Starlight Xpress Trius SX-46 full-frame camera

The SX-46 is a full-frame CCD camera with a 16.7 megapixel sensor. It utilises the popular KAF-16200 sensor, which has an ‘APS-H’ format array of 27 x 21.6 mm, 6uM square pixels. The use of a full frame chip requires a mechanical shutter and so SX have developed a custom ‘roller blind’ assembly that uses mini stepper motors to provide an extremely uniform shutter action.

The SX-46 incorporates many special features that improve on some other KAF-16200 based products:

• A multi-coated synthetic sapphire input window. The extremely high thermal conductivity of sapphire (about 25x better than glass) eliminates the need for a window heater, by conducting waste heat from the camera body to the entire window surface. Dewing of the window is extremely unlikely to occur, even with maximum CCD cooling.
• A stepper driven roller blind shutter with extremely uniform illumination of the sensor, even at 0.1 second exposure time. The shutter is designed for robust long-term use, but is also very easy to service or replace, if necessary.
• A compact, dry argon filled CCD chamber, with O ring sealing. No desiccant to regularly replace. The window is easy to clean with an air duster or soft cloth.
• Built-in LED flood illuminator for RBI elimination (trapped electrons from previous images).
• Fast image download time – approximately 6.5 seconds for a full 16.7 megapixel image.
• A three stage Peltier cooler to give better than -50C below ambient, with an efficient temperature controller to keep power consumption to less than 2 amps at 12v DC.
• Standard ‘Trius’ 3 port USB 2 hub built-in.
• A compact overall size of 136 mm square and 70 mm deep (+ handles). Only 1.7 Kg total weight.

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Specification

• Active area: 27 x 21.6 mm (APS-H format)
• Number of pixels: 4540 x 3640
• Pixel size: 6.0 x 6.0 uM
• Read noise: 9e typical
• Full well capacity: Approx. 41,000e
• Peak QE: Approx. 58% at 530nM
• Camera gain: 0.6e / ADU