QHY174GPS Monochrome camera

QHY174M-GPS COLDMOS camera, with GPS based precision time and location function, useful for imaging occultations, eclipses, meteors, and other scientific imaging requiring a highly precise recording of the time and location of the observation on every frame.

• dual-stage TE cooling to -45C below ambient with full anti-moisture control including a heated optical window and removable silicon tube for the sensor chamber.
• 4-pin QHYCFW filter wheel control port and a 6-pin autoguider port.
• anti-amp glow function. It can reduce the IMX174 sensor’s amplifier glow significantly in long exposures.

The IMX174 sensor has a global shutter and is capable of high frame rates, both ideal features for a time-domain imaging camera. In 2014 Sony introduced this device which featured a new technology called SONY® Pregius, redefining the global shutter CMOS imaging category and providing the best of both worlds with fast frame rate and CCD-like imaging performance. The technology offers lower dark noise, which enables higher gains without compromising image quality, as well as higher quantum efficiency. The global shutter also eliminates pixelization caused by atmospheric agitation when imaging the Planets and Moon at high frame rates.

QHY174M-GPS Time Domain Imager – With GPS PPS Synced High Precision Hardware Stamp

The QHY174’s most interesting feature is the precision GPS time functions. The QHY174M-GPS will record the global shutter exposure starting and ending time with microsecond precision. Two QHY174 cameras, for example, each located anywhere in the world, can have the same time base, accurate to microseconds. In order to guarantee the starting and ending time of the exposure, the QHY174 has a built-in LED pulse calibration circuit precise to 1 microsecond.

The QHY174 camera is designed to be an excellent planetary, lunar, solar and meteor capture video camera. With a 50mm F1.4 lens it will record mag 8 to mag 9 stars in a live video recording at 30FPS (33ms exposure), several magnitudes fainter than can typically be seen with the naked eye. The QHY174’s high sensitivity with HD resolution will push video astronomy to new heights.

There main differentiating features of this camera over competing models:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. GPS time and location data embedded in the image
            2. Anti-dew heater to eliminate condensation and ice from forming on the camera
            3. Anti-amp glow circuit to reduce the amplifier glow in long-duration images

QHY174GPS has two working modes

• Master mode: In Master Mode, the camera is free running and the internal 10MHz GPS synced clock will measure and record the shutter’s opening and closing time.
• Slave mode: In Slave Mode, you can input a target start time and the interval period for two frames. For example, you want three cameras in different locations (maybe thousands of kilometers apart) to start an exposure at 2016.3.9.UTC 14:00:00.000000 and then to continue with exposures at the interval time of 0.100000 sec. After you input these value, all the three cameras will wait until this time and then simultaneously start video recording, e.g.:
  • • • 2016.3.9 UTC 14:00:00.000033
      • 2016.3.9 UTC 14:00:00.100033
      • 2016.3.9 UTC 14:00:00.200033
      • 2016.3.9 UTC 14:00:00.300033
        (The 0.00033 is a global delay of the CMOS shutter). The timestamp and other GPS information are embedded in the image. The software decodes it in real-time and displays the information on the left. Since the data is embedded, it will never be lost so long as you keep the original image.

Global Shutter: High-Speed Capture – Undistorted Imaging

The QHY174GPS camera uses the 1/1.2-inch SONY IMX174 CMOS sensor with a global shutter, 5.86um pixels,138FPS@1920*1200, high QE of 78%, and low read noise of 3-5e-. Unlike a rolling shutter, a global shutter guarantees that the exposure time for the whole image area is uniform, beginning and ending at exactly the same time. This type of shutter is ideal for high precision time-domain applications.

QHY174GPS Time Domain Imager: Built-in GPS – 1us High Timestamp

The QHY174GPS has a unique built-in GPS module that can sync with the atomic clock signals received from GPS satellites. The QHY174GPS can record the start and end of exposure time with 1us precision anywhere on earth. The QHY174GPS was selected by the NASA New Horizons Team to successfully captured the MU69 occultation in the Summer of 2017.

TEC cooled: 2-stage TEC  -45ºC below ambient
The QHY174GPS uses 2-stage TEC cooling to significantly reduce dark current.

Amplifier Glow Reduction: Unique Technology – High Reduction Ratio
The IMX174 sensor normally has a significant amplifier glow which will affect the entire image area in exposures of any significant length. However, QHYCCD has successfully incorporated our unique amplifier glow reduction technology into the design of the QHY174GPS camera to yield excellent results with this sensor.

Multiple Scientific Applications: Free Running Mode – Multi-Site Sync Mode
The QHY174GPS is the best camera for high precision time-based scientific projects. It includes two working modes. In Free Running Mode, the hardware records the GPS time and internal 1us calibrated time into the image header of every frame. In Multi-Site Sync Mode, users can control multiple cameras that are thousands of miles apart so that they start exposures at exactly the same time to the microsecond.

• • Occultation – The QHY174GPS is the ideal camera for cooperative multi-site imaging of asteroid occultations.
  • Meteor – Two or three QHY174GPS cameras equipped with wide-angle lenses or all-sky lenses can be used to determine the 3D position, speed and geometric position of meteors.
  • Exoplanet – The QHY174GPS is ideal for multi-site, high precision timing of exoplanet light curve measurements.

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Documentation:

• Downloads
• User Manual
• Independent detailed review of the QHY174 camera
• Information on the QHY Anti-amp glow feature