QHYCCD QHY533C Cooled Color CMOS Telescope Astrophotography Camera – QHY553C QHYCCD

With the advantage of low readout noise and high-speed readout, CMOS technology has revolutionized astronomical imaging.  The QHY533M/C is a new generation of back-illuminated CMOS cameras with 3.76um pixels.  The QHY533M/C uses the similar series of sensors as the flagship models QHY600 and QHY268, featuring low 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.

 

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.

 

QHY533M (mono) and 533C (color) have different interface designs to be more flexible to deal with different applications.

QHY533M can be directly connected to the QHYCFW3S-SR without removing any part of the filter wheel (like the filter container). This provides a very short back focal length and that’s easy to fix! Besides, QHY533M + QHYCFW3S-SR combination can be easily connected to a DSLR lens, with only one additional adapter (sold separately).  

Both QHY533M/C comes with an additional adapter for tripod interface. This makes it easier to shoot with DSLR lens.

 

Specifications

Model	QHY533M	QHY533C
COMS Sensor	SONY IMX533 M	SONY IMX533 C
Mono/Color	Mono	Color
FSI/BSI	BSI
Pixel Size	3.76um x 3.76um
Effective Pixel Area	3008*3028 (includes the optically black area and overscan area)
Effective Pixels	9MP
Sensor Size	1 inch
A/D Sample Depth	Native 14-bit A/D
Full Well Capacity (1×1, 2×2, 3×3)	58ke-
Full Frame Rate	USB3.0 Port: Full Resolution  26.5FPS  @8BIT         20FPS @16BIT2160Lines          37FPS     @8BIT          28.5FPS@16BIT1080Lines          71.5FPS   @8BIT          55FPS @16BIT768Lines             97FPS      @8BIT          76FPS @16BIT480Lines             152FPS    @8BIT          117FPS @16BIT240Lines             280FPS    @8BIT         215FPS@16BIT
Readout Noise	1.3 to 3.4e-
Dark Current	-20C，0.0005e- /pixel/sec
Exposure Time Range	30us-3600sec
Unity Gain	68
Shutter Type	Electronic Shutter
Computer Interface	USB3.0
Built-in Image Buffer	1GByte DDR3 Memory
Cooling System	Two-stage TEC cooler   Less than 1S lower than ambient temperature -30C in continuous mode More than 1S continuous mode or lower than ambient temperature -35C in single frame mode （Test temperature +20°）
Optic Window Type	AR+AR High Quality Multi-Layer Anti-Reflection Coating
Anti-Dew Heater	Yes
Telescope Interface	–	Support M48 (with adapter)
Back Focal Length	Actual Back Focal Consumed: 14 mm (Combined with CFW)   Standard BFL: 17.5mm（±0.5）	17mm
Weight	845g	845g