Pantera SA 2M30 - Frame Grabbers

Pantera SA DS -21-02M30 and DS-22-02M30 User’s Manual 41
Thermal Management & Dark Current
For any CCD camera optimal performance is achieved by transferring heat away from the
sensor. Keeping a sensor “cool” reduces the amount of dark current generated. Dark
current is the leading contributor to FPN, PRNU, dark offset, random noise and other
performance specifications, especially when a camera is significantly gained (i.e. +10db).
Generally, dark current doubles for every 7°C increase in temperature at the sensor and
increases linearly with integration time.
The Pantera SA 2M30 has been optimized to transfer heat from the sensor to the front and
base plates. Therefore, to reduce dark current, the front and base plates are the ideal
places to mount heat sinks.
Some suggestions for optimizing camera cooling are:
• To minimize power dissipation, keep input voltage as low as possible in the
permitted 11 to 25V range.
• Always operate the camera with a lens adapter or lens. The lens transfers a significant
amount of heat from the interior of the camera, effectively acting as a heat sink.
• Clamping a metal plate to the base of the camera. Keep in mind that the thicker and
wider the metal plate, the more effective the cooling.
• Convection is an ideal method to minimize camera warm-up times and reduce dark
current generation. Mount fans away from the camera to avoid vibration, and direct
the airflow across the housing to decrease the temperature delta between ambient
and bottom plate temperatures.
DALSA also offers a custom Pantera SA 2M30 heat sink, which can be purchased as a
non-standard accessory (contact DALSA for more information).
4.2 Optical Interface
Depending upon resolution the cameras can be ordered with different lens mounts. The
following table provides this information.
Lens Mounts
All C-mount and F-mount adapters have the appropriate back focal distance for the lens
type being used. Ensure that the image circle diameter of the lens to be used is as great as
the length of the imaging region. The following table provides information regarding the
lens mount used and the back focal distance. The M42 lens adapter originated from the
high-end photography standard. Distances to its inner flat surface and the outer flat
surface are provided.
Table 11: Lens Mounts
Mount Back Focal Distance (sensor die to adapter)
C-Mount
F-Mount
M42
17.52 ±0.30mm
46.5 ±0.30mm
6.56mm ±0.30mm—outer flat surface
DALSA 03-32-10150-01