High Sensitivity + High Speed + Low Noise
All three…plus more…in a compact and versatile camera, the ORCA-R2. Its ER-150 CCD image sensor is responsive to a wide spectral range, with especially high sensitivity in the visible and near-infrared regions. The CCD is encased in a maintenance-free, hermetic vacuum-sealed chamber which ensures efficient camera cooling by either air or water. Thanks to this cooling structure and an advanced external circuit design, the ORCA-R2 offers rapid readout with minimal noise.
In its normal scan mode, the ORCA-R2 provides 8.5 frames per second at full spatial resolution. In fast scan mode, frame rates range from 16.2 to 115.1 frames per second at varying levels of resolution.
Quick guide to ORCA-R2 camera
To help you determine if the ORCA-R2 is suitable for your imaging needs, wavelength sensitivity and other important parameters are listed in the table below.
| Parameter | ORCA-R2 camera |
|---|---|
| Image sensor type | 1.3 megapixel cooled interline CCD |
| Wavelength sensitivity | UV to NIR |
| Intensity of signal | Low light |
| Frame rate at full resolution | 8 or 16 frames per second |
| Exposure time | 10 microseconds to 70 minutes |
| Spatial resolution (pixel size) | 6.45 microns |
The main features and benefits of the ORCA-R2 camera are summarized below. For more info, download the technical note or contact us by completing the form.
| Features | Benefits |
|---|---|
| ER-150 chip: 1.37 million pixel interline CCD with peak QE over 70% | High resolution and short exposure times combined |
| 14 MHz and 28 MHz readout modes included | Choice of very low noise or very fast readout to suit applications |
| 12-bit and 16-bit digitizers are included and software selectable | Choice of bit depth to suit data and precision needs |
| Air and water cooling capabilities are standard | Long exposures with very low dark current and no vibration |
Special features
Dual light modes
The ORCA-R2 has a “high light mode” for handling most applications, and a “low light mode” for when increased quantum efficiency (QE) in the spectrum between visible and near-infrared is required. Within these regions, the image sensor’s QE peaks at over 70%, which is the highest level for interline CCDs.
Dual scan modes
In normal scan mode, the ORCA-R2 provides a readout speed of 14 MHz. This translates to 8.5 frames per second at full resolution, and is similar to the scan speed of the ORCA-ER and ORCA-AG. However, the fast scan mode of 28 MHz is available only in the ORCA-R2. Readout speed is doubled, delivering 16.2 frames per second at full resolution. To achieve higher frame rates, binning and sub-array features can be used in either normal scan or fast scan modes. The maximum frame rate is 115.1 frames per second.
Low noise due to optimized circuit design
In order to minimize readout noise, the ORCA-R2 is designed with separate circuits for the two readout modes. Each circuit is optimized to its particular readout mode, resulting in values as low as 6 electrons (rms) during normal scan operation and 10 electrons (rms) during fast scan operation.
Low noise due to advanced cooling structure
Besides readout noise, the other noise source in CCD cameras is dark current from the image sensor, which can be significantly reduced by cooling. In the ORCA-R2, the CCD is cooled with a Peltier thermoelectric cooling device, supplemented by either water cooling (down to -40 degrees C) or air cooling (down to -35 degrees C). Hamamatsu’s proprietary hermetic vacuum-sealed chamber ensures much more efficient cooling than nitrogen-purged or conventionally evacuated chambers.
Analog contrast enhancement
Analog gain and analog offset features are included. When combined, they enhance your analog signal prior to digital conversion, giving you a higher contrast image.
Dual A/D converter (12-bit or 16-bit, selectable)
In applications where quantization error must be minimized, 16-bit digital conversion is recommended.
External trigger and synchronous output
To synchronize the ORCA-R2 to external equipment, four external trigger modes are provided: edge trigger, level trigger, synchronous readout trigger, and start trigger.
In configurations where the ORCA-R2 is the master and external equipment is the slave, you can choose from three synchronization modes: exposure output, programmable timing output, and trigger-ready output.
Applications
The ORCA-R2 camera is suited for many imaging applications in the visible to NIR wavelengths that require high resolution and an exposure time between 10 µs and 70 minutes. Example applications are listed below.
- Fluorescence microscopy
- Live cells expressing GFP
- Red to NIR fluorescence application
- Ratio imaging
- Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)
- IR-DIC and fluorescence imaging
- Cell or tissue pathology
- Time lapse fluorescence imaging
- TIRF microscopy
- Real-time confocal microscopy
- Failure analysis
- Semiconductor inspection
- X-ray scintillator readout
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