Built-in EM gain protection
Gain deterioration (or aging) is an inherent characteristic of all EM CCD cameras, and can be accelerated by events such as unintentional exposure to excessive light. As a countermeasure, the ImagEM provides user-adjustable protection levels and will alert users whenever too much light is detected. This feature contributes to extended camera life.
Built-in EM gain readjustment
In the event that EM gain deterioration does occur, gain can be readjusted automatically to original values through a software command. This readjustment can be made without removing the camera from your laboratory setup.
Direct EM gain control
Gain can be easily controlled through any software that supports the Hamamatsu DCAM application. There is no need to refer to a manual to convert sensitivity values and actual EM gain multiplication factors.
Many of these image processing features are available only in the ImagEM.
Optimized drivers for low CIC
Because the EM CCD camera has such extremely low readout noise, it is necessary to deal with noise elements that are usually considered insignificant in conventional cooled CCD cameras. One such element is clock induced charge (CIC), which is a type of dark current that can affect images taken at short exposures. ImagEM is designed to minimize the effects of CIC.
New photon imaging mode
A unique technology that overcomes the limitation of EM CCD cameras to handle single photon light levels due to the noise generated by the electron multiplication process. For many years, Hamamatsu has produced photon-counting cameras with special image intensifiers. This expertise has been applied to create unique circuits for driving the EM process that will produce high-quality images in ultra-low light.
New frame averaging
A real-time image processing feature in which multiple frames can be averaged. Provides significant increases in S/N since both detector noise and signal are averaged.
New spot noise reducer
An image processing function that helps increase S/N and overall image quality by eliminating noise elements such as cosmic rays. Random spots of intensity are detected and then evaluated against incoming images.
Increased offset stability
Stability of the digitizer offset is an important issue for data reliability. In the ImagEM, fluctuation of the digitizer offset is very well controlled, showing only a few counts even at full 16-bit digitizer resolution and maximum EM gain.
Double AR window coating
Anti-reflective coating greatly reduces reflections from both outside and inside the vacuum head. Transmission efficiency is greater than 99% between 450 nm and 750 nm.
Internal reflection masking
The camera’s CCD chip is manufactured with a special mask on the metal components of the chip to further minimize reflections from inside the vacuum chamber.
Multiple synchronous triggers
Various trigger modes are available for synchronizing the camera with external devices. Among these modes are two types of synchronous readout modes, which prevent vertical smearing or banding noise that occurs if there is a mismatch between camera readout and the confocal microscope’s disk rotation speed.
Learn more about the ImagEM:
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