SkyRaider DS10CTEC User Manual
March 17, 2019
SkyRaider DS10CTEC User Manual
Page 6
1.
Introduction
MallinCam Introduces the new MallinCam DS10cTEC - designed from the ground
up to accommodate the most demanding astronomical video imaging
applications. Since most CMOS sensors cannot be directly cooled via a cold
finger without causing damage and delamination with time which will ultimately
shorten their life, a new cooling system had to be developed. MallinCam
developed a unique cooling system that provides no direct physical contact
between the Peltier cooler and the sensor. Instead, the Peltier cooler creates
a convectio
n system “refrigerator
-
like” environment that cools the sensor without
actually contacting it. This cooling system is unique to MallinCam and not found
on other astronomical imaging cameras.
Since the back illuminated IMX294 class 1 CMOS sensor of the MallinCam
DS10cTEC is cooled via convection, thermal shock to it and its associated
circuitry is reduced. CMOS sensors have other components mounted on the
same wafer with the imaging section which do not requires or can be adversely
affected by cooling. This includes the digital logic circuitry (interface, timing,
processing, output amplifiers, pad rings and associated oscillators), clocks and
timing controls, analog signal processing, analog-to-digital converter (which
when under cooling from direct cold finger and Peltier results in instability). These
parts of the CMOS sensor do not need to be direct cooled from a cold finger
application.
MallinCam has successfully design a working alternative - a cooling chamber
called refrigeration cooling - which subjects the CMOS sensor to cooling inside a
triple sealed vacuumed sensor chamber controlled with a heating element
mounted around the internal optical window to control and avoid dew
formation on the optical window and surroundings. A vacuumed sealed
chamber is used to eliminate the use of desiccant material and keep dew free
environment permanently.
The result of this new technology, the SkyRaider DS10cTEC, will not require a dark
frame for live application or imaging in most cases. It is built to laboratory
specification, where CNC machining is used throughout to provide the rigid
tolerances needed to provide precise component matching. The chamber has
six stainless steel screws securing the chamber cover under 100 pounds of
pressure to avoid possible air leaks into the chamber.
The internal electronics use Grade 1 components with tolerance of 0.5%, a
military and aerospace standard. The camera contains 4Gb DDR3 internal
memory to insure the smooth flow of data to the computer. The DS10cTEC also
has a built-in USB2 hub that can support a guider or a USB type focuser.
Special thanks to
Jack Huerkamp
and
Rock Mallin
whose expertise and
experience are way beyond my capabilities.
So, thank you for your purchase, and let the adventure begin.
