Last performances improvement of the C-RED One camera using the 320x256 e-APD infrared Saphira detector

TL;DR

This paper reports significant improvements in the C-RED One infrared camera, achieving lower noise, reduced background, and better vibration damping, enhancing its performance for ultra-low noise infrared applications.

Contribution

The paper introduces recent technical enhancements to the C-RED One camera, including noise reduction, vibration damping, and improved vacuum and cooling systems, advancing its infrared imaging capabilities.

Findings

Total noise reduced to 0.6 e at gain 50 in CDS mode

Camera background lowered by a factor of 3

Focal plane vibrations reduced to 0.3 microns RMS

Abstract

We present here the latest results obtained with the C-RED One camera developed by First Light Imaging for fast ultra-low noise infrared applications. This camera uses the Leonardo Saphira e-APD 320x256 infrared sensor in an autonomous cryogenic environment with a low vibration pulse tube and with embedded readout electronics system. Some recent improvements were made to the camera. The first important one concerns the total noise of the camera. Limited to 1.75 microns wavelength cut-off with proper cold filters, looking at a blackbody at room temperature and f/4 beam aperture, we now measure total noise down to 0.6 e at gain 50 in CDS mode 1720 FPS, dividing previous noise figure by a factor 2. The total camera background of 30-400 e/s is now achieved with a factor 3 of background reduction, the camera also looking at a room temperature blackbody with an F/4 beam aperture. Image bias oscillations, due to electronics grounding scheme, were carefully analyzed and removed. Focal plane detector vibrations transmitted by the pulse tube cooling machine were also analyzed, damped and measured down to 0.3 microns RMS, reducing focal plane vibrations by a factor 3. In addition, a vacuum getter of higher capacity is now used to offer camera operation without camera pumping during months. The camera main characteristics are detailed: pulse tube cooling at 80K with limited vibrations, permanent vacuum solution, ultra-low latency Cameralink full data interface, safety management of the camera by firmware, online firmware update, ambient liquid cooling and reduced weight of 20 kg.