QHY530Pro II is a scientific planetary camera developed by QHYCCD specifically for planetary research projects, amateur astronomers, and professional users with high-end requirements for planetary photography. It features the Sony IMX530 sensor with 24.55 Megapixels, utilizes a global shutter, and is equipped with various interfaces and professional features such as real-time adjustable ROI.
Unlike the rolling shutter technology used in most CMOS cameras, a global shutter guarantees that the exposure time for the whole image area is uniform, beginning and ending at exactly the same time. This type of shutter is ideal for high precision applications. For high speed moving object and the atmospheric agitation the global shutter can generate undistorted imaging and realizes high picture quality.
BSI
One benefit of the back-illuminated CMOS structure is improved sensitivity. 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 capturing an image of something dim.
Charge Binning
Unlike Most CMOS cameras, the camera supports charge-domain binning (FD Binning), which is the true hardware pixel binning similar to CCD cameras.
In the past, only CCD sensors were capable of hardware binning. Most CMOS cameras used digital binning, which relied on algorithms for binning. The disadvantage of this binning method (using 2*2 binning as an example) is that while the signal is amplified by 4 times, it also introduces twice the amount of noise, resulting in only a doubling of the signal-to-noise ratio, and then frame rate can not be improved. In contrast, hardware binning does not amplify additional noise, resulting in a direct 4-fold improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio. What’s more, the frame rate can increase a lot even the ROI function is not activited.
Floating ROI
The “Floating ROI” feature is currently in experimental status.
The QHY530 supports the floating ROI algorithm. When tracking fast-moving celestial objects such as asteroids, satellites, or space stations, the QHY530 can automatically detect the moving targets and adjust the ROI region in real-time to achieve tracking and stabilization effects.
Pro II Series Introduction
2*10Gigabit high-speed Fiber Optic interfaces
The 2*10Gigabit Fiber Optic Interface (to be used with QHYCCD fiber optic capture card) meets the high-intensity data transmission requirements of professional fields such as professional observatories. It has the following advantages over the USB 3.0 interface:
Higher data rates
Using two 10G fiber optics, it can achieve a speed of 1.6GB/s (12.8Gbps), while the standard USB 3.0 has a theoretical maxium rate of 625MB/s (5Gbps), with an actual maximum transfer rate of 350MB/s.
Longer transmission distance
Fiber optic transmission can cover distances hundreds of times longer than USB 3.0. Standard USB 3.0 can only transmit up to 3 to 5 meters, and even with an active powered USB cable, it can reach up to 10 to 15 meters. In contrast, QHYCCD’s standard fiber optic module can achieve a transmission distance of up to 300 meters, and when paired with long-distance transmission optical modules, it can cover distances of several tens of kilometers.
Stable transmission without electromagnetic interference
USB 3.0 transmission can be susceptible to external electromagnetic interference, static electricity, leakage, and other factors, leading to data packet corruption, image loss, or camera control issues. Optical communication is not affected by electromagnetic interference.
6-pin GPIO interface
This product supports a 6-pin GPIO interface, which can be defined for different modes. QHYCCD can customize it according to the user’s requirements, and users can also reprogram the FPGA to meet more complex needs.
Supports the professional Camera Link interface (exclusive to Pro II products)
Supports the professional Camera Link interface (exclusive to Pro II products)
The Camera Link interface is a more suitable choice if your use case involves shorter transmission distances in industrial or laboratory areas. The Camera Link interface is specifically designed for high-speed and high-resolution cameras, offering fast data transmission speeds. It is well-suited for working under conditions where there is a large amount of image data and high bandwidth requirements.
Specifications
Model
QHY530Pro II
Image Sensor
Sony IMX530
Sensor Type
Mono Only
FSI/BSI
BSI
Pixel Size
2.74μm*2.74μm
Effective Pixels
24.55 Megapixels
Effective Image Area
14.6mm*12.6mm (1/1.1 inch)
Effective Pixel Area
5328*4608
Total Pixel Area
5328*4608
A/D
12-bit A/D
Full Well Capacity (1×1, 2×2, 3×3)
9.7ke-
Read Noise
1.1e- to 2.1e-
Dark Current
0.001e-/pixel/sec @-20℃
Exposure Time Range
15μs – 300sec
Shutter Type
Electronic Global Shutter
Computer Interface
1*USB3.0 Interface
2*10Gigabit Fiber Interfaces
2*CameraLink Interfaces
Filter Wheel Interface
4PIN QHYCCD CFW Port
Trigger Port
TBD
Full Frame Rates
USB3.0:
Normal Mode
15FPS@8bit,
7FPS@16bit
2×2 FD Binning
61FPS@8BIT
30FPS@16BIT
PCIE Mode：
Normal Mode
20.5FPS@8bit,
9.5FPS@16bit
2×2 FD Binning
75FPS@8BIT
34FPS@16BIT
Camera Link:
26.2FPS@8bit
13FPS@16bit
ROI Frame Rates
USB3.0:
2048lines, 32FPS@8bit, 16FPS@16bit
1080lines, 55FPS@8bit, 28FPS@16bit
480lines, 92FPS@8bit, 53FPS@16bit
2×2 FD Binning Mode:
2048lines, 61FPS@8bit, 30FPS@16bit
1080lines, 93FPS@8bit, 56FPS@16bit
480lines, 178FPS@8bit, 106FPS@16bit
PCIE Mode:
2048lines, 93FPS@8bit, 63FPS@16bit
1080lines, 133FPS@8bit, 130FPS@16bit
Camera Link 2×2 FD Binning Mode:
TBD
Built-in Image Buffer
2GB DDR3 Memory Buffer
Air Cooling System
Dual Stage TEC cooler:
-35℃ below ambient, test temperature +20℃, exposure >1s)
Liquid Cooling
Recommended Flow Rates
Anti-Dew Heater
Available
Humidity Sensor
Available
Firmware/FPGA remote Upgrade
Available via Camera USB port
Optic Window Type
AR+AR High Quality Multi-Layer Anti-Reflection Coating
Back Focal Length
17.5mm
Adapters
Support 2-inch, M54, M48, Nikon/Canon DSLR Lens, etc. (Combined with adapters )
Weight
950g
Power
50W/100%
22W/50%
15W/0%
Curves
(provided by Sony)
Mechanical Dimensions
User Guide
For non-astronomy purposes, we recommend choosing SharpCap as your camera control software. SharpCap is a compact yet powerful software with a clean interface. It allows you to freely set most camera parameters, and the new SharpCap 4.0 version includes Chinese language support (localized by QHYCCD). The software is free to use, but you can upgrade to the pro version for a fee.
You can visit the SharpCap official website at: http://www.sharpcap.co.uk/
You can choose either the 32-bit or 64-bit version for installation, but we recommend using the 64-bit version. Additionally, we suggest installing SharpCap in the “Program Files” or “Program Files (x86)” directory on your C drive for easier recognition and automatic SDK installation by the system.
After successfully downloading and installing SharpCap, you will also need to download the ALLinOne Pack. Install the driver and the SDK in the software’s root directory to ensure camera control.
Install “All-In-One” Driver&SDK Pack
Before Start: Input Voltage Requirements
The camera requires an input voltage between 11V and 13.8V. If the input voltage is too low the camera will stop functioning or it may reboot when the TEC power percent is high, causing a drain on the power. Therefore, please make sure the input voltage arrived to the camera is adequate. 12V is the best but please note that a 12V cable that is very long or a cable with small conductor wire may exhibit enough resistance to cause a voltage drop between the power supply and the camera. The formular is: V(drop) = I * R (cable). It is advised that a very long 12V power cable not be used. It is better to place the 12V AC adapter closer to the camera.
First connect the 12V power supply, then connect the camera to your computer via the USB3.0 cable. Make sure the camera is plugged in before connecting the camera to the computer, otherwise the camera will not be recognized. When you connect the camera for the first time, the system discovers the new device and looks for drivers for it. You can skip the online search step by clicking “Skip obtaining the driver software from Windows Update” and the computer will automatically find the driver locally and install it. If we take the 5IIISeries driver as an example (shown below), after the driver software is successfully installed, you will see QHY5IIISeries_IO in the device manager.
Please note that the input voltage cannot be lower than 11.5v, otherwise the device will be unable to work normally.
Install "All-In-One" System Pack
All-in-one Pack supports most QHYCCD models only except PoleMaster and several discontinued CCD cameras.
Since most of the contents of All-in-one package are plug-ins that support third-party software, the third-party capturing software that you want to use must be installed before the All-in-one package. Otherwise the program will report an error.
ALL-IN-ONE Pack contains:
System Driver, which is necessary for the camera operation and must be installed.
WDM Broadcast Driver, which can provide a live signal to Obs and other live software, you can install it if you have such needs like opeing a live show.
EZCAP_QT , which is developed by QHYCCD and can be used in QHY devices tests, and management of updates. So even if you won’t use EZCAP_QT for capturing, we suggest you install it.
Ascom driver, which is necessary for the camera used in Ascom (the latest version of Ascom is 6.6).
The two sorts of Ascom CFW Drivers correspond to two methods of controling the filter wheel: USB control and camera serial control. It is recommended that both drivers should be installed if you have a filter wheel.
CP210X_VCP is a serial driver. Some computers come with the driver, but the computer without the driver may be failed of controling the filter wheel.
SDKs for Third-party Software: Just pick and install the corresponding SDK according to the software you want to use. Don’t forget to check whether the software you are using is 32-bit or 64-bit and select the right SDKs.
SHARPCAP is also included in the pack, you can choose 32-bit or 64-bit to install. This is authorized by SHARPCAP.
QT LIB is a plug-in to ensure that 64-bit software can exeuate normally on some computers with poor compatibility.
Difference between Stable version and Beta Version: Beta version is the latest version, which gives priority to support for the latest products (the stable version may not be compatible with those yet), and has some of the latest optimized ,but experimental features. The stable version is older than the beta version but more stable, so it is recommended for beginners who are not using the latest products.
Don’t let the camera connect to the computer during the All-in-one pack installation process; connect it to the computer after all the installation is complete.
Connect DSO Imaging Software (e.g. NINA)
Before using software, make sure you have connected the cooling camera to the 12V power supply and connected it to the computer with a USB3.0 data cable. If it’s an uncooled camera, 12V power is not needed. We recommend 64-bit Software, like SharpCAP x64 , N.I.N.A x64. etc., especially when you’re using 16bit cameras.
In NINA, you can select the device to connect to QHY Camera directly without ASCOM driver.
If connecting to the camera via ASCOM is desired, first make sure you have installed both the QHYCCD ASCOM Drivers and ASCOM Platform. Then you would select the appropriate camera driver under the ASCOM section. Then click the Connect icon. Here we take NINA as an example, but it’s similar to other software packages supporting ASCOM, like MaxDL, The SkyX, etc.
Launch SharpCap. If the software and drivers mentioned above are installed successfully, the video image will appear automatically about 3 seconds after the software loads. You will also see the frame rate in the lower left corner of the software window as shown below.
If you have already started the SharpCap software before connecting the camera, in order to open the camera, click on the “camera” in the menu bar and then select the device.
Offset adjustment. When you completely block the camera (i.e., like taking a dark frame) you may find that the image is not really zero. Sometimes this will reduce the quality of the image contrast. You can get a better dark field by adjusting the offset. You can confirm this by opening the histogram as indicated in the figure below.
If you want to enter the 16-bit image mode, select the “RAW16” mode.
By selecting the “LX” mode you can expand the exposure setting range and take long exposures.
After cooling devices connected to the 12V power supply, the temperature control circuit will be activated. You can control the CMOS temperature by adjusting the settings in the figure below. Basically, you can control the temperature of CMOS by either adjusting “Cooler Power” or clicking “Auto” and setting “Target Temperature”. You can also see the CMOS temperature at the lower-left corner of the software window.
Camera Maintenance
Drying the camera CMOS chamber
There are holes in the two sides of the camera near the front plate that is normally plugged by a screw with an o-ring. If there’s moisture in the CMOS chamber that causes fog, you can connect the desiccant tube to this hole for drying. There would better be some cotton inside to prevent the desiccants from entering the CMOS chamber.Please note that you may need to prepare desiccants yourself, because for most countries and regions desiccants are prohibited by air transport. Since QHY always deliver your goods by air, sorry that we can’t provide desiccants for you directly.
Cyclic Drying: The front end of the camera body is equipped with two drying interfaces with M5 threads, which are used in conjunction with drying tubes and circulation pumps for drying treatment inside the sensor chamber. The position of the drying interface is indicated by the red circle in the figure below (take the QHY600 as an example):Under the vacuum pump, the gas inside the sensor chamber is drawn out through one drying interface, enters the drying tube, and then undergoes filtration. It is then reintroduced into the camera through the other drying interface, circulating back and forth for drying.
Note:1.Do not reverse the order of the intake and exhaust ports
2.Before circulating drying, it is necessary to turn off the refrigerator, and then turn on circulating drying after the temperature returns to normal temperature. Only by following this step can the water vapor in the sealed chamber be effectively removed. If the cooler is turned on, the cooler inside the camera will absorb water vapor, causing more water vapor to condense inside the camera instead of being absorbed by the desiccant.
Cleaning the CMOS sensor and optical window
If you find dust on the CMOS sensor, you can first unscrew the front plate of the cam and then clean the CMOS sensor with a cleaning kit for SLR camera sensors. Because the CMOS sensor has an AR (or AR/IR) coating, you need to be careful when cleaning. This coating can scratch easily so you should not use excessive force when cleaning dust from its surface.
Preventing fogging of the CMOS chamber
All QHY cooling cameras have built-in heating plates to prevent fogging. However, If the ambient humidity is very high, the optical window of the CMOS chamber may have condensation issues. Then try the following:
1. Avoid directing the camera towards the ground. The density of cold air is greater than of hot air. If the camera is facing down, cold air will be more accessible to the glass, causing it to cool down and fog.
2. Slightly increase the temperature of the CMOS sensor .
3. Check if the heating plate is normally working. If the heating plate is not working, the glass will be very easy to fog, the temperature of the heating plate can reach 65-70 °C in the environment of 25 °C. If it does not reach this, the heating plate may be damaged. Please contact us for maintenance.
TE Cooler Maintenance
Please avoid thermal shock during use. Thermal shock refers to the internal stress that the TE cooler has to withstand due to the thermal expansion and contraction when the temperature of the TEC suddenly rises or falls. Thermal shock may shorten the life of the TEC or even damage it.
Therefore, when you start using the TEC to adjust the CMOS temperature, you should gradually increase the TEC power rather than turning the TEC to maximum power. If the power of the TEC is high before disconnecting the power supply, you should also gradually reduce the power of the TEC and then disconnect the power supply.
User Guide: PCIE Grabber Card
1. Prepare a computer that supports the PCIE interface. When purchasing the computer, please confirm with the seller whether it supports PCIE*8 or higher interfaces. Take out the QHYCCD Fiber PCIE Grabber card and its accessories, as follows:
2. Open the computer case and install the red PCIE Grabber card. (Please note: 1. The PCIE capture card supports PCIE 2.0, 2. Interfaces below PCIE*8 may affect the image frame rate.)
3. After the installation of the PCIE Grabber card is complete, restore the computer case panel. The installation should look like the following image:
Insert the PCIE Grabber card into slots 1 and 2 of your computer. Connect the camera’s optical port to the fiber module.
5. Connect the PCIE Graber card to the camera using a fiber optic cable. Please note that the sequence of the fiber optic cable interfaces should be as follows:
6. After confirming the connection sequence, power on the camera. (Note: Please use the official QHY-provided 12V6A power adapter.)
7. Start the software and select the QHY camera option in the software. Then, connect to the camera.
