

→ e.g. 72% of brightness and contrast perception at gray tones

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1 CCD sensor

Image source: http://www.axis.com/files/whitepaper/wp_ccd_cmos_40722_en_1010_lo.pdf

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2 Architecture

How to minimize light exposure during readout? „→ smearing effect“

Image source: http://blog.ednchina.com/Upload/Blog//749572d5-e657-4a69-a011-f81202ba12cb.jpg

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2 Architecture – Full-Frame (FF) CCD

Image source: http://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%ED%8C%8C%EC%9D%BC:CCD_types_schematic.png

whole image area is active mechanical shutter

slow, complicated reliability→

→ e.g. use in astronomy (high resolution, 100% of CCD used for imaging, shutter time not important)

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2 Architecture – Frame-Transfer (FT) CCD

long exposure times required

→ smearing effect has 2x size of a FF-CCD

Image source: http://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%ED%8C%8C%EC%9D%BC:CCD_types_schematic.png

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2 Architecture – Interline-Transfer (IT) CCD

Image source: http://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%ED%8C%8C%EC%9D%BC:CCD_types_schematic.png

short shutter times smearing lower resolution

→ e.g. consumer cameras

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2 Architecture – Frame-Interline-Transfer (FIT) CCD

Image source: http://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%ED%8C%8C%EC%9D%BC:CCD_types_schematic.png

short shutter times minimal smearing lower resolution has 2x size of a FF-CCD

→ e.g. high-speed-cameras, science

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3 Parameter

smearing effect blooming effect noise:

dark current (thermally generated) readout noise

Image source: http://static.photo.net/attachments/bboard/00A/00AAM0-20520484.jpg

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3 Parameter - Calibration

Image source: Martinez: A Practical Guide to CCD Astronomy, Cambridge University Press, 1998

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4 Intensified CCD (ICCD)

Image source: http://www.photonis.com/img/cms/illustrations/technical/Tube.jpg

Path of one electron multiplying through the MCP:

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4 Intensified CCD (ICCD)

Image source: http://www.photonis.com/img/cms/illustrations/technical/Tube.jpg

high sensitivity gating enables shutter speeds in 100 picosecond – range

→ e.g. night vision and high-speed-cameras

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5 Electron-multiplying CCD (EMCCD)

readout noise minimized

→ high sensitivity in low light (need to be cooled) no superior shutter speeds as ICCD

→ e.g. night vision, astronomy, fluorescence microscopyImage source: http://learn.hamamatsu.com/articles/images/emccdsfigure3.jpg

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5 EMCCD vs ICCD

Image source: D. J. Denvir, E. Conroy: Electron Multiplying CCD Technology: The new ICCD, Proc. SPIE 4796, 164, 2003

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6 CCDs in research different types for specific use linearity of detection wavelength range:

1 pm to 1100 nm

need to be cooled low amount of defects, low noise in operating area, high dynamic range

→ expensiveImage source: http://kepler.nasa.gov//images/mws/KeplerCCDarray2.jpeg

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6 CCDs in research – low light performance

Tracking tumor growth via bioluminescence (ICCD-sensor).Image source: Edinger et al.: Advancing animal models of neoplasia through in vivo bioluminescence imaging,

European Journal of Cancer Volume 38, Issue 16, Pages 2128–2136, November 2002

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6 CCDs in research – high frame rates

fastest commercial DSLR: shutter speed at 60 us (light travels 18 km) MIT experiment: shutter speed at 2 ps (light travels 0.6 mm)

Image source: http://1.1.1.3/bmi/img.pandawhale.com/post-5116-Now-You-Can-Actually-See-Light-fSDM.gif

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Literature J. R. Janesick: Scientific Charge Coupled Devices, SPIE Press, 2001

T. Maschke: Digitale Kameratechnik, Springer, 2004

S. A. Taylor: CCD and CMOS Imaging Array Technologies, Xerox, Technical Report EPC-1998-106

http://www.andor.com/learning-academy

D. J. Denvir, E. Conroy: Electron Multiplying CCD Technology: The new ICCD, Proc. SPIE 4796, 164, 2003

G. C. Holst: CCD Arrays, Cameras, and Displays, SPIE Press, 2nd edition, 1998

R. Hain, C. J. Kähler, C. Tropea: Comparison of CCD, CMOS and intensified cameras, DOI:10.1007/s00348-006-0247-1, pp.403-411