QHYCCD QHY42 BSI/FSI/UV Scientific CMOS Camera

GSENSE400 Sensor: 4MP Resolution with 11µm Pixels

The core of the QHY42 is its 4 Megapixel, 2048x2048 GSENSE400 sensor. The exceptionally large 11µm pixels provide a massive photon-collecting area, ideal for signal-starved applications like narrow-band imaging or spectroscopy. This pixel size allows for excellent sampling on long focal length instruments without requiring aggressive binning, preserving the native 4MP resolution of your data.

Available in Front-Side Illuminated (FSI), Back-Side Illuminated (BSI) for maximum quantum efficiency, and UV-enhanced versions, you can select the sensor variant that directly matches your scientific requirements. The square 22.5mm x 22.5mm format is optimized for scientific instruments and ensures consistent sampling across the field.

Dual 12-bit ADCs: 53ke- Full Well and 1.7e- Read Noise

The QHY42 camera's standout feature is its dual 12-bit analog-to-digital converter architecture. This system reads out the sensor through two separate channels simultaneously: a High Gain Channel (HGC) optimized for low-noise performance (as low as 1.7e-) and a Low Gain Channel (LGC) designed for high signal capacity (up to 53ke-). In HDR mode, the camera combines these two 12-bit readouts into a single frame, allowing you to capture faint details around bright objects without saturation.

• High Gain Mode (HGC): Captures the faintest signals with read noise as low as 1.7e-, ideal for detecting subtle variations in nebulae or faint stellar sources.
• Low Gain Mode (LGC): Maximizes dynamic range with a full well capacity of 53ke-, preventing saturation on bright stars or planetary cores.
• HDR Mode: Merges both channels to produce a single image with the full dynamic range of the sensor, from the noise floor to saturation, at 12 FPS.

24 FPS Capture: 128MB Buffer for High-Speed Scientific Imaging

Designed for high-cadence applications, the QHY42 delivers full 2048x2048 12-bit frames at 24 FPS in standard mode via its USB 3.0 interface. This speed is critical for time-domain science like stellar occultation timing, speckle interferometry, and "lucky imaging" of planets. An onboard 128MB DDR2 memory buffer ensures that frames are not dropped during high-speed capture, even on systems with slower disk write speeds, guaranteeing a complete and reliable data stream.

The camera also features a hardware trigger port that is compatible with GPS timing signals, such as those from the QHYCCD GPS-BOX. This allows for precise timestamping of each frame, a non-negotiable requirement for accurate photometric and astrometric measurements.

-35°C TEC Cooling: Stable Low-Noise Operation

To ensure clean, scientific-grade data, the QHY42 incorporates a regulated, dual-stage thermoelectric cooling system capable of reaching -35°C below ambient temperature. This powerful cooling dramatically reduces thermal noise, achieving a dark current of just 2.2e-/pixel/sec at a sensor temperature of -20°C. The integrated anti-dew heater on the optical window and an internal humidity sensor prevent moisture buildup, ensuring consistent, reliable operation during long imaging sessions or in humid conditions.