QHY294MPro
QHY294MPro
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The QHY294M Pro is an impressive astronomy camera designed for astrophotography enthusiasts. Let’s delve into its features:
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Sensor and Resolution:
- The QHY294M Pro boasts a 4/3-inch back-illuminated sensor equipped with the Sony IMX492 (Mono) sensor.
- It offers two readout modes:
- Locked Mode: Produces 11.6 MP images with a pixel size of 4.63 μm and 14 bits per pixel.
- Unlocked Mode: Generates 46.8 MP images with a pixel size of 2.315 μm at 12 bits per pixel1.
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Dual Gain Mode:
- The camera features HGC (high gain) and LGC (low gain) modes.
- When the gain is set to 1600, it automatically switches between these modes.
- In HGC mode, you benefit from ultra-low read noise (1e- to 1.6e-) and a full well capacity of about 14.5 ke- at the switch point setting1.
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Back-Illuminated Sensor (BSI):
- The BSI structure improves full well capacity.
- Unlike front-illuminated sensors, where photons must pass through metal wiring before reaching the photosensitive layer, the back-illuminated sensor allows light to enter directly from the reverse side.
- This design enhances the sensor’s quantum efficiency, making it more sensitive to capturing dim objects in the night sky1.
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True RAW Data:
- Unlike some DSLR implementations, the QHY294M Pro provides true RAW image output.
- It maintains the original signal without noise reduction or hot pixel removal, ensuring maximum flexibility for post-acquisition processing and scientific imaging applications1.
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Anti-Dew Technology:
- Drawing on nearly 20 years of cooled camera design experience, the QHY294M Pro implements fully dew control solutions.
- The optic window includes a built-in dew heater, and the chamber is protected from internal humidity condensation.
- These features contribute to spectacular low-noise images, even on warm and humid nights1.
The new QHY294 Pro is a 4/3-inch back-illuminated camera, equipped with Sony IMX294 (Color) and IMX 492 (Mono) sensor. The 294 Pro has 11.7 MP at 4.63um, 14-bits A/D. The IMX294 and IMX492 chips have 46.8 million 2.315um pixels, which Sony 2×2 bins on-chip to create the sensor’s advertised 11.7 million 4.63um pixel array. The QHY294 Pro series camera is capable of locking and unlocking the on-chip binning to provide two readout modes. The first mode reads the sensor “locked” mode to produce 11.6mp images with 4.63um pixel size and 14 bits per pixel. The second read mode unlocks the binning to produce 46.8mp images with 2.315um pixel size at 12 bits per pixel.
The QHY294 Pro CMOS sensor has a dual gain mode, HGC (high gain) and LGC (Low gain). The QHY294 Pro will switch the two modes automatically when the gain is set to 1600 you will get the benefits of the ultra low read noise (1e- to 1.6e-) of the HGC mode and a full well capacity of about 14.5ke- at the switch point setting.
BSI
One benefit of the back-illuminated CMOS structure is improved full well capacity. In a typical front-illuminated sensor, photons from the target entering the photosensitive layer of the sensor must first pass through the metal wiring that is embedded just above the photosensitive layer. The wiring structure reflects some of the photons and reduces the efficiency of the sensor.
In the back- illuminated sensor the light is allowed to enter the photosensitive surface from the reverse side. In this case the sensor’s embedded wiring structure is below the photosensitive layer. As a result, more incoming photons strike the photosensitive layer, and more electrons are generated and captured in the pixel well. This ratio of photon to electron production is called quantum efficiency. The higher the quantum efficiency the more efficient the sensor is at converting photons to electrons and hence the more sensitive the sensor is to capture an image of something dim.
TRUE RAW Data
In the DSLR implementation there is a RAW image output, but typically it is not completely RAW. Some evidence of noise reduction and hot pixel removal is still visible on close inspection. This can have a negative effect on the image for astronomy such as the “star eater” effect. However, QHY Cameras offer TRUE RAW IMAGE OUTPUT and produces an image comprised of the original signal only, thereby maintaining the maximum flexibility for post-acquisition astronomical image processing programs and other scientific imaging applications.
Anti-Dew Technology
Based on almost 20-year cooled camera design experience, The QHY cooled camera has implemented the fully dew control solutions. The optic window has built-in dew heater and the chamber is protected from internal humidity condensation. An electric heating board for the chamber window can prevent the formation of dew and the sensor itself is kept dry with our silicon gel tube socket design for control of humidity within the sensor chamber.
Cooling
In addition to dual stage TE cooling, QHYCCD implements proprietary technology in hardware to control the dark current noise.
Specifications
(QHY294C Discontinued in 2022) 46.8MP（Extended Pixel Mode） 19.28mm*12.95mm 4164*2796 16.5FPS@14BIT 2160lines(eg.4164*2160,4096*2160) 21FPS 1080lines(eg.4164*2160,1920*2160) 41FPS 960lines(eg.4164*960,1280*960) 46FPS 768lines(eg.4164*768,1024*768) 56FPS 480lines(eg.4164*480,640*480) 87FPS 240lines(eg.4164*240,320*240) 156FPS 100lines(eg.4164*100,240*100) 290FPS “Unlock” 47mega pixel mode 8340*5644 4FPS@14BIT and 8BIT *Note：QHYCCD has optimized the cmos drive freqency and limit the max frame rate. The CMOS sensor may not work under the maxium frequency to ensure the better noise performance. If you need the customized higher frame rate version please contact QHYCCD. 6.9-5.2e- Low gain mode 2600 (47MP Mode)
Model
QHY294M Pro
COMS Sensor
SONY IMX492 （MONO）
Mono/Color
Mono only
FSI/BSI
BSI
Pixel Size
4.63um*4.63um
Effective Pixel Area
4164*2796
Effective Pixels
11.7MP
Sensor Size
4/3 inch
AD Sample Depth
14bit
Fullwell
65ke-
Full Frame Rate
Standard 11.6mega pixel mode
Readout Noise
1.6-1.2e- High gain mode
Dark Current
0.002e/pixel/sec @-20C
0.005e/pixel/sec @-10C
Exposure Time Range
60us-3600sec
Unity Gain
1600 (11MP Mode)
Hardware Anti-Glow Reduction
Yes. Can reduce the amp glow of the sensor in long exposure.
Shutter Type
Electric Rolling Shutter
Computer Interface
USB3.0
Built-in Image Buffer
256MByte DDR3 Memory
Cooling System
Dual Stage TEC cooler（about -35C below ambient）
Optic Window Type
AR+AR High Quality Multi-Layer Anti-Reflection Coating
Anti-Dew Heater
Yes
Telescope Interface
M42/0.75
Back Focal Length
17.5mm
Weigth
650g
COMS Sensor SONY IMX492 （MONO）
Mono/Color Mono only
(QHY294C Discontinued in 2022)
FSI/BSI BSI
Pixel Size 4.63um*4.63um
Effective Pixel Area 4164*2796
Effective Pixels 11.7MP 46.8MP（Extended Pixel Mode）
Sensor Size 4/3 inch 19.28mm*12.95mm
AD Sample Depth 14bit Fullwell 65ke-
Full Frame Rate Standard 11.6mega pixel mode, 4164*2796 16.5FPS@14BIT
2160lines(eg.4164*2160,4096*2160) 21FPS
1080lines(eg.4164*2160,1920*2160) 41FPS
960lines(eg.4164*960,1280*960) 46FPS
768lines(eg.4164*768,1024*768) 56FPS
480lines(eg.4164*480,640*480) 87FPS
240lines(eg.4164*240,320*240) 156FPS
100lines(eg.4164*100,240*100) 290FPS
“Unlock” 47mega pixel mode 8340*5644 4FPS@14BIT and 8BIT
*Note：QHYCCD has optimized the cmos drive freqency and limit the max frame rate. The CMOS sensor may not work under the maximum frequency to ensure the better noise performance. If you need the customized higher frame rate version, please contact QHYCCD.
Readout Noise 1.6-1.2e- High gain mode, 6.9-5.2e- Low gain mode
Dark Current 0.002e/pixel/sec @-20C 0.005e/pixel/sec @-10C
Exposure Time Range 60us-3600sec
Unity Gain 1600 (11MP Mode) 2600 (47MP Mode)
Hardware Anti-Glow Reduction Yes. Can reduce the amp glow of the sensor in long exposure.
Shutter Type Electric Rolling Shutter
Computer Interface USB3.0
Built-in Image Buffer 256MByte DDR3 Memory
Cooling System Dual Stage TEC cooler (about -35C below ambient）
Optic Window Type AR+AR High Quality Multi-Layer Anti-Reflection Coating
Anti-Dew Heater Yes
Telescope Interface M42/0.75
Back Focal Length 17.5mm
Weight 650g
