Institute: ISE, group: PERGCCD USB 2.0 Camera for the

Pi of The Sky ProjectGrzegorz Kasprowiczsemester: T1EL-PE

Cooperation with Soltan Institute for Nuclear Studies

dr hab. Grzegorz Wrochna

Project „ of the Sky”

• Motivation

• Search for optical counterparts of Gamma Ray Bursts

• Investigate undocumented observations of point-like flashes in the sky

• Open a new window on the Universe - short time scale observations

Project „ of the Sky”

• Goals

• Observe non-stop almost all visible sky with a few seconds resolution

• Record sky images 15s before and after satellite GRB trigger

• Search for point-like flashes

Project „ of the Sky”

Apparatus:

• 16 CCD cameras, 2000x2000 pixels each

• f=50mm lenses, each covering 35ox35o

• full frame (128 MB) readout every 6s

• real time processing of all data (trigger)

• remote operation, controlled over internet

Aim of the presented work

• General : building CCD Camera for the Pi of The Sky project

• In current semester :building a final version of camera

Specification:•Sensor: Fairchild CCD442A•USB 2.0 Interface•Programmable readout time (1s-100s) •2048x2048 active pixels, 15x15um each•16 bit ADC•Programmable exposure ( shutter) time (0.01...655s)•MPP/BC mode •Amplification (0..15dB e/ADU) •Controller software upgrade via USB•FPGA configuration upgrade via USB•Peltier cooling of CCD•Temperature measurement: CCD, case, ambient •CCD temperature control•Build in mechanical shutter •Focusing motor control  

Own work done in current semester:

• Building and testing prototype, based on MAX series PLD

• Building the final version of camera based on Cyclone series FPGA

• Designing and constructing a mechanical part of camera (case, shutter, cooling) – with help of my brother

Hardware structure of the project (part of all)

- 16 identical cameras- USB HUB- cameras supply ( ~ 5W each)- cooling(Peltier cells) (~ 30W each)-common power supply(+7V,~17V) /100W-Common cooling supply +12V/500W- water radiator & fan-PC-cooling

II Prototype

-Construction optymizing (electrical)-Testing USB transmission, developing USB controller & FPGA programms

Prototype control application

„First light” - pinhole - visible readout noises, caused by digital circuits and not optimised connections Grayscale to color conversion used

CCD USB 2.0 Camera block diagram

- USB interface- FPGA + config- DRAM- ADC+CDS- Video amplifier- Supply- CCD temperature control- motors drivers- CCD supply & drivers

Mechanical part of camera

-Shutter made up with HDD linear motor , much cheaper than commercial solutions (500$)-tested endurance limit (over 150 hours,6 cycles per second)

-Focusing motor-Case-Inactive gas outlet-Lenses

-Cooling(in future will be used water block)-supply,motor and USB connectors-gas inlet-fixing

Final version

Power supply board Top view

Main board Side view

Final version

Shuter,foc.motor Completed construction

Completed construction „First shot”

Achieved results:

• Building and testing II protptype• Building and testing final version of

camera and one’s mechanical part

Further plans:

•Implementation of more advanced algorithms, like Windowing, Drift Scan, Tracking is possible because configuration of camera takes about 5% of FPGA resources, and in this direction construction will be developed.