MX716+CCD

The MX716 is a Starlight Xpress product and offers exceptionally high QE and STAR 2000 self-guiding capability.

The ICX249AL, as used in the MX716, is a interline imager - the 'EXview' CCD, which has good quantum efficiency which significantly exceeds that of the Kodak 'Blue plus' process used for the KAF series of CCDs throughout the visible and infrared spectrum. The fundamental QE is of the order of 70% from 650nM to 470nM, and compares well with the 40-50% of earlier devices.




 * The MX716 camera specification:**


 * CCD type: Sony ICX249AL EXview CCD with ultra low dark current and vertical anti-blooming.
 * CCD pixel data: Pixel size: 8.6 x 8.3uM, image format 752 x 580 pixels
 * CCD size: Imaging area: 6.47mm (horizontal) x 4.83mm (vertical).
 * Spectral response: Peak response at 590nM, 30% at 400nM (Violet) and 70% at 670nM (Near infra-red).
 * Quantum efficiency: Approx. 65% peak at 590nM.
 * Readout noise: Less than12 electrons RMS - Parallel Port, Less than 8 electrons RMS -
 * USB Port
 * Full-well capacity: Greater than 70,000 e-
 * Anti-blooming: Overload margin greater than 800x
 * Dark current: Dark frame saturation time greater than 100 hours. Less than 0.1 electrons/ second at +10C ambient.
 * Data format: 16 bits.
 * Computer interface: 8 bit unidirectional parallel port with bi-directional status lines (Standard
 * Centronics interface). 25 pin 'D' style plug for LPT1, 2 or 3, via a 5 metre x 6mm diameter cable, OR USB port design
 * Image download time: Typically 12 seconds with a 200MHz PC and 'Fast Interface' module.
 * USB version approximately 3.5 seconds.
 * Power requirements: 115VAC / 240VAC @ 12VA, or 12VDC @ 750 milliamps max.
 * Cooling system: Regulated constant-current cooling supply built-in. Single-stage thermoelectric cooler to give a CCD temperature of approximately -30C below ambient.
 * Size: 50 x 100mm black anodised aluminium barrel with M42 thread at CCD window end and
 * 15 way 'D' style input plug at rear.
 * Weight: 200g.

=Camera setup=

The USB1.1 interface can be problomatic to say the least!

Recent connection to the DELL laptop resulted in failed connections and all sorts. One issue was a missing driver from DELL. This was downloaded from here:-

[] rmatcnt=1&libid=0&fileid=222314

The other main issue was that the **__camera head__** had to be disconnected from the USB interface **__as well as the power supply__**.

Ensure that the BlockIOClass entry in Device Manager (Control panel/System/Hardware) is as below. I had an ECHO2 showing that had to be uninstalled first before I could get it to work. Once uninstalled, I re-installed the Starlight software from disc. The Device Manager screen then looked like below and the camera worked.



Help files are given below. These are on the disc also during setup. [|MX716_CCD_02.pdf]

[|MX716_CCD_03.txt]