Specifications

Version 1.1 rev Jan 2013
Page 53
iXon Ultra
, Features and Functionality
3.3.4 - Output amplier selection
The iXon Ultra camera incorporates dual output ampliers, an electron multiplying output amplier and a conventional
output amplier. This increases the versatility of the camera as the EM amplier can be selected for fast imaging in low-
light conditions, whilst the conventional amplier can be selected where more light is available and a slower readout,
with its associated lower read noise and higher dynamic range, is preferred.
The readout structure on sensors with both output ampliers present is shown in Figure 16. From this it can be seen
that, when reading out through the EM amplier, accumulated charge will move to the right along the serial register
and then into the EM Gain register. When the conventional output amplier is selected, the charge to be read out will
move along the serial register to the left then be transferred directly into the conventional output amplier. This change
in direction has the effect of producing mirror images when comparing raw data from the two output ampliers. Some
software packages will automatically reverse the image orientation of one of the output ampliers to allow direct
comparison of images. Consult your software manual to verify if this is the case.
Figure 16: Sensor readout structure