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The highly sensitive CCD chip provides 2048 x 2048 pixel resolution with a 14-bit dynamic range. With a pixel size of 14 µm x 14 µm, the full frame CCD offers an active area of 28.7 mm x 28.7 mm. The CCD sensor possesses an extremely high quantum efficiency.
Binning is supported by the Cantega G2. Users can select modes of 1x, 2x, 4x and
8x binning. This way sensitivity can be increased above the already high level supplied by the CCD in full resolution, or the frame rae can be increased.
The Cantega G2 supports different frame rates. In the 5 MHz mode the cameras offers about 6 frames per second at binning 4. The high quality 2 MHz mode supports 14 bits and offers 3 frames per second at binning 8. A partial read-out mode can be used, making it convenient to adjust microscope parameters. At any resolution, this camera provides superb dynamic range and sensitivity.
Noise, known as “dark current“, is generally introduced into an image when the CCD chip is not cooled to a sufficiently low temperature,. This thermal noise is not a problem with the Cantega G2, however. The CCD chip is cooled by water-cooling to -10° C (with 18°C TEM water temperature), resulting in an extremely high signal-to-noise ratio
CantegaG2 offers extremely low exposure times (as little as 1 ms and up to 100 s), making acquisition viable with intense illumination and with images of very low intensity
The Cantega G2 camera system couples the scintillator to the CCD chip using unique fiber optics. This innovative approach gives the user an attractive price/performance advantage. In conjunction with the highly sensitive CCD chip and the optimized scintillator, this ensures high sensitivity and efficiency, as well as an unsurpassed signal-to-noise ratio
Combining a dark current of < 0.6 e-/s, a full well capacity of about 250K, a read-out noise of about 8 e, and it’s low temperature, the high sensitivity of the Cantega G2 allows the observation of samples on the computer monitor at beam intensities so low they prohibit any image on the TEM view screen.
Integration of the Cantega G2 with iTEM, Olympus Soft Imaging Solutions TEM imaging platform, ensures real-time shading correction, intensity histograms, auto contrast adjustment and Fast Fourier Transformations during image acquisition
Integration of the camera into iTEM also provides functions such as labeling, processing, archiving, analyzing and report generation. Photographic quality printouts can be obtained virtually seconds after acquisition – without the darkroom
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