My latest camera plans.

Dave,

I've had a look at the CCD chip in the Panasonic, and there are no markings on it anywhere, so I've no chance of identifying what it is or getting any data sheets on it. I know that Panasonic had some license agreements with Sony so it may be one of theirs - I don't think Panasonic make any CCD sensors themselves. A pity I can't find any more data on it as it's going to waste at the moment.
In my previous job I used it in a robot chip programming system to inspect the pins on IC's for damage and then place the chip precisely in a socket for programming. It's also got a beaut big Nikon lens with an Iris, but that appears only to be good for close-up work, I don't think it's suitable for focusing on far-away objects.
I have the frame grabber board that came with the kit, unfortunately it's a bit dated now (full length ISA bus - all PCs now are PCI), and anyway the only interface for a modern laptop is USB.
When I checked the prices on-line for this camera they were about US$450 so maybe the best bet is to try and sell the whole kit (camera, frame grabber board, cables and software) on e-bay and use the proceeds to finance my astro imaging project.
If you know of anyone who might have a use for this esoteric piece of kit, - all in perfect working order let me know.
In the meantime, I'll keep an eye on how you are doing on your Website, and if you need any advice, electronically, let me know.

Also - any advice you can give me is more than appreciated. Electronically I am up to speed, but I have no experience of cameras, or astrophotography etc.

I know what you mean by tinkering - the journey is often more fun than arriving. I've been making solar filters, interface leads to update firmware etc., writing simple software routines to talk to my scope, re-cycling slightly used SLA batteries - hey, it's what you do in the cloudy spells that keeps the intensity of interest. Then when you do get a clear night and incredible views of Saturn etc. you can say - "I did that".

I've had a look at the CCD chip in the Panasonic, and there are no markings on it anywhere, so I've no chance of identifying what it is or getting any data sheets on it.

I've had a look at the current range of SOny chips and they dont have one which is 792 x 494 in the 1/2" format. It may well be that its an older discontinued type.

When I checked the prices on-line for this camera they were about US$450 so maybe the best bet is to try and sell the whole kit (camera, frame grabber board, cables and software) on e-bay and use the proceeds to finance my astro imaging project.

That does sound like the best option to me, rather than hacking it apart and then finding that it's no good for the purpose

If you know of anyone who might have a use for this esoteric piece of kit, - all in perfect working order let me know.
In the meantime, I'll keep an eye on how you are doing on your Website, and if you need any advice, electronically, let me know.

Will do John. Actually there is something you might be able to advise me on. Do you know of any decent and reasonably price electronic design software. I spent some time looking at one called "Electronic Design Studio 3" which I got on a cover disk. The problem with it is that adding components which it doesnt have in its rather small library is a real pain. I'd like to find something with a bit more power.

The reason is that having spent a lot of time studing camera circuitry, data on CCDs, A/D convertors etc. I'm starting to feel maybe just confident enough to consider integrating the various components. I think I have figured out how to integrate a 16bit A/D with a CCD and clock driver chip, I'm working on how to put all this together into ground up camera. Wouldn't it be great to design and build an astro CCD from the ground up?

I know I've still a long way to go to get to the point where I can consider building it, but I'd like to get my ideas down on a curcuit diagram rather than the bundles of data sheets strewn across my desk. That way I can add to it as advance along this learning curve. Not being an electronic engineer myself its tough going but dang its fun!!

Also - any advice you can give me is more than appreciated. Electronically I am up to speed, but I have no experience of cameras, or astrophotography etc.

Lets keep in touch on this, I think we can be very helpful to each other here.

re-cycling slightly used SLA batteries

Thats something I have been thinging about recently. I heard that Batteries like these can be kinda reconditioned. I have a couple of 7.2ah 12V batteries which might still be useful. Do you know if I can do anything to recondition these?

Thanks for all your help.

Not sure how useful this would be to you Dave but I've a copy of the'
Handbook of CCD Astronomy' which was on the reading list for a astrophotography/CCD module I did last year. The course didnt cover building a camera from scratch (well it did in theory...), but the book might be of interest, though you are probably well up on most of it already. I can bring it to an SDAS meeting for you to borrow if you dont already have it.

Also I asume you have some across this before:
www.astrosurf.com/audine/English/index0.htm a couple of people on the course were in the process of making variations of that.

Cheers,
~Albert

Handbook of CCD Astronomy, Howell, S., 2000, (Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press), ISBN 0521648343

Dave,

On the recycling of SLAs, if you haven't kept them charged periodically (monthly topping up), then they can be a problem to bring back to life, but not impossible (though probably not for very much longer). SLAs need to regularly topped up, NEVER totally discharged - this kills 'em. If they've discharged totally - blasting them for an hour or so at 14.7 volts then reducing to a trickle charge at 13.5 volts over 12 hours can sometimes revive them. I've a regular supply of used 12V 17Ah batteries from Computer UPSs (so they never really get any load). I can get more than a week (without a re-charge) of sessions on my Nexstar with one of these babies. If you want one of these, I've about 3 to spare - give me a shout, or if you're SDAS or IAS I'll bring some along to the next meets. I picked up a charger recently in Maplin which does the primary 14.7 volt blast automatically and then reduces the charging supply automatically for about 59 Euros.

On the design end of things - I've been out of mainstream design for quite a few years now (12) - I'm mostly in IT these days (manufacturing in this country is not what it used to be and most of us had to adapt). We should probably meet and discuss what is possible. Name of the game here is not to re-invent the wheel! The scale of circuitry we are talking about here probably doesn't need anything like a CAD package anyway. Although if we're reverse engineering, or modifying an existing design like the Philips TouCam PRO then this would be strictlty a not for profit (info only) venture.

I think it's best we meet up and talk on this.

I've just checked up your user ID and see that you're from Dublin, also that you're into IT and Aviation, I used to do a lot of work for the IAA in the early 90's on their communications systems (single handedly replaced most of it all around the country), also used to work with the Air Cops on their helicopter and Maritime patrol aircraft - CASA CN235, - maybe we have some more in common.

See you at the IAS meeting on Monday, if you're there, or else at the next SDAS meeting.

Albert,
I've been following some of your recent replies to some of my threads and it seems we've got some common ground. I'll also bring some books I can loan you to any of the above meetings.

Look forward to meeting you both!!

Not sure how useful this would be to you Dave but I've a copy of the'
Handbook of CCD Astronomy' which was on the reading list for a astrophotography/CCD module I did last year. The course didnt cover building a camera from scratch (well it did in theory...), but the book might be of interest, though you are probably well up on most of it already. I can bring it to an SDAS meeting for you to borrow if you dont already have it.

Also I asume you have some across this before:
www.astrosurf.com/audine/English/index0.htm a couple of people on the course were in the process of making variations of that.

Cheers,
~Albert

Handbook of CCD Astronomy, Howell, S., 2000, (Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press), ISBN 0521648343

there is also a book by one of the Audine team christian buil "ccd astronomy construction and use of an astronomical ccd camera". it is a bit old but it does have circuit diagrams and code for controlling it. it also goes into cooling and the software end. it is published by willmann - bell and it's ISBN is 0943396298 published in 1991. "the handbook of astronomical image processing" by richard berry and james burnell ISBN 0943396670 has information but it would be mostly from the software end such as how the algorithms work. it is also a willmann - bell book comes with AIP4WIN software. the last book is also by willmann - bell is "the ccd camera cookbook" which is the original book about building such cameras by berry / kanto / munger ISBN 0943396417. this also covers all aspects of construction of a camera. if you are interested i have copy of these books although it is a bit old some of the stuff.
stephen.