Imaging Source IS-3CU USB CCD Camera

• Model DFK 41AU02

• Color USB 2.0 camera

• 1/2" CCD, progressive scan

• Resolution 1280 x 960

• Max. 15 fps

• Max exposure time 60 min

• C/CS Mount

• Software included

With a resolution of 1280 x 960 pixels, the Imaging Source CCD camera DFK 41AU02 is ideally suited for rich captures, full of intricate details. In spite of the high resolution, this CCD camera can capture images with up to 15 frames per second. Using the shipped software - IC Capture.AS - you can capture lossless and uncompressed images sequences as AVI files.

At the heart of the high resolution CCD camera DFK 41AU02 is the ICX205AK sensor, manufactured by Sony®. The chip has a 1/2" format and offers a resolution of 1280 x 960 pixels. Even at long exposure times, its noise is minimal. Thanks to the high quality of the CCD chip, it is often deployed in scientific image processing applications.

Using the original images from the CCD (RAW format) for visualization purposes does not make much sense. Only after color interpolation is it possible to view the images in common formats. The bandwidth required when transferring interpolated images is considerably broader than when transferring the original RAW formatted images. The CCD camera DFK 41AU02 allows color interpolation to be switched off, thus achieving 15 color frames per second. In this case, color interpolation is performed by IC Capture.AS on the host computer. Alternatively, should color interpolation not be desirable at all, AVI files can be written in RAW format.

The CCD camera DFK 41AU02 outputs high resolution images without compression at high speed. This results in large amounts of data being generated. In order to transfer these to the host PC, a very fast bus is required. Hence, the camera is fitted with a USB 2.0 connector (cable sold separately).

Unlike the human eye, CCDs are sensitive to near infrared light (wavelengths over 700nm). It is often not desirable to capture light that is in the near infrared range. Indeed, such light often disturbs an otherwise perfect shot. Therefore, the CCD camera DFK 41AU02 ships with an IR cut filter.

The driver IC WDM DCAM TIS embeds all USB 2.0 CCD cameras, manufactured by The Imaging Source, into Windows® 2000 and Windows® XP. By deploying this driver, all CCD cameras are compatible to DirectX®. Consequently, all The Imaging Source CCD cameras can be used with all astrophotography software that is compatible to DirectX®.

• PIII/800 MHz, 128 MB

• Graphics card with 24 or 32 bit

• Windows® 2000/SP2 or Windows® XP

• DirectX® 9.0c or higher

IC Capture.AS is authored by The Imaging Source and has been specifically designed for use with CCD cameras. Using IC Capture.AS, you can do the following:

• Set all camera parameters

• See the live image data stream from the camera

• Retrieve singular images from the camera and save them as BMP or JPG files

• Capture image sequences and save the single images as enumerated BMP or JPG files

• Capture image sequences and save them as lossless, uncompressed AVI files. These files can be post-processed in other astronomy applications, such as RegiStax.

• PIII/800 MHz, 128 MB

• Graphics card with 24 or 32 bit

• Windows® 2000/SP2 or Windows® XP

• DirectX® 9.0c or higher

Please note that in order to save image sequences, a host computer with a fast CPU and fast secondary hard disk is required.

With IC Capture.AS you can save the images outputted from the camera as an AVI file. There are two approaches to achieve this:

• If you would like to save a compressed AVI file, simply select the appropriate codec in IC Capture.AS (DivX, for example).

• If you prefer uncompressed AVIs, simply select the shipped codec (uncompressed Y800, uncompressed RGB24, uncompressed RGB32, uncompressed UYVY).

• RegiStax (Windows®): RegiStax can read the uncompressed AVI files that are created by IC Capture.AS

• Astro IIDC (Mac OS): Using Astro IIDC you can control all The Imaging Source USB 2.0 CCD cameras on Mac OS.

  The Imaging Source IS-3CU Camera Specifications...

  • Product Code: DFK 41AU02
  • Type: Color USB 2.0 camera
  • Connection: USB 2.0
  • Manufacturer: The Imaging Source
  • Sensor: CCD
  • Type: progressive scan
  • Sensor Specification: Sony ICX205AK
  • Format: 1/2"
  • Resolution: 1280 x 960 pixels
  • Dynamic range: 8 bit
  • Exposure time: 1/10000 s to 60 minutes
  • Gain: 0 dB to 36 dB
  • FPS @ Max resolution: 15 fps
  • Video formats @ Frame rate: 1280 x 960, BY8 (RAW) @ 15, 7.5, 3.75 fps 1280 x 960, UYVY @ 7.5, 3.75 fps
  • Lens mount: C/CS mount
  • Supply voltage: 8 V to 30 V via the USB 2.0 cable
  • Current consumption: Approx 200 mA @ 12 VDC
  • Dimensions (H x W x L): 50.6 mm x 50.6 mm x 50 mm
  • Weight: 265 g
  • Max. temperature (operation): -5 °C to 45 °C
  • Max. temperature (storage): -20 °C to 60 °C
  • Max. humidity (operation): 20 % to 80 %
  • Max. humidity (storage): 20 % to 95 %