Products Home1.4 Megapixel CCD Scientific Cameras for Microscopy
- 1.4 Megapixel Monochrome and Color CCD Cameras
- Scientific-Grade Cameras with <7 e- Read Noise
- Up to 23 Frames per Second for the Full Sensor
- Support for LabVIEW, MATLAB, µManager, and MetaMorph
Application Idea
1501M-USB Non-Cooled Monochrome Camera with C-Mount Camera Lens
1501C-USB-TE
Hermetically Sealed
Two-Stage Cooled Color Camera
Scientific CCD Camera in a Cerna® Microscope
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This fluorescence image of a rat neuron was acquired using one of our 1.4 MP cameras. For more image samples, please see the Applications tab.
Applications
- Fluorescence Microscopy
- VIS/NIR Imaging
- Quantum Dots
- Multispectral Imaging
- Immunohistochemistry (IHC)
- Histopathology
- Retinal Imaging
| Scientific Camera Selection Guide | |
|---|---|
| CMOS & sCMOS Sensors |
Zelux® CMOS (Smallest Profile) |
| Kiralux® CMOS | |
| Kiralux Polarization-Sensitive CMOS | |
| Quantalux® sCMOS (<1 e- Read Noise) |
|
| CCD Sensors | 1.4 MP CCD |
| 8 MP CCD | |
| VGA Resolution CCD (200 Frames Per Second) |
|
Features
- High Quantum Efficiency Maximizes Signal and SNR (60% Peak Quantum Efficiency in
Monochrome Versions) - <6 e- (TEC Cooled) or <7 e- (Non-Cooled) Read Noise Improves the Threshold of Detectability Under Low Light Conditions
- Software-Selectable 20 MHz or 40 MHz Readout: Maximize Frame Rate (40 MHz) or
Minimize Noise (20 MHz) - Asynchronous Reset, Triggered, and Bulb Exposure Modes (See Triggering Tab for Details)
- 2/3" Format, 1392 x 1040 Monochrome or Color CCD Sensor with 6.45 µm Square Pixels
(Sony ICX285AL or ICX285AQ) - ThorCam GUI with 32- and 64-Bit Windows® 7, 10, or 11 Support
- SDK and Programming Interface Support:
- C, C++, C#, Python, and Visual Basic .NET APIs
- LabVIEW, MATLAB, µManager, and MetaMorph Third-Party Software
- 1/4"-20 Tapped Holes for Post Mounting
Thorlabs' 1.4 megapixel scientific CCD cameras, which offer up to 23 frames per second at 40 MHz readout of the full sensor, are specifically designed for microscopy and other demanding scientific imaging applications. These cameras are ideal for multispectral imaging, fluorescence microscopy, and other techniques that would benefit from high quantum efficiency and low noise.
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1501M-USB Camera Integrated into
60 mm Cage System
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1501M-USB Camera with
MVL25M23 C-Mount Camera Lens
Sam Tesfai
General Manager,
Thorlabs Imaging Systems
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Standard Package or Hermetically Sealed TE-Cooled Camera
Our cameras are available in two package styles: a compact, non-cooled standard package and a hermetically sealed package with a two-stage thermoelectric cooler that cools the CCD. The fan-free design minimizes image blur from vibrations. Cooling the camera will reduce the dark current; however, the total dark current is also a function of exposure time. For high light levels requiring short exposure times (less than 1 second), a non-cooled camera is generally sufficient. A cooled camera is recommended for applications with low light levels requiring an exposure greater than 1 second. Please see the Camera Noise tab for more details on the various sources of camera noise and how they impact the choice between a standard and cooled camera.
USB 3.0 Industry-Standard Interface
These cameras have a USB 3.0 interface. A USB cable, a power supply, and software are supplied with all cameras; see the Shipping List tab for more information. A frame grabber card is available separately. Your computer must have a free PCI Express slot to install the GigE interface. For more details on the USB3.0 interface and recommended computer specifications, please see the Interface tab.
Our cameras have triggering options that enable custom timing and system control; for more details, please see the Triggering tab. External triggering requires a connection to the auxiliary port of the camera. Accessory cables and boards to "break out" the individual signals are available below.
Each camera comes with a user-removable IR filter; for details on the transmission please see the Specs tab. If the filter is removed, it can be replaced with a user-supplied Ø1" (Ø25 mm) filter or another optic up to 4 mm thick; please see the camera manual (found under the red Docs icon below) for details.
The cameras feature standard C-Mount (1.000"-32) threading, and Thorlabs provides a full line of thread-to-thread adapters for compatibility with other thread standards, including the SM1 (1.035"-40) threading used on our Ø1" Lens Tubes. The front face also has 4-40 tapped holes for compatibility with our 60 mm Cage System. Four 1/4"-20 tapped holes, one on each side of the housing, are compatible with our Ø1" posts. These flexible mounting options make Thorlabs' scientific cameras the ideal choice for integrating into home-built imaging systems as well as those based on commercial microscopes.
| Monochrome Item #a | 1501M-USB | 1501M-USB-TE |
|---|---|---|
| Color Item #a | 1501C-USB | 1501C-USB-TE |
| Sensor Typeb | Monochrome: Sony ICX285AL Monochrome CCD (Grade 0) Color: Sony ICX285AQ Color CCD (Grade 0) |
|
| Effective Number of Pixels (Horizontal x Vertical) |
1392 x 1040 | |
| Imaging Area (Horizontal x Vertical) |
8.98 mm x 6.71 mm | |
| Pixel Size | 6.45 µm x 6.45 µm | |
| Optical Format | 2/3" Format (11 mm Diagonal) | |
| Peak Quantum Efficiency | Monochrome: 60% at 500 nm Color: See Graph Below |
|
| Exposure Time | 0 to 1000 seconds in 1 ms Incrementsc | |
| CCD Pixel Clock Speed | 20 MHz or 40 MHz | |
| ADCd Gain | 0 to 1023 Steps (0.036 dB/Step) | |
| Optical Black Clamp | 0 to 1023 Steps (0.25 ADU/Step)e | |
| Vertical Hardware Binningf | Continuous Integer Values from 1 to 24 | |
| Horizontal Software Binningf | Continuous Integer Values from 1 to 24 | |
| Region of Interest | 1 x 1 Pixel to 1392 x 1040 Pixels, Rectangular | |
| Read Noiseg | <7 e- at 20 MHz | <6 e- at 20 MHz |
| Digital Output | 14 Bit | |
| Cooling | None | Sensor Cools to -20 °C at 20 °C Ambient Temperature |
| Host PC Interfaceh | USB 3.0 | |
| Lens Mount | C-Mount (1.000"-32) | |
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Non-Cooled Camera
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Hermetically Sealed Cooled Camera
| Example Frame Rates at 1 ms Exposure Timea | 20 MHz | 40 MHz |
|---|---|---|
| Full Sensor (1392 x 1040) | 12 fps | 23 fps |
| Full Sensor, Bin by 2 (696 x 520) | 23 fps | 41 fps |
| Full Sensor, Bin by 10 (139 x 104) | 77 fps | 112 fps |
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Click for Raw Data
These curves show the quantum efficiency for the monochrome camera sensor. The NIR Enhanced (Boost) Mode can be selected via the software. The IR blocking filter should also be removed for maximum NIR sensitivity. Please note that the NIR Boost mode will reduce the antiblooming performance. Antiblooming reduces the effect of one overexposed pixel on neighboring pixels.
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These curves show the relative response for the color camera sensor's red, green, and blue pixels.
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Click for Raw Data
The IR blocking filter (Thorlabs' Item # FESH0700) can be removed from the camera; instructions are provided in the manual. If the filter is removed, it can be replaced with a user-supplied Ø1" (Ø25 mm) filter or another optic up to 4 mm thick.
Thorlabs' Scientific-Grade CCD Cameras are ideal for a variety of applications. The photo gallery below contains images acquired with our 1.4 megapixel, 4 megapixel (previous generation), 8 megapixel, and fast frame rate cameras.
To download some of these images as high-resolution, 16-bit TIFF files, please click here. It may be necessary to use an alternative image viewer to view the 16-bit files. We recommend ImageJ, which is a free download.
| Thorlabs' Scientific Camera Applications (Click Images for Details) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Intracellular Dynamics | Brightfield Microscopy | Ophthalmology (NIR) | Fluorescence Microscopy | Multispectral Imaging | Neuroscience | SEM/TEM |
| Thorlabs' Scientific Camera Recommended for Above Application | ||||||
| 1.4 Megapixel Fast Frame Rate |
8 Megapixel | 1.4 Megapixel | 1.4 Megapixel | 1.4 Megapixel | 1.4 Megapixel | 1.4 Megapixel Fast Frame Rate |
Multispectral Imaging
The video to the right is an example of a multispectral image acquisition using a liquid crystal tunable filter (LCTF) in front of a monochrome camera. With a sample slide exposed to broadband light, the LCTF passes narrow bands of light that are transmitted from the sample. The monochromatic images are captured using a monochrome scientific camera, resulting in a datacube – a stack of spectrally separated two-dimensional images which can be used for quantitative analysis, such as finding ratios or thresholds and spectral unmixing.
In the example shown, a mature capsella bursa-pastoris embryo, also known as Shepherd's-Purse, is rapidly scanned across the 420 nm - 730 nm wavelength range using Thorlabs' KURIOS-WB1 Liquid Crystal Tunable Filter. The images are captured using our legacy 1501M-GE Scientific Camera, which is connected, with the liquid crystal filter, to a Cerna® Series Microscope. The overall system magnification is 10X. The final stacked/recovered image is shown below.
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Final Stacked/Recovered Image
Thrombosis Studies
Thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot within a blood vessel that will impede the flow of blood in the circulatory system. The videos below are from experimental studies on the large-vessel thrombosis in Mice performed by Dr. Brian Cooley at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Three lasers (532 nm, 594 nm, and 650 nm) were expanded and then focused on a microsurgical field of an exposed surgical site in an anesthenized mouse. A custom 1.4 Megapixel Camera with integrated filter wheel were attached to a Leica Microscope to capture the low-light fluorescence emitted from the surgical site. See the videos below with their associated descriptions for further infromation.
Arterial Thrombosis
In the video above, a gentle 30-second electrolytic injury is generated on the surface of a carotid artery in an atherogenic mouse (ApoE-null on a high-fat, “Western” diet), using a 100-micron-diameter iron wire (creating a free-radical injury). The site (arrowhead) and the vessel are imaged by time-lapse fluorescence-capture, low-light camera over 60 minutes (timer is shown in upper left corner – hours:minutes:seconds). Platelets were labeled with a green fluorophore (rhodamine 6G) and anti-fibrin antibodies with a red fluorophore (Alexa-647) and injected prior to electrolytic injury to identify the development of platelets and fibrin in the developing thrombus. Flow is from left to right; the artery is approximately 500 microns in diameter (bar at lower right, 350 microns).
Venous Thrombosis
In the video above, a gentle 30-second electrolytic injury is generated on the surface of a murine femoral vein, using a 100-micron-diameter iron wire (creating a free-radical injury). The site (arrowhead) and the vessel are imaged by time-lapse fluorescence-capture, low-light camera over 60 minutes (timer is shown in upper left corner – hours:minutes:seconds). Platelets were labeled with a green fluorophore (rhodamine 6G) and anti-fibrin antibodies with a red fluorophore (Alexa-647) and injected prior to electrolytic injury to identify the development of platelets and fibrin in the developing thrombus. Flow is from left to right; the vein is approximately 500 microns in diameter (bar at lower right, 350 microns).
Reference: Cooley BC. In vivo fluorescence imaging of large-vessel thrombosis in mice. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 31, 1351-1356, 2011. All animal studies were done under protocols approved by the Medical College of Wisconsin Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.
Camera Back Panel Connector Locations
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1501M-USB, 1501C-USB, 1501M-USB-TE, and 1501C-USB-TE Back Panel Layout
TSI-IOBOB and TSI-IOBOB2 Break-Out Board Connector Locations
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TSI-IOBOB
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TSI-IOBOB2
| TSI-IOBOB and TSI-IOBOB2 Connector | 8050-CAB1 Connectors | Camera Auxiliary (AUX) Port |
|---|---|---|
 Female 6-Pin Mini Din Female Connector |
 Male 6-Pin Mini Din Male Connector (TSI-IOBOB end of Cable)  Male 12-Pin Hirose Connector (Camera end of Cable) |
 Female 12-Pin Hirose Connector (Auxiliary Port on Camera) |
Auxiliary Connector
The cameras and the break-out boards both feature female connectors; the 8 megapixel cameras have a 12 pin Hirose connector, while the break out boards have a 6-pin Mini-DIN connector. The 8050-CAB1 cable features male connectors on both ends: a 12-pin connector for connecting to the camera and a 6-pin Mini-DIN connector for the break-out boards. Pins 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 are each connected to the center pin of an SMA connector on the break-out boards, while pin 4 (ground) is connected to each SMA connector housing. To access one of the I/O functions not available with the 8050-CAB1, the user must fabricate a cable using shielded cabling in order for the camera to adhere to CE and FCC compliance; additional details are provided in the camera manual.
| Camera AUX Pin # | TSI-IOBOB and TSI-IOBOB2 Pin # |
Signal | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | - | Reserved | Reserved for future use |
| 2 | - | Reserved | Reserved for future use |
| 3 | - | Reserved | Reserved for future use |
| 4 | 6 | STROBE_OUT (Output) |
A TTL output that is high during the actual sensor exposure time when in continuous, overlapped exposure mode. It is typically used to synchronize an external flash lamp or other device with the camera. |
| 5 | 3 | TRIGGER_IN (Input) |
A TTL input used to trigger exposures on the transition from the high to low state. |
| 6 | 1 | LVAL (Output) |
Refers to "Line Valid." It is an active-high TTL signal and is asserted during the valid period on each line. It returns low during the inter-line period between each line and during the inter-frame period between each frame. |
| 7 | 2 | TRIGGER_OUT (Output) |
A 6 µs positive pulse asserted when using the various external trigger input options; TRIGGER_IN or LVDS_TRIGGER_IN. The signal is brought out of the camera as TRIGGER_OUT at the High-to-Low transition to allow triggering of other devices. |
| 8 | - | LVDS_TRIGGER_IN_N (Input, Differential Pair with Pin 9) |
A LVDS (low-voltage differential signal) input used to trigger exposures on the transition from the high state to low state. The suffix "N" identifies this as the negative input of the LVDS signal. |
| 9 | - | LVDS_TRIGGER_IN_P (Input, Differential Pair with Pin 9) |
A LVDS (low-voltage differential signal) input used to trigger exposures on the transition from the high state to low state. The suffix "P" identifies this as the positive input of the LVDS signal. |
| 10 | 4 | GND | The electrical ground for the camera signals |
| 11 | - | Reserved | Reserved for future use |
| 12 | 5 | FVAL_OUT (Output) |
Refers to "Frame Valid." It is a TTL output that is high during active readout lines and returns low between frames. |
ThorCam™
ThorCam is a powerful image acquisition software package that is designed for use with our cameras on 32- and 64-bit Windows® 7, 10, or 11 systems. This intuitive, easy-to-use graphical interface provides camera control as well as the ability to acquire and play back images. Single image capture and image sequences are supported. Please refer to the screenshots below for an overview of the software's basic functionality.
Application programming interfaces (APIs) and a software development kit (SDK) are included for the development of custom applications by OEMs and developers. The SDK provides easy integration with a wide variety of programming languages, such as C, C++, C#, Python, and Visual Basic .NET. Support for third-party software packages, such as LabVIEW, MATLAB, and µManager* is available. We also offer example Arduino code for integration with our TSI-IOBOB2 Interconnect Break-Out Board.
*µManager control of 1.3 MP Kiralux cameras is not currently supported.
| Recommended System Requirementsa | |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows® 7, 10, or 11 (64 Bit) |
| Processor (CPU)b | ≥3.0 GHz Intel Core (i5 or Higher) |
| Memory (RAM) | ≥8 GB |
| Hard Drivec | ≥500 GB (SATA) Solid State Drive (SSD) |
| Graphics Cardd | Dedicated Adapter with ≥256 MB RAM |
| Motherboard | USB 3.0 (-USB) Cameras: Integrated Intel USB 3.0 Controller or One Unused PCIe x1 Slot (for Item # USB3-PCIE) GigE (-GE) Cameras: One Unused PCIe x1 Slot |
| Connectivity | USB or Internet Connectivity for Driver Installation |
Software
Version 3.7.0
Click the button below to visit the ThorCam software page.
Example Arduino Code for TSI-IOBOB2 Board
Click the button below to visit the download page for the sample Arduino programs for the TSI-IOBOB2 Shield for Arduino. Three sample programs are offered:
- Trigger the Camera at a Rate of 1 Hz
- Trigger the Camera at the Fastest Possible Rate
- Use the Direct AVR Port Mappings from the Arduino to Monitor Camera State and Trigger Acquisition
Click the Highlighted Regions to Explore ThorCam Features
Camera Control and Image Acquisition
Camera Control and Image Acquisition functions are carried out through the icons along the top of the window, highlighted in orange in the image above. Camera parameters may be set in the popup window that appears upon clicking on the Tools icon. The Snapshot button allows a single image to be acquired using the current camera settings.
The Start and Stop capture buttons begin image capture according to the camera settings, including triggered imaging.
Timed Series and Review of Image Series
The Timed Series control, shown in Figure 1, allows time-lapse images to be recorded. Simply set the total number of images and the time delay in between captures. The output will be saved in a multi-page TIFF file in order to preserve the high-precision, unaltered image data. Controls within ThorCam allow the user to play the sequence of images or step through them frame by frame.
Measurement and Annotation
As shown in the yellow highlighted regions in the image above, ThorCam has a number of built-in annotation and measurement functions to help analyze images after they have been acquired. Lines, rectangles, circles, and freehand shapes can be drawn on the image. Text can be entered to annotate marked locations. A measurement mode allows the user to determine the distance between points of interest.
The features in the red, green, and blue highlighted regions of the image above can be used to display information about both live and captured images.
ThorCam also features a tally counter that allows the user to mark points of interest in the image and tally the number of points marked (see Figure 2). A crosshair target that is locked to the center of the image can be enabled to provide a point of reference.
Third-Party Applications and Support
ThorCam is bundled with support for third-party software packages such as LabVIEW, MATLAB, and .NET. Both 32- and 64-bit versions of LabVIEW and MATLAB are supported. A full-featured and well-documented API, included with our cameras, makes it convenient to develop fully customized applications in an efficient manner, while also providing the ability to migrate through our product line without having to rewrite an application.
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Figure 1: A timed series of 10 images taken at 1 second intervals is saved as a multipage TIFF.
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Figure 2: A screenshot of the ThorCam software showing some of the analysis and annotation features. The Tally function was used to mark four locations in the image. A blue crosshair target is enabled and locked to the center of the image to provide a point of reference.
Performance Considerations
Please note that system performance limitations can lead to "dropped frames" when image sequences are saved to the disk. The ability of the host system to keep up with the camera's output data stream is dependent on multiple aspects of the host system. Note that the use of a USB hub may impact performance. A dedicated connection to the PC is preferred. USB 2.0 connections are not supported.
First, it is important to distinguish between the frame rate of the camera and the ability of the host computer to keep up with the task of displaying images or streaming to the disk without dropping frames. The frame rate of the camera is a function of exposure and readout (e.g. clock, ROI) parameters. Based on the acquisition parameters chosen by the user, the camera timing emulates a digital counter that will generate a certain number of frames per second. When displaying images, this data is handled by the graphics system of the computer; when saving images and movies, this data is streamed to disk. If the hard drive is not fast enough, this will result in dropped frames.
One solution to this problem is to ensure that a solid state drive (SSD) is used. This usually resolves the issue if the other specifications of the PC are sufficient. Note that the write speed of the SSD must be sufficient to handle the data throughput.
Larger format images at higher frame rates sometimes require additional speed. In these cases users can consider implementing a RAID0 configuration using multiple SSDs or setting up a RAM drive. While the latter option limits the storage space to the RAM on the PC, this is the fastest option available. ImDisk is one example of a free RAM disk software package. It is important to note that RAM drives use volatile memory. Hence it is critical to ensure that the data is moved from the RAM drive to a physical hard drive before restarting or shutting down the computer to avoid data loss.
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Item # Shown: 1501M-USB
In Addition to the Camera, Each Item Includes the following:
- Previous Generation USB 3.0 Cable (Micro B to A)
- Power Supply, with Region-Specific Power Cord
- Wrench to Loosen Optical Assembly
- Lens Mount Dust Cap (Also Functions as IR Filter Removal Tool)
- CD with ThorCam Software
- Quick-Start Guide and Manual Download Information Card
Camera Noise and Temperature
Overview
When purchasing a camera, an important consideration is whether or not the application will require a cooled sensor. Generally, most applications have high signal levels and do not require cooling. However, for certain situations, generally under low light levels where long exposures are necessary, cooling will provide a benefit. In the tutorial below, we derive the following "rule of thumb": for exposures less than 1 second, a standard camera is generally sufficient; for exposures greater than 1 second, cooling could be beneficial; for exposures greater than 5 seconds, cooling is generally recommended; and for exposures above 10 seconds, cooling is usually required. If you have questions about which domain your application will fall, you might consider estimating the signal levels and noise sources by following the steps detailed in the tutorial below. Alternatively you can contact us, and one of our scientific camera specialists will help you decide which camera is right for you.
Sources of Noise
Noise in a camera image is the aggregate spatial and temporal variation in the measured signal, assuming constant, uniform illumination. There are several components of noise:
- Dark Shot Noise (σD): Dark current is a current that flows even when no photons are incident on the camera. It is a thermal phenomenon resulting from electrons spontaneously generated within the silicon chip (valence electrons are thermally excited into the conduction band). The variation in the amount of dark electrons collected during the exposure is the dark shot noise. It is independent of the signal level but is dependent on the temperature of the sensor as shown in Table 1.
- Read Noise (σR): This is the noise generated in producing the electronic signal. This results from the sensor design but can also be impacted by the design of the camera electronics. It is independent of signal level and temperature of the sensor, and is larger for faster CCD pixel clock rates.
- Photon Shot Noise (σS): This is the statistical noise associated with the arrival of photons at the pixel. Since photon measurement obeys Poisson statistics, the photon shot noise is dependent on the signal level measured. It is independent of sensor temperature.
- Fixed Pattern Noise (σF): This is caused by spatial non-uniformities of the pixels and is independent of signal level and temperature of the sensor. Note that fixed pattern noise will be ignored in the discussion below; this is a valid assumption for the CCD cameras sold here but may need to be included for other non-scientific-grade sensors.
Total Effective Noise
The total effective noise per pixel is the quadrature sum of each of the noise sources listed above:
Here, σD is the dark shot noise, σR is the read noise (typically less than 10 e- for scientific-grade cameras using the ICX285AL CCD; we will assume a value of 10 e- in this tutorial), and σS is the photon shot noise. If σS>>σD and σS>>σR, then σeff is approximately given by the following:
Again, fixed pattern noise is ignored, which is a good approximation for scientific-grade CCDs but may need to be considered for non-scientific-grade sensors.
| Temperature | Dark Current (ID) |
|---|---|
| -20 °C | 0.1 e-/(s•pixel) |
| 0 °C | 1 e-/(s•pixel) |
| 25 °C | 5 e-/(s•pixel) |
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Figure 1: Plot of dark shot noise and read noise as a function of exposure for three sensor temperatures. This plot uses logarithmic scales for both axes.The dotted vertical line at 5 s indicates the values calculated as the example in the text.
Dark Shot Noise and Sensor Temperature
As mentioned above, the dark current is a thermal effect and can therefore be reduced by cooling the sensor. Table 1 lists typical dark current values for the Sony ICX285AL CCD sensor used in our 1.4 megapixel monochrome cameras. As the dark current results from spontaneously generated electrons, the dark current is measured by simply "counting" these electrons. Since counting electrons obeys Poisson statistics, the noise associated with the dark current ID is proportional to the square root of the number of dark electrons that accumulate during the exposure. For a given exposure, the dark shot noise, σD, is therefore the square root of the ID value from Table 1 (for a given sensor temperature) multiplied by the exposure time t in seconds:
Since the dark current decreases with decreasing temperature, the associated noise can be decreased by cooling the camera. For example, assuming an exposure of 5 seconds, the dark shot noise levels for the three sensor temperatures listed in the table are
Figure 1, which is a plot of the dark shot noise as a function of exposure for the three temperatures listed in Table 1, illustrates how the dark shot noise increases with increasing exposure. Figure 1 also includes a plot of the upper limit of the read noise.
If the photon shot noise is significantly larger than the dark shot noise, then cooling provides a negligible benefit in terms of the noise, and our standard package cameras will work well.
Photon Shot Noise
If S is the number of "signal" electrons generated when a photon flux of N photons/second is incident on each pixel of a sensor with a quantum efficiency QE and an exposure duration of t seconds, then
From S, the photon shot noise, σS, is given by:
Example Calculations
If we assume that there is a sufficiently high photon flux and quantum efficiency to allow for a signal S of 10,000 e- to accumulate in a pixel with an exposure of 5 seconds, then the estimated shot noise, σS, would be the square root of 10,000, or 100 e-. The read noise is 10 e- (independent of exposure time). For an exposure of 5 seconds and sensor temperatures of 25, 0, and -25 °C, the dark shot noise is given in equation (4). The effective noise is:
The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is a useful figure of merit for image quality and is estimated as:
From Equation 7, the SNR values for the three sensor temperatures are:
As the example shows, there is a negligible benefit to using a cooled camera compared to a non-cooled camera operating at room temperature, and the photon shot noise is the dominant noise source in this example. In this case our standard package cameras should therefore work quite well.
However, if the light levels were lower such that a 100 second exposure was required to achieve 900 e- per pixel, then the shot noise would be 30 e-. The estimated dark shot noise would be 22.4 e- at 25 °C, while at -20 °C the dark shot noise would be 3.2 e-. The total effective noise would be
From Equation 8, the SNR values are
| Exposure | Camera Recommendation |
|---|---|
| <1 s | Standard Non-Cooled Camera Generally Sufficient |
| 1 s to 5 s | Cooled Camera Could Be Helpful |
| 5 s to 10 s | Cooled Camera Recommended |
| >10 s | Cooled Camera Usually Required |
In this example, the dark shot noise is a more significant contributor to the total noise for the 25 °C sensor than for the -25 °C sensor. Depending on the application's noise budget, a cooled camera may be beneficial.
Figure 2 shows plots of the different noise components, including dark shot noise at three sensor temperatures, as a function of exposure time for three photon fluxes. The plots show that dark shot noise is not a significant contributor to total noise except for low signal (and consequently long exposure) situations. While the photon flux levels used for the calculations are given in the figure, it is not necessary to know the exact photon flux level for your application. Figure 2 suggests a general metric based on exposure time that can be used to determine whether a cooled camera is required if the exposure time can be estimated, and these results are summarized in Table 2. If you find that your dominant source of noise is due to the read noise, then we recommend running the camera at a lower CCD pixel clock rate of 20 MHz, since that will offer a lower read noise.
Figure 2: Noise from all sources as a function of exposure for three different photon fluxes: (a) low, (b) medium, and (c) high. In (c) the signal and photon shot noise saturate above approximately 20 seconds because the pixel becomes saturated at the corresponding incident photon levels. A quantum efficiency of 60% was used for the calculations. Note that these plots use logarithmic scales for both axes.
Other Considerations
Thermoelectric cooling should also be considered for long exposures even where the dark shot noise is not a significant contributor to total noise because cooling also helps to reduce the effects of hot pixels. Hot pixels cause a "star field" pattern that appears under long exposures. Figure 3 shows an example of this star field pattern for images taken using cameras with and without TEC cooling with an exposure of 10 seconds.
(a)
(b)
Figure 3: Images of the "star field" pattern that results from hot pixels using our (a) standard non-cooled camera and (b) our camera cooled to -20 °C. Both images were taken with an exposure of 10 seconds and with a gain of 32 dB (to make the hot pixels more visible). Please note that in order to show the pattern the images displayed here were cropped from the full-resolution 16 bit images. The full size 16 bit images may be downloaded here and viewed with software such as ImageJ, which is a free download.
| Recommended System Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Operating System |
Windows® 7, 10, or 11 (64 bit) |
| Processor (CPU)a |
≥3.0 GHz Intel Core i5, i7, or i8 |
| Memory (RAM) | ≥8 GB |
| Hard Drive | ≥500 GB (SATA) Solid State Drive (SSD)b |
| Graphics Card | Dedicatedc Adapter with ≥256 MB RAM |
| Power Supply | ≥600 W |
| Motherboard | Integrated Intel USB 3.0 Controller or One Unused PCIe x1 Slot (for Item # USB3-PCIE) |
| Connectivity | USB or Internet Connectivity for Driver Installation |
| Max Cable Length | 3 m |
| Max Bandwidthd | 320 MB/s |
| Support for Multiple Cameras | Via Multiple USB 3.0 Ports or Hub |
When using these scientific cameras, it is important to confirm that the computer system meets or exceeds the recommended requirements listed to the right; otherwise, dropped frames may result, particularly when streaming camera images directly to storage media.
Definitions
- Camera Frame Rate: The number of images per second generated by the camera. It is a function of camera model and user-selected settings.
- Effective Frame Rate: The number of images per second received by the host computer's camera software. This depends on the limits of the selected interface hardware (chipset), CPU performance, and other devices and software competing for the host computer resources.
- Maximum Bandwidth: The maximum rate (in bits/second or bytes/second) at which data can be reliably transferred over the interface from the camera to the host PC. The maximum bandwidth is a specified performance benchmark of the interface, under the assumption that the host PC is capable of receiving and handling data at that rate. An interface with a higher maximum bandwidth will typically support higher camera frame rates, but the choice of interface does not by itself increase the frame rate of the camera.
Click to Enlarge
USB 3.0 Camera Interface
USB 3.0 Interface
USB 3.0 is a standard interface available on most new PCs, which means that typically no additional hardware is required, and therefore these cameras are not sold with any computer hardware. For users with PCs that do not have a USB 3.0 port, a PCIe card is sold separately below. USB 3.0 supports a speed up to 320 MB/s and cable lengths up to 3 m. Support for multiple cameras is possible using multiple USB 3.0 ports on the PC or a USB 3.0 hub.
Triggered Camera Operation
Our scientific cameras have three externally triggered operating modes: streaming overlapped exposure, asynchronous triggered acquisition, and bulb exposure driven by an externally generated trigger pulse. The trigger modes operate independently of the readout (e.g., 20 or 40 MHz; binning) settings as well as gain and offset. Figures 1 through 3 show the timing diagrams for these trigger modes, assuming an active low external TTL trigger.
Click to Enlarge
Figure 1: Streaming overlapped exposure mode. When the external trigger goes low, the exposure begins, and continues for the software-selected exposure time, followed by the readout. This sequence then repeats at the set time interval. Subsequent external triggers are ignored until the camera operation is halted.
Click to Enlarge
Figure 2: Asynchronous triggered acquisition mode. When the external trigger signal goes low, an exposure begins for the preset time, and then the exposure is read out of the camera. During the readout time, the external trigger is ignored. Once a single readout is complete, the camera will begin the next exposure only when the external trigger signal goes low.
Click to Enlarge
Figure 3: Bulb exposure mode. The exposure begins when the external trigger signal goes low and ends when the external trigger signal goes high. Trigger signals during camera readout are ignored.
Figure 4: The ThorCam Camera Settings window. The red and blue highlighted regions indicate the trigger settings as described in the text.
External triggering enables these cameras to be easily integrated into systems that require the camera to be synchronized to external events. The Strobe Output goes high to indicate exposure; the strobe signal may be used in designing a system to synchronize external devices to the camera exposure. External triggering requires a connection to the auxiliary port of the camera. We offer the 8050-CAB1 auxiliary cable as an optional accessory. Two options are provided to "break out" individual signals. The TSI-IOBOB provides SMA connectors for each individual signal. Alternately, the TSI-IOBOB2 also provides the SMA connectors with the added functionality of a shield for Arduino boards that allows control of other peripheral equipment. More details on these three optional accessories are provided below.
Trigger settings are adjusted using the ThorCam software. Figure 4 shows the Camera Settings window, with the trigger settings highlighted with red and blue squares. Settings can be adjusted as follows:
- "HW Trigger" (Red Highlight) Set to "None": The camera will simply acquire the number of frames in the "Frames per Trigger" box when the capture button is pressed in ThorCam.
- "HW Trigger" Set to "Standard": There are Two Possible Scenarios:
- "Frames per Trigger" (Blue Highlight) Set to Zero or >1: The camera will operate in streaming overlapped exposure mode (Figure 1).
- "Frames per Trigger" Set to 1: Then the camera will operate in asynchronous triggered acquisition mode (Figure 2).
- "HW Trigger" Set to "Bulb (PDX) Mode": The camera will operate in bulb exposure mode, also known as Pulse Driven Exposure (PDX) mode (Figure 3).
In addition, the polarity of the trigger can be set to "On High" (exposure begins on the rising edge) or "On Low" (exposure begins on the falling edge) in the "HW Trigger Polarity" box (highlighted in red in Figure 4).
Example Camera Triggering Configuration using Scientific Camera Accessories
Figure 5: A schematic showing a system using the TSI-IOBOB2 to facilitate system integration and control.
As an example of how camera triggering can be integrated into system control is shown in Figure 5. In the schematic, the camera is connected to the TSI-IOBOB2 break-out board / shield for Arduino using a 8050-CAB1 cable. The pins on the shield can be used to deliver signals to simultaneously control other peripheral devices, such as light sources, shutters, or motion control devices. Once the control program is written to the Arduino board, the USB connection to the host PC can be removed, allowing for a stand-alone system control platform; alternately, the USB connection can be left in place to allow for two-way communication between the Arduino and the PC. Configuring the external trigger mode is done using ThorCam as described above.
Thorlabs offers four families of scientific cameras: Zelux®, Kiralux®, Quantalux®, and scientific CCD. Zelux cameras are designed for general-purpose imaging and provide high imaging performance while maintaining a small footprint. Kiralux cameras have CMOS sensors in monochrome, color, NIR-enhanced, or polarization-sensitive versions and are available in compact, passively cooled housings; the CC505MU camera incorporates a hermetically sealed, TE-cooled housing. The polarization-sensitive Kiralux camera incorporates an integrated micropolarizer array that, when used with our ThorCam™ software package, captures images that illustrate degree of linear polarization, azimuth, and intensity at the pixel level. Our Quantalux monochrome sCMOS cameras feature high dynamic range combined with extremely low read noise for low-light applications. They are available in either a compact, passively cooled housing or a hermetically sealed, TE-cooled housing. We also offer scientific CCD cameras with a variety of features, including versions optimized for operation at UV, visible, or NIR wavelengths; fast-frame-rate cameras; TE-cooled or non-cooled housings; and versions with the sensor face plate removed. The tables below provide a summary of our camera offerings.
| Compact Scientific Cameras | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camera Type | Zelux® CMOS | Kiralux® CMOS | Quantalux® sCMOS | ||||
| 1.6 MP | 1.3 MP | 2.3 MP | 5 MP | 8.9 MP | 12.3 MP | 2.1 MP | |
| Item # | Monochrome: CS165MUa Color: CS165CUa |
Mono.: CS135MU Color: CS135CU NIR-Enhanced Mono.: CS135MUN |
Mono.: CS235MU Color: CS235CU |
Mono., Passive Cooling: CS505MU1 CS505MU Mono., Active Cooling: CC505MU Color: CS505CU1 CS505CU Polarization: CS505MUP1 |
Mono., Passive Cooling: CS895MU Mono., Active Cooling: CC895MU Color: CS895CU |
Mono., Passive Cooling: CS126MU Mono., Active Cooling: CC126MU Color: CS126CU |
Monochrome, Passive Cooling: CS2100M-USB Active Cooling: CC215MU |
| Product Photos (Click to Enlarge) |
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| Electronic Shutter | Global Shutter | Global Shutter | Rolling Shutterb | ||||
| Sensor Type | CMOS | CMOS | sCMOS | ||||
| Number of Pixels |
1440 x 1080 (H x V) | 1280 x 1024 (H x V) | 1920 x 1200 (H x V) | 2448 x 2048 (H x V) | 4096 x 2160 (H x V) |
4096 x 3000 (H x V) |
1920 x 1080 (H x V) |
| Pixel Size | 3.45 µm x 3.45 µm | 4.8 µm x 4.8 µm | 5.86 µm x 5.86 µm | 3.45 µm x 3.45 µm | 5.04 µm x 5.04 µm | ||
| Optical Format |
1/2.9" (6.2 mm Diag.) |
1/2" (7.76 mm Diag.) |
1/1.2" (13.4 mm Diag.) |
2/3" (11 mm Diag.) |
1" (16 mm Diag.) |
1.1" (17.5 mm Diag.) |
2/3" (11 mm Diag.) |
| Peak Quantum Efficiency (Click for Plot) |
Monochrome: 69% at 575 nm Color: Click for Plot |
Monochrome: 59% at 550 nm Color: Click for Plot NIR: 60% at 600 nm |
Monochrome: 78% at 500 nm Color: Click for Plot |
Monochrome & Polarization: 72% (525 to 580 nm) Color: Click for Plot |
Monochrome: 72% (525 to 580 nm) Color: Click for Plot |
Monochrome: 72% (525 to 580 nm) Color: Click for Plot |
Monochrome: 61% (at 600 nm) |
| Max Frame Rate (Full Sensor) |
34.8 fps | 165.5 fps | 39.7 fps | 35 fps (CS505xx1, CC505MU, CS505MUP1), 53.2 fps (CS505xx) |
20.8 fps (CC895MU), 30.15 fps (CS895xx) |
15.1 fps (CC126MU), 21.7 fps fps (CS126xx) |
50 fps |
| Read Noise | <4.0 e- RMS | <7.0 e- RMS | <7.0 e- RMS | <2.5 e- RMS | <1 e- Median RMS; <1.5 e- RMS | ||
| Digital Output |
10 Bit (Max) | 10 Bit (Max) | 12 Bit (Max) | 16 Bit (Max) | |||
| PC Interface | USB 3.0 | ||||||
| Available Fanless Cooling |
N/A | N/A | N/A | 15 °C to 20 °C Below Ambient Temperature (CCxxxMU Cameras Only) | |||
| Housing Size (Click for Details) |
0.59" x 1.72" x 1.86" (15.0 x 43.7 x 47.2 mm3) |
Passively Cooled CMOS Camera TE-Cooled CMOS Camera |
Passively Cooled sCMOS Camera TE-Cooled sCMOS Camera |
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| Typical Applications |
Mono. & Color: Brightfield Microscopy, General Purpose Imaging, Machine Vision, Material Sciences, Materials Inspection, Monitoring, Transmitted Light Spectroscopy, UAV, Drone, & Handheld Imaging Mono. Only: Multispectral Imaging, Semiconductor Inspection Color Only: Histopathology |
Mono., Color, & NIR: Brightfield Microscopy, Ca++ Ion Imaging, Electrophysiology/Brain Slice Imaging, Flow Cytometry, Fluorescence Microscopy, General Purpose Imaging, Immunohistochemistry (IHC), Laser Speckle Imaging, Machine Vision, Material Sciences, Materials Inspection, Vascular Imaging, Monitoring, Particle Tracking, Transmitted Light Spectroscopy, Vascular Imaging, VIS/NIR Imaging Mono. Only: Multispectral Imaging Semiconductor Inspection Color Only: Histopathology NIR Only: Ophthalmology/Retinal Imaging |
Mono. & Color: Autofluorescence, Brightfield Microscopy, Electrophysiology/Brain Slice Imaging, Fluorescence Microscopy, Immunohistochemistry (IHC), Machine Vision, Material Sciences, Materials Inspection, Monitoring, Quantitative Phase-Contrast Microscopy, Transmitted Light Microscopy Mono. Only: Multispectral Imaging Semiconductor Inspection Color Only: Histopathology |
Mono. & Color: Autofluorescence, Brightfield Microscopy, Electrophysiology/Brain Slice Imaging, Fluorescence Microscopy, Immunohistochemistry (IHC), Machine Vision, Material Sciences, Materials Inspection, Monitoring, Quantitative Phase-Contrast Microscopy, Transmitted Light Microscopy Mono. Only: Multispectral Imaging, Semiconductor Inspection Color Only: Histopathology Polarization Only: Inspection, Surface Reflection Reduction, Transparent Material Detection |
Mono. & Color: Autofluorescence, Brightfield Microscopy, Electrophysiology/Brain Slice Imaging, Fluorescence Microscopy, Immunohistochemistry (IHC), Machine Vision, Material Science, Materials Inspection, Monitoring, Quantitative Phase-Contrast Microscopy, Transmitted Light Microscopy Mono. Only: Multispectral Imaging, Ophthalmology/Retinal Imaging, Semiconductor Inspection Color Only: Histopathology CS126xx and CC126MU Only: Whole-Slide Microscopy |
Passive & Active Cooling: Autofluorescence, Brightfield Microscopy, Fluorescence Microscopy, Immunohistochemistry (IHC), Material Sciences, Materials Inspection, Monitoring, Quantitative Phase-Contrast Microscopy, Quantum Dots, Semiconductor Inspection, Transmitted Light Microscopy, Whole-Slide Microscopy Active Cooling Only: Electrophysiology/Brain Slice Imaging, Multispectral Imaging |
|
| Scientific CCD Cameras | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camera Type | Fast Frame Rate VGA CCD |
1.4 MP CCD | 8 MP CCD | ||
| Item # Prefix | Monochrome: 340M |
UV-Enhanced Monochrome: 340UV |
Monochrome: 1501M Color: 1501C |
Monochrome: 8051M Color: 8051C |
Monochrome, No Sensor Face Plate: S805MU |
| Product Photo (Click to Enlarge) |
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|
| Electronic Shutter | Global Shutter | ||||
| Sensor Type | CCD | ||||
| Number of Pixels | 640 x 480 (H x V) | 1392 x 1040 (H x V) | 3296 x 2472 (H x V) | ||
| Pixel Size | 7.4 µm x 7.4 µm | 6.45 µm x 6.45 µm | 5.5 µm x 5.5 µm | ||
| Optical Format | 1/3" (5.92 mm Diagonal) | 2/3" (11 mm Diagonal) | 4/3" (22 mm Diagonal) | ||
| Peak QE (Click for Plot) |
55% at 500 nm |
10% at 485 nm |
Monochrome: 60% at 500 nm Color: Click for Plot |
Monochrome: 51% at 460 nm Color: Click for Plot |
51% at 460 nm |
| Max Frame Rate (Full Sensor) |
200.7 fps (at 40 MHz Dual-Tap Readout) |
23 fps (at 40 MHz Single-Tap Readout) |
17.1 fps (at 40 MHz Quad-Tap Readout)b |
17.1 fps (at 40 MHz Quad-Tap Readout) |
|
| Read Noise | <15 e- at 20 MHz | <7 e- at 20 MHz (Standard Models) <6 e- at 20 MHz (-TE Models) |
<10 e- at 20 MHz | ||
| Digital Output (Max) | 14 Bitc | 14 Bit | 14 Bitc | 14 Bit | |
| Available Fanless Cooling |
Passive Thermal Management | -20 °C at 20 °C Ambient Temperature | Passive Thermal Management | Passive Thermal Management | |
| Available PC Interfaces |
USB 3.0 | ||||
| Housing Dimensions (Click for Details) |
Non-Cooled Scientific CCD Camera |
Cooled Scientific CCD Camera Non-Cooled Scientific CCD Camera |
Non-Cooled Scientific CCD Camera | No Face Plate Scientific CCD Camera |
|
| Typical Applications | Mono. & UV Enhanced: Brightfield Microscopy, Ca++ Ion Imaging, Electron Microscopy (TEM/SEM), Fluorescence Microscopy, Immunohistochemistry (IHC), Material Sciences, Particle Tracking, SEM/EBSD, Transmitted Light Microscopy Monochrome Only: Flow Cytometry UV Enhanced Only: UV Inspection |
Monochrome & Color: Brightfield Microscopy, Electron Microscopy (TEM/SEM), Flow Cytometry, Fluorescence Microscopy, Immunohistochemistry (IHC), Material Sciences, Quantum Dots, Transmitted Light Microscopy Monochrome Only: Autofluorescence, Laser Speckle Imaging, Ophthamology/Retinal Imaging, Quantitative Phase-Contrast Microscopy, SEM/EBSD, Vascular Imaging, VIS/NIR Imaging Color Only: Histopathology |
Monochrome & Color: Brightfield Microscopy, Fluorescence Microscopy, Immunohistochemistry (IHC), Material Sciences, Materials Inspection, Monitoring, Transmitted Light Microscopy, Whole-Slide Microscopy Monochrome Only: Semiconductor Inspection Quantitative Phase-Contrast Microscopy Color Only: Histopathology |
Monochrome: Beam Profiling & Characterization, Digital Holographic Microscopy, Fluorescence Microscopy, Immunohistochemistry (IHC), Interferometry, Material Sciences, Monitoring, Ptychography, Transmitted Light Microscopy, VCSEL Inspection |
|
| Posted Comments: | |
Yizhao Guan
(posted 2021-07-26 18:39:46.15) I have a question about the exposure time of this 1501M-USB model. I can only upscale the exposure time to 10 seconds while the manual says it can reach 1000 seconds. The camera was bought in 2018 and the software version was 3.1. How can I solve this problem? (sorry that previously I sent the same question with a wrong email address) cdolbashian
(posted 2021-08-27 11:05:24.0) Thank you for reaching out to us at Thorlabs. This is a bit of an extensive work around. I reached out to you directly with this temporary solution. Yizhao Guan
(posted 2021-07-26 18:35:59.45) I have a question about the exposure time of 1501M-USB.
I can only upscale the exposure time to 10 seconds by the Thorlabs cam software, while the manual says the exposure time can reach 1000 seconds. The camera was bought in 2018 and the software version was 3.1. Alexander D
(posted 2020-09-24 13:41:52.007) Hi Thorlabs
I am considering buying one of the 1.4 MP CCD scientific cameras. How does this item compare to another item the pyrocam from Ophir optics in fiber output beam characterization? I am measuring at the NIR range at about 1060 nm.
Thank you for your time. YLohia
(posted 2020-09-28 11:29:03.0) Hello, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. The 1501 is very different than the Ophir Pyrocam, which has a very wide range (up to 5um) and uses a pyrometer. This results in a very low resolution for the Pyrocam compared to that of the 1501. We expect the pricing to be higher for the Pyrocam, but we cannot comment on that since the pricing is not listed online. At 1060, the 1501M should have adequate quantum efficiency to detect a reasonably intense beam and is arguably a more appropriate choice. It does have a permanently-affixed glass lid on the sensor and, therefore, it may not be optimal for beam profiling due to interference effects. Thorlabs BC106N-VIS uses the same sensor and is designed for beam profiling. Ivan Skachko
(posted 2019-03-15 08:04:19.55) Is there a maximum light intensity (W/mm^2) that is safe for the camera or would the CCD simply saturate? llamb
(posted 2019-03-15 06:30:33.0) Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. We do not have damage threshold data for this camera's sensor, though you will see saturation well before actual damage. satyajitmaji8
(posted 2018-08-29 22:22:32.68) We are using 1500M-GE (S/N: 04890)
After using for some time (10-20 min), it is suddenly showing a error message "Error setting exposure time to 10000(some value) microseconds".
The PC configuration is as following,
Windows 7 professional
Intel core(TM) i5-4570 CPU @3.2 GHz
RAM 8GB, 64 bit OS.
How to resolve this. llamb
(posted 2018-10-04 08:13:24.0) Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. If you are not already, please try using our ThorCam software directly for troubleshooting, as opposed to a third party program such as LabView. In ThorCam, you may try clicking the "info" icon to query the camera firmware to see whether this fixes the issue, or else identify that the camera is no longer responding to commands. I have reached out to you directly for additional troubleshooting. nelson.gananathan
(posted 2018-03-14 13:04:51.497) Hello,
I would like to know if it's possible to use this camera with the matlab toolbox "Image Acquisition" if yes, how to configure the toolbox.
Best regards
Nelson Gananathan llamb
(posted 2018-04-09 11:20:24.0) Hello Nelson, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. Yes, it is possible to use our scientific cameras with MATLAB Image Acquisition. We provide a toolbox adapter for this use after downloading ThorCam, as our scientific cameras will not work with the default IMAQ adapters. To install the adapter, you can run TSI_Matlab_Support_Setup_x86_x64.exe located in C:\Program Files\Thorlabs\Scientific Imaging\Scientific Camera Support\third party software support. nirmal.mazumder
(posted 2017-06-15 13:01:22.64) I want to know if there is any warranty period for 1501M-USB camera.
Thanks nbayconich
(posted 2017-06-15 08:16:08.0) Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. Yes the 1501M-USB camera has a 2 year warranty. A Techsupport representative will contact you directly. christopher.wilson
(posted 2017-06-12 15:32:21.283) I just want to make sure that binning is available from 2x2 to 24x24 continuously. ie can we use 4x4? I assume that as long as the modulo of the binsize with both the vertical and horizontal resolution are zero, that hardware binning is available and available in software? Thanks! tfrisch
(posted 2017-06-30 11:43:59.0) Hello, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. The hardware (charge domain) binning is only in the vertical direction, and horizontal binning is done in the host software. The bin size does not need to be a factor of the total number of pixels as remainders at the edges can be accounted for. I will reach out to you directly as well. user
(posted 2016-05-20 19:22:32.567) Hello, Do you provide any LabView integration with this camera?
Thank you besembeson
(posted 2016-05-24 12:27:50.0) Response from Bweh at Thorlabs USA: Yes we do provide third party software support for LabVIEW and other programs. user
(posted 2015-05-20 11:31:07.41) what is the external thread of the c-mount adapter? I do not want to use the IR filter and want a larger feature to thread into the camera. besembeson
(posted 2015-07-15 02:52:58.0) Response from Bweh AT Thorlabs USA: We call out specifications of this thread, and several others at the following link, under the "Threading Specs" tab: http://www.thorlabs.us/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_id=4960 user
(posted 2014-05-19 08:55:35.017) Hello, do you have any update regarding the LabVIEW drivers ? Can you give an estimation date for the release ?
Best, Jonathan besembeson
(posted 2014-05-22 02:36:38.0) A response from Bweh Esembeson at Thorlabs USA: Thanks for contacting Thorlabs. We are currently working on the LabVIEW drivers and I will personally give you an update in two weeks from today via email regarding when this will be ready. doron.azoury
(posted 2013-09-02 00:50:12.707) Hi, two questions:
1. Can you please provide information regarding the maximum achievable frame rate by using the region of interest option without binning?
2. Do you provide Labview drivers? Do you have example codes for Labview?
Thanks, Doron. jlow
(posted 2013-09-04 11:30:00.0) Response from Jeremy at Thorlabs: We will get in contact with you directly to provide with a formula for estimating the frame rates. In terms of Labview drivers, we do not have any yet but we are planning on adding them in the near future. |
Camera Selection Tool
Reset Parametersof 37 Products Shown
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of 37 Products Shown
| Item Number | Sensor Type | Optical Format | Electronic Shutter | Pixel Size | Max Frame Rate | Read Noise | Digital Output | Cooling | Housing Dimensions |
|---|
Please note that Sony has announced that the CCD sensors used in these products will be discontinued in 2022. Hence, while these sensors are still widely available, we do not recommend these devices for new designs. Please see our expanding line of compact sCMOS and CMOS cameras for alternatives or contact our Scientific Cameras Team for help finding the best option for your application.
Please note that Sony has announced that the CCD sensors used in these products will be discontinued in 2022. Hence, while these sensors are still widely available, we do not recommend these devices for new designs. Please see our expanding line of compact sCMOS and CMOS cameras for alternatives or contact our Scientific Cameras Team for help finding the best option for your application.
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Click for Details
A schematic showing a TSI-IOBOB2 connected to an Arduino in a custom camera system.
These optional accessories allow for easy use of the auxiliary port of our scientific CCD, CMOS, and Quantalux™ sCMOS cameras. These items should be considered when it is necessary to externally trigger the camera, to monitor camera performance with an oscilloscope, or for simultaneous control of the camera with other instruments.
For our USB 3.0 cameras, we also offer a PCIe USB 3.0 card for facilitating the connection to the computer.
Auxiliary I/O Cable (8050-CAB1)
The 8050-CAB1 is a 10' (3 m) long cable that mates with the auxiliary connector on our scientific cameras* and provides the ability to externally trigger the camera as well as monitor status output signals. One end of the cable features a male 12-pin connector for connecting to the camera, while the other end has a male 6-pin Mini Din connector for connecting to external devices. This cable is ideal for use with our interconnect break-out boards described below. For information on the pin layout, please see the Pin Diagrams tab above.
Interconnect Break-Out Board (TSI-IOBOB)
The TSI-IOBOB is designed to "break out" the 6-pin Mini Din connector found on our scientific camera auxiliary cables into five SMA connectors. The SMA connectors can then be connected using SMA cables to other devices to provide a trigger input to the camera or to monitor camera performance. The pin configurations are listed on the Pin Diagrams tab above.
Interconnect Break-Out Board / Shield for Arduino (TSI-IOBOB2)
The TSI-IOBOB2 offers the same breakout functionality of the camera signals as the TSI-IOBOB. Additionally, it functions as a shield for Arduino, by placing the TSI-IOBOB2 shield on an Arduino board supporting the Arduino Uno Rev. 3 form factor. While the camera inputs and outputs are 5 V TTL, the TSI-IOBOB2 features bi-directional logic level converters to enable compatibility with Arduino boards operating on either 5 V or 3.3 V logic. Sample programs for controlling the scientific camera are available for download from our software page, and are also described in the manual (found by clicking on the red Docs icon below). For more information on Arduino, or for information on purchasing an Arduino board, please see www.arduino.cc.
The image to the right shows a schematic of a configuration with the TSI-IOBOB2 with an Arduino board integrated into a camera imaging system. The camera is connected to the break-out board using a 8050-CAB1 cable that must be purchased separately. The pins on the shield can be used to deliver signals to simultaneously control other peripheral devices, such as light sources, shutters, or motion control devices. Once the control program is written to the Arduino board, the USB connection to the host PC can be removed, allowing for a stand-alone system control platform; alternately, the USB connection can be left in place to allow for two-way communication between the Arduino and the PC. The compact size of 2.70" x 2.10" (68.6 mm x 53.3 mm) also aids in keeping systems based on the TSI-IOBOB2 compact.
USB 3.0 Camera Accessories (USB3-PCIE)
A USB 3.0 PCIe card is also provided for computers that do not offer USB 3.0 connectors with an integrated Intel USB 3.0 controller. However, since most newer computers offer several USB 3.0 connections, a USB 3.0 PCIe card is not included with the purchase of a USB 3.0 camera. The card has two type A USB 3.0 ports.
*The 8050-CAB1 is not compatible with our former-generation 1500M series cameras.
1.4 MP CCD Scientific Cameras
