Cameras FAQs
Here we have provided comprehensive lists of commonly asked questions regarding our scientific cameras. This information is designed to support your inquiries, but if you don’t find the answers you are looking for we encourage you to contact us for further assistance.
Please use the sort buttons in the left navigation to navigate between questions and answers that are specific to Optical Imaging Systems, Optical Filters, Fluidics, Microfluidics, our Webstore and Engineering Partnership.
What’s RBI?
Residual bulk image. CCDs are normally 500 microns thick. The gate structures are at the top, and create wells that extend 10 or 15 microns into the CCD. But near IR light can penetrate into the CCD far beyond the reach of the wells created by the gates. This charge gradually leaves the CCD (over hours or days), creating a ghost image in subsequent images. If the CCD is warmed up, the charge will leave the CCD. However, it is not practical to warm up the CCD between images. Alternatively, some cameras provide a pre-flash that uniformly illuminates the CCD, leaving no place for such charge to accumulate below the epitaxial layer. This preflash does slightly lower the full well capacity of the sensor.