QHYCCD QHY600M-PH/SBFL+CFW3L+OAGM

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With the advantage of low readout noise and high-speed readout, CMOS technology has revolutionized astronomical imaging. A monochrome, back-illuminated, high-sensitivity, astronomical imaging camera is the ideal choice for astro-imagers. The QHY600 uses the latest SONY back-illuminated sensor, the IMX455, a full frame (35mm format) sensor with 3.76um pixels and native 16-bit A/D.  This sensor is available in both monochrome and color versions.  The QHY600 ends the days of non-16bit CMOS cameras and it ends the days non-full frame (and larger) monochrome CMOS cameras.

QHY600 Astronomy Camera: Sony IMX455 CMOS, Full Format, BSI, 3.76um Pixels, Native 16bit A/D, 60MP, 2GB DDR3, Mutiple Readout Modes

Models

QHY600 Series have mutiple models which covers both photographic and scientific using. Below list different types of QHY600 PH (photographic) series:

QHY600PH : Standard version for amateur astrographers;

QHY600PH SBFL : it has shorter back focal length compared with other PH types;

QHY600PH L : a Lite, shorter and cheaper version.

 

QHY600PH SBFL

QHY600 Astronomy Camera: Sony IMX455 CMOS, Full Format, BSI, 3.76um Pixels, Native 16bit A/D, 60MP, 2GB DDR3, Mutiple Readout Modes

QHY600PH-SBFL (Short back-focal length version) is specially designed for DSLR lens users or those who has special requirment of short back focal length. This version has a special front part version which has 14mm B.F.L only*. The front part includes six M2.5 screw holes arranged on a 68mm diameter roundness. QHY600 SBFL can easily match Canon/Nikon lens even with filter wheel.

QHY600 Astronomy Camera: Sony IMX455 CMOS, Full Format, BSI, 3.76um Pixels, Native 16bit A/D, 60MP, 2GB DDR3, Mutiple Readout Modes
On the side of this adapter there is a 4mm hole to connect air pump through plastic pipe in case of the  dewing glass when necessary.

 

*The B.F.L consumed equals 12.5mm when connecting QHYCFW. About the defination of “BFL Comsumed” and our adapter system please view: https://www.qhyccd.com/astronomical-camera-adapter-bfl-solution/
 

 

QHY600 Lite

QHY600 Astronomy Camera: Sony IMX455 CMOS, Full Format, BSI, 3.76um Pixels, Native 16bit A/D, 60MP, 2GB DDR3, Mutiple Readout Modes

Compared with QHY600 PH, QHY600PH-Lite has the following features compared with previous models:

1. QHY600L only has mono version.

2. The body length becomes shorter, which is about 112mm, and its price is lowered compared with QHY600 PH.

3. The Built-in DDR3 Buffer (memory storage) is adjusted to 1GB compared to 2GB of QHY600PH/Pro. Other specifications of QHY600L keep the same with QHY600PH except the body length and weight.

Features

Equipped with a Sony IMX455, the QHY600 is a back-illuminated Scientific CMOS Camera with extremely low dark current (0.002e/p/s@-20C) using SONY’s Exmor BSI CMOS technology. QHY600 is also a zero amplifer glow camera.

The QHY600 has only one electron of read noise at high gain and full resolution and 4FPS readout speed.  One electron of read noise means the camera can achieve a SNR>3 at only 4 to 6 photons. This is perfect performance when conditions are photon limited, i.e., short exposures, narrow band imaging, etc., making this large area sensor ideal for sky surveys, time domain astronomy, fluorescence imaging, DNA sequencing and microscopy.

QHY600 Astronomy Camera: Sony IMX455 CMOS, Full Format, BSI, 3.76um Pixels, Native 16bit A/D, 60MP, 2GB DDR3, Mutiple Readout Modes2GB DDR3 image buffer

In order to provide smooth uninterrupted data transfer of the entire 60MP sensor at high speed, the QHY600 has 2GB DDR3 image buffer. The pixel count of the latest generation of CMOS sensors is very high resulting in greater memory requirements for temporary and permanent storage.  For example, the QHY600 sensor produces about 120MB of data per frame.  The data band-width is also increased from the original 16-bits to the current 32-bits.  Transferring such a large file sizes necessarily requires the camera to have sufficient memory. The QHY600 has adopted a large-capacity memory of up to 2GB.  Data throughput is doubled. This large image buffer meets the needs of high-speed image acquisition and transmission of the new generation of CMOS, making shooting of multiple frames smoother and less stuttered, further reducing the pressure on the computer CPU.

Another advantage is that when using some computers that do not have fast processors or have poor support for USB 3.0, the computer can’t transfer high-speed data well, and the data is often lost. The DDR can buffer a lot of image data and send it to the computer. Even if the USB 3.0 transmission frequently gets suspended, it will ensure that data is not lost. There are options in SharpCap to turn DDR buffering on or off. The current version of the ASCOM driver works in DDR mode.

 

Extended Full Well Capacity and Multiple Read Modes

With a pixel size of 3.76um, these sensors already have an impressive full well capacity of 51ke.  Nevertheless, QHYCCD has implemented a unique approach to achieve a full well capacity higher than 51ke- through innovative user controllable read mode settings.  In extended full well readout mode, the QHY600 can achieve an extremely large full-well charge value of nearly 80ke- and the QHY268C can achieve nearly 75ke-.  Greater full-well capacity provides greater dynamic range and large variations in magnitude of brightness are less likely to saturate.  The QHY600 / 268C have three readout modes with different characteristics.

 

 

Native 16 bit A/D: The new Sony sensor has native 16-bit A/D on-chip. The output is real 16-bits with 65536 levels. Compared to 12-bit and 14-bit A/D, a 16-bit A/D yields higher sample resolution and the system gain will be less than 1e-/ADU with no sample error noise and very low read noise.

BSI: One benefit of the back-illuminated CMOS structure is improved full well capacity. This is particularly helpful for sensors with small pixels. In a typical front-illuminated sensor, photons from the target entering the photosensitive layer of the sensor must first pass through the metal wiring that is embedded just above the photosensitive layer. The wiring structure reflects some of the photons and reduces the efficiency of the sensor. In the back- illuminated sensor the light is allowed to enter the photosensitive surface from the reverse side. In this case the sensor’s embedded wiring structure is below the photosensitive layer. As a result, more incoming photons strike the photosensitive layer and more electrons are generated and captured in the pixel well. This ratio of photon to electron production is called quantum efficiency. The higher the quantum efficiency the more efficient the sensor is at converting photons to electrons and hence the more sensitive the sensor is to capturing an image of something dim.

Zero Amplify Glow: This is also a zero amplifer glow camera.

 

TRUE RAW Data: In the DSLR implementation there is a RAW image output, but typically it is not completely RAW.  Some evidence of noise reduction and hot pixel removal is still visible on close inspection.  This can have a negative effect on the image for astronomy such as the “star eater” effect.  However,  QHY Cameras offer TRUE RAW IMAGE OUTPUT and produces an image comprised of the original signal only, thereby maintaining the maximum flexibility for post-acquisition astronomical image processing programs and other scientific imaging applications.

Anti-Dew Technology: Based on almost 20-year cooled camera design experience, The QHY cooled camera has implemented the fully dew control solutions. The optic window has built-in dew heater and the chamber is protected from internal humidity condensation. An electric heating board for the chamber window can prevent the formation of dew and the sensor itself is kept dry with our silicon gel tube socket design for control of humidity within the sensor chamber.

Cooling: In addition to dual stage TE cooling, QHYCCD implements proprietary technology in hardware to control the dark current noise.

 

 

 

Advanced Functions Available
 
Reboot the camera by power off and on

The camera is designed to use the +12V to reboot the camera without disconnecting and reconnecting the USB interface. This means that you can reboot the camera simply by shutting down the +12V and then powering it back on. This feature is very handy for remote controlling the camera in an observatory. You can use a remotely controlled power supply to reboot the camera. There is no need to consider how to reconnect the USB in the case of remote control.

 

Random change thermal noise suppression function

You may find some types of thermal noise can change with time in some back-illuminated CMOS cameras. This thermal noises has the characteristic of the fixed position of typical thermal noise, but the value is not related to the exposure time.  Instead, each frame appears to have its own characteristics.  The QHY600/268/461/411 use an innovative suppression technology that can significantly reduce the apparent level of such noise.

 

 

 

Optimizing USB Traffic to Minimize Horizontal Banding

It is common behavior for a CMOS sensor to contain some horizontal banding. Normally, random horizontal banding can be removed with multiple frame stacking so it does not affect the final image. However, periodic horizontal banding is not removed with stacking so it may appear in the final image. By adjust the USB traffic in Single Frame mode or Live Frame mode, you can adjust the frequency of the CMOS sensor driver and it can optimize the horizontal banding appeared on the image. This optimized is very effective to remove the periodic banding in some conditions.

A typical Periodic Horizontal Noise under certain USB_TRAFFIC values.

After Adjusting the USB Traffic to avoid the periodic horizontal noise.

Specifications
Model QHY600PH (Photographic Version)

 

QHY600PH SBFL (Short Back Focal Length Version)

QHY600PH L (Lite Version)

CMOS Sensor SONY IMX455
Mono/Color Both Available (while Mono only with QHY600PH-L)
FSI/BSI BSI
Pixel Size 3.76um x 3.76um
Effective Pixel Area 9576*6388

 

(9600*6422 with overscan and optically black area)

Effective Pixels 61.17 Megapixels
(effective area.
Sensor Size Full Frame 36mm x 24mm
A/D Sample Depth

 

 

16-bit (0-65535 levels) at 1X1 binning

 

18-bit at 2X2, 19-bit at 3X3, 20-bit at 4X4 software binning

*QHY600 uses the software digital binning for 2*2binning. With digital sum, 2*2binning will be four 16-bit summed then it is 18-bit.

Full Well Capacity (1×1, 2×2, 3×3) Standard Mode
>51ke-  / >204ke- / >408ke-
Super Full Well Mode
>80ke-  / >320ke- / >720ke-
Full Frame Rate USB3.0 Port Image Transfer Speed

 

Full Frame Size: 4.0FPS (8-bit output)

Full Frame Size: 2.5FPS (16-bit output)

7.2FPS at 9600×3194, 22.5FPS at 9600×1080, 28FPS at 9600×768, 47FPS at 9600×480, 160FPS at 9600×100,

Fiber Port Image Transfer Speed (QHY600Pro only)

Full Frame Size: 4.0FPS (16-bit output)

Readout Noise 1.0e- to 3.7e-  (Standard Mode)
Dark Current 0.0022e-/p/s @ -20C    0.0046e-/p/s @ -10C
Exposure Time Range 40us – 3600sec
Unity Gain* 25 (Extended Full Well Mode) *

 

*With the improvement of the CMOS technology, the 16bit CMOS camera has been released, like QHY600/268/411/461. For these cameras, even in lowest gain it has beyond the requirement of unit gain (less than 1e/ADU due to sufficient samples) So you can directly set gain 0 as start. Please note QHY600/268C/411/461 has extend full well mode. In this mode you still need to find out the unit gain position.

Amp Control Zero Amplifer Glow
Firmware/FPGA remote Upgrade Supported. Via Camera USB Port
Shutter Type Electric Rolling Shutter
Computer Interface USB3.0
Built-in Image Buffer DDR3 memory

 

PH & PH SBFL ver.: 2GBytes(16Gbit)
Lite ver. : 1GBytes(8Gbit)

Hardware Frame Sequence Number Supported
Cooling System Dual Stage TEC cooler:
– Long exposures (> 1 second) typically -35C below ambient
– Short exposure (< 1second) high FPS, typically -30C below ambient(Test temperature +20°)
Optic Window Type AR+AR High Quality Multi-Layer Anti-Reflection Coating
Anti-Dew Heater Yes
Telescope Interface M54/0.75
Back Focal Length QHY600PH&QHYPH-L: 17.5mm+6mm (±0.2)

 

QHY600SBFL: 14.5mm*

*The BFL Consumed equals 12.5mm when connecting QHYCFW. About the defination of “BFL Comsumed” and our adapter system please view: https://www.qhyccd.com/adapters/

Weigth PH Version: 850g
Lite Version: 790g
Power 40W/100%
20W/50%
13.8W/0%
Readout Modes and Curves

Multiple Readout Modes is a new function for newer QHY Cameras.  Different readout modes have different driver timing, etc., and result in different performance. The QHY600 currently has four readout modes, and more modes will be added in the future. These readout modes are currently supported in the QHY ASCOM Camera Driver, SharpCAP software and the N.I.N.A software.

QHY600 Performance Curves in Readout Mode #0 (Photographic Mode). In this mode there is a drop in the noise between Gain 25 and Gain 26.  We recommend setting the Gain to 26 to begin.  At this setting the full well is 27ke- and readout noise is 2.7e-.  For every long exposures you can lower the gain from this point to increase the full well capacity.

QHY600 Performance Curves in Readout Mode #1 (High Gain Mode).  Please note there is a HGC/LGC switch point at gain55 to gain56. Gain0-55 uses LGC and Gain55-100 uses HGC.

QHY600 Performance Curves in Readout Mode #2 (Super Fullwell Mode).

Now QHY600 adds #3 mode Extend Fullwell 2CMSIT (yellow curve). The advantage of this mode is that it has the same full well value and system gain as the #2 mode Extend Fullwell, but the read noise is reduced by about 1.3 times.

This function needs to be used with 2020.6.26 or newer SDK. If your software cannot display this mode, please download the QHYAllInOne installation package to update the SDK in the software.

The curve shows absolute QE

Linearity Test
We did a test for the QHY600 under the ultra high fullwell mode. The results is quite good to show a good linearity response range up to 73ke-. The results can be found here:
 
 
QHY600 linear test results show good linearity up to 73000e-.  This is in readout modes # 0 and # 2. Gain = 0. In the linear fit graph we deleted the data above 73000e- and got R ^ 2 = 0.9998.
 
At very short exposure times below 20ms the value is quite small and may be flicker induced by the tablet.

 

Mechanical Dimensions

QHY600 PH

QHY600 Astronomy Camera: Sony IMX455 CMOS, Full Format, BSI, 3.76um Pixels, Native 16bit A/D, 60MP, 2GB DDR3, Mutiple Readout Modes

QHY600PH-SBFL

QHY600 Astronomy Camera: Sony IMX455 CMOS, Full Format, BSI, 3.76um Pixels, Native 16bit A/D, 60MP, 2GB DDR3, Mutiple Readout Modes

QHY600PH-L

QHY600 Astronomy Camera: Sony IMX455 CMOS, Full Format, BSI, 3.76um Pixels, Native 16bit A/D, 60MP, 2GB DDR3, Mutiple Readout Modes

Image Area Layout

The QHY600 can output the whole active area of the sensor, including the optically black pixels and the overscan area. The total image size including the optically black area area is 9600 x 6422 pixels. The optically black area is on the left of the image and the overscan area is on bottom of the image.

The difference of optically black area and overscan area is that the optically black area includes the dark current during a long exposure while the overscan area does not include the dark current during an exposure.

Neither the optically black area nor the overscan area respond to light, so they are regarded as the “non-effective” area of the sensor.

In the bottom of the overscan area you may find some vertical series of dots in single frame that can become vertical lines after stacking. One of the reasons for this is that the FPN calibration results represented in the overscan area can’t be found in the effective image area.

The following picture is the left bottom corner of a 300 second dark image. You can see these dots in the overscan area. The optically black level area and overscan area are usually used for precise calibration of an image and for calibration of an image without using a bias frame or dark frame, or for some scientific applications.  Because the optically black and overscan areas are not part of the effective image area, QHYCCD does not guarantee the signal quality in these areas.  If you do not use these areas, you can select the option “Ignore overscan area” in the ASCOM driver or select a ROI of effective area in SharpCAP.

QHY600 Astronomy Camera: Sony IMX455 CMOS, Full Format, BSI, 3.76um Pixels, Native 16bit A/D, 60MP, 2GB DDR3, Mutiple Readout ModesQHY600 Astronomy Camera: Sony IMX455 CMOS, Full Format, BSI, 3.76um Pixels, Native 16bit A/D, 60MP, 2GB DDR3, Mutiple Readout Modes

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