Artemis Ccd Ltd Announces an Upgraded VS Range of Cooled Scientific Cameras for 2014

Artemis CCD Limited, a leading manufacturer of cooled CCD cameras for low-light applications today announces an upgrade in performance and enhanced lens compatibility for the highly successful VS range of cameras. The VS design is aimed at Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) of integrated imaging systems as well as low light microscopy users.

For 2014, the image digitization speed for all members of the VS range has been increased by a factor of 3. This significant improvement provides the ICX285 based VS14 with a minimum frame rate of 3fps which can be further increased to 7fps with 4x4 pixel binning yet it maintains a typical read noise of just 6 electrons. This is achieved with a custom low noise electronics design combined with thermoelectric cooling of -35 degrees Celsius. The speed improvement in low noise image acquisition combines with an existing 12MHz live view to provide both the OEM Integrator and end user a highly flexible camera for low light applications. A second feature to enhance product compatibility at the same time as providing a cost improvement for the customer is the adoption of a C-Mount thread as the standard lens interface for the VS range. This provides the ability to attach any C-Mount lens to a VS camera without the need for an adaptor.

Chris Andrews, Artemis CCD’s Sales & Marketing Manager commented: “We listen carefully to our customers and their feedback combined with our policy of continuous product improvement has guided us directly to the important enhancements announced today. Fine image quality remains our number one design criterion and for certain Life Science applications such as live cell imaging, the improvement of image acquisition speed will increase further the opportunities for the VS range. The majority of our customers mate Artemis CCD cameras to C-Mount lenses and we are pleased to be able to pass on a cost reduction by modifying the sensor chamber while maintaining excellent cooling performance. We’ll continue to provide custom made adaptors for those customers wishing to use other lens mounts. The VS range has attracted a lot of interest since its launch last year and I’m confident that our on-going development will further the success of this versatile camera design.”