KL4040 Sensor Specs
Sensor: GPixel GSense4040
Pixels: 4096 x 4096
Pixel Size: 9 μm
Full Well Capacity: 70000 e-
Dynamic Range: 86 dB HDR
Sensor Diagonal: 52.1
Video Size (inch): 3.3
Color Options: Monochrome
Sensor Type: Front Illuminated
Shutter Type: Rolling
Sensor Grades: Grade 1 or 2
KL4040 PerformanceCamera Spec Sheet: PDF
Digitization Speed: 24 fps HDR
Typical System Noise: 3.7 e- HDR
Typical Maximum Cooling: 40ºC Below Ambient
Typical Dark Current: <0.15 e-/pixel/sec @ -20ºC
Typical Non linearity: <1%
Lens Mounts: Optional Nikon F-Mount or Canon EOS mount
Available Shutters: Optional 65 mm
All Kepler Cameras
Housing Dimensions: 4.0 x 4.0 x 4.17 (101.6 x 101.6 x 105.9)
Focal Plane to Faceplate: 15.53 mm (optical; no shutter; no cover slip)
Weight: 3.0 lbs.
Interface: USB 3.0
Temperature Stability: 0.1ºC
Remote Triggering: Standard
Shutter MTBF: 1,000,000
Power: 12V (100-240V AC to 12V DC power supply included). With TEC off: <1A. TEC at 100%: 4.4A. (Optional Electromechanical Shutter open: 4A pulse for 100msec. Shutter held open, add 0.22A.)
Environment: -30ºC - 45ºC | 10% - 90% Relative Humidity
Specifications: KL4040 vs. PL16803
|
KL4040
|
PL16803
|
Sensor Type
|
Front illuminated CMOS
|
Front illuminated CCD
|
Active Pixels
|
4096 x 4096
|
Pixel Size
|
9 x 9 microns
|
Effective Area
|
36.9 x 36.9 mm
|
Sensor Diagonal
|
52.1 mm
|
Full Well Capacity
|
70000 electrons
|
100000 electrons
|
Frame rate (rolling)
|
24 fps HDR
|
11 seconds/frame
|
Read Noise (rolling)
|
3.7 e- HDR (800 MHz)
|
10 e- (1 MHz)
|
Dynamic Range
|
86 dB HDR
|
80 dB (1 MHz)
|
Peak QE
|
74%
|
60%
|
Cooling
|
Air (Optional Liquid)
|
Dark Current
|
0.15 eps at -20C
|
0.005 eps at -33C
|
Interface
|
USB 3.0
|
USB 2.0
|
Interface (Optional)
|
QSFP1
|
NA
|
Data Bit Depth2
|
16 bit
|
Optional Mount
|
F-mount
|
Video size
|
3.3”
|
Subarray Readout
|
Yes
|
Electromechanical Shutter
|
Optional 65mm
|
Standard 65mm
|
Ex Trigger In
|
Yes
|
Ex Trigger Out
|
Yes
|
Software
|
FLI Pilot
|
FLIGrab
|
SDK
|
Open Source
|
List Price
|
$15,995
|
$10,995
|
The ProLine PL16803 has been the de facto standard for astrophotography since its release in 2006, and the Kepler KL4040 continues the tradition of excellence. Both cameras use a 4k x 4k sensor with 9 micron pixels. The difference is the ProLine uses a traditional CCD while the Kepler uses a Scientific CMOS sensor.
The table below is a comparison of the ProLine PL16803 and the Kepler KL4040 cameras, using a low flux value of 1 photon/pixel/second and dark current values given in the chart to the right.
Exposure (sec)
|
4040 SNR
|
16803 SNR
|
1 x 900
|
22.5
|
19.3
|
5 x 180
|
21.8
|
14.7
|
10 x 90
|
20.9
|
11.9
|
Summary: A Paradigm Shift
It is no surprise that the CCD’s best performance is with a single long exposure. What may be surprising is the Kepler KL4040 has a better signal-to-noise ratio than the PL16803 even with a single long exposure. The signal-to-noise ratio of the KL400 is better than the PL16803 even when using short exposures that are stacked!
The benefit of taking multiple short exposures is the option to discard a bad exposure ruined by satellite trails, tracking errors, or bad seeing (etc.). Incredible low-noise images are now possible with a single long exposure or many stacked short exposures. The KL4040’s superior performance allows it to be used for a wide range of applications and requirements.
Quantum Efficiency: KAF-16803 versus GSense4040 CMT
