CCD Primer

Binning
Bracket Pulsing
CCD Grading
Cosmic Rays
Dark Current
Deep Depletion CCD
Detection Modes
Dual Capacity Mode
Dual Readout Mode
Dynamic Range
Etaloning in CCDs
eXcelon CCD-EMCCD
UV Extension
Fiber Optics
Flat Fielding
Full Well Capacity
Gain
Image Calibration
Imager Architectures
Image Intensifiers
ITO CCD
Kinetics Mode
Linearity
Matching Resolution
MPP Mode
Noise Sources
On-chip Multiplication Gain
Open Poly CCD
Optical Window
PVCAM
Quantum Efficiency
Readout vs Frame Rate
Reducing Dark Current
Saturation/ Blooming
Signal to Noise Calculator
Signal to Noise Ratio
Spurious Charge
XP Cooling

PVCAM Virtual Camera Library

PVCAM is the new standard software interface for all cooled CCD cameras from Photometrics and Princeton Instruments.

PVCAM available for Windows® XP, Vista and Windows 7 (32 and 64)

PVCAM is a library of functions which can be utilized to control and acquire data from the camera when a custom application is being written. For example, in the case of Windows, PVCAM is a dynamic link library (DLL). Also, it should be understood that PVCAM is solely for camera control and image acquisition, not for image processing. PVCAM places acquired images into a buffer, where they can then be manipulated using either custom written code or by extensions to other commercially available image processing packages. PVCam supports circular buffer or ring buffer that allows faster frame update irrespective of the operating systems' load. This is sometimes called data streaming. Images are acquired (or buffered) in to the memory and then passed on to the Operation System for display or storage.

PPK a Programmer's Developer Kit
The Professional Programmer's Kit (PPK) is designed for those who wish to develop their own custom software for all Roper Scientific camera systems. PPK consists of the necessary drivers to enable the software to run on either Windows, Macintosh and LINUX . Also included is a sample program with complete source code, documentation, applications notes, technical support. The heart of PPK is the PVCAM library; the function calls enable one to access virtually every aspect of the camera operation, as well as acquire images into a buffer. PVCAM provides a virtual interface to all cameras, so that the actual complexities of controlling the camera are masked. Additionally, PVCAM allows the developer to work across multiple platforms with minimal modification to source code.

For 3rd Party Software Developers
PPK will be of particular use to software developers who wish to integrate a Roper Scientific cooled CCD camera into a larger system, especially if software has already been written for that system. PPK will also benefit those who wish to control the camera along with several other instruments as part of an experimental setup.