Photek’s ILCI-25 utilizes an MCP125 or MCP225 image intensifier which and provides wavelength conversion and highspeed shuttering. The ILCS-25 is specifically designed as an add-on for existing cameras such as cooled CCD, EMCDD which utilize a Nikon F Mount adaptor.
The ILCS-25 can be programmed using the integral touch screen LCD display and optical encoder or via the embedded USB interface.
The controller is provided with a trigger input and four individually programmable delays and width generator one of which controls the image intensifier gate directly and the other three channels are available as user-configurable outputs. An internal time base is also available.
Integral high voltage power supplies and gate units are also provided.
Image intensifier
| Active area | 25 mm |
| Input window | fused silica |
| Photocathode | solar-blind, Bialkali, LNS20, S20, S25 |
| MCP | MCP125 (single) or MCP225 (chevron) |
| Output window | fiberoptic |
Optics
| Input mount | Nikon F-mount |
| Output adaptor | 52 mm diameter lens mount fitted to housing |
| Internal optics | 50 mm F1.2 lens fitted inside housing |
| External input optics | any Nikon F Mount manual lens (not supplied) |
| External output optics | 50 mm F1.2 1:1 magnification (Photek can supply lens) 100 mm 2:1 magnification (end user to supply lens) 25 mm 1:2 magnification (end user to supply lens) |
Note: External lens must be fitted with a 52mm diameter lens thread. Other diameter lenses can be used, however, a suitable adaptor ring will be required.
Controller
| Operating modes | Off, DC On, Internal Time base, External trigger, Pass through |
Gate, T1, T2 und T3 outputs
| Min. gate width | 5 ns TBC * |
| Min. gate delay | 50 ns |
| Gate and delay steps | 5 ns (intensifier control) |
| Gain adjustment | via 12 Bit DAC |
| Screen current trip | 200 nA, 400 nA, 600 nA, 800 nA and 1 µA If screen current is exceeded, intensifier power will be switched off. Intensifier power must be enabled to continue. |
* We are able to guarantee a minimum gate width of 10ns, however, we are targeting 5ns as the minimum gate period for this design.
Trigger
| Source | trigger input or internal time base |
| Trigger input | 50 Ohm |
| Trigger edge | +Ve oder -Ve edge of trigger input pulse |
| Max. trigger rate | 100 kHz |
| Burst mode | 200 MHz, 100 Pulse, then 1 ms off. TBC** |
** We anticipate that a string of 100 pules at 20MHz followed by a dead time of 1ms will be achievable. These figures cannot be guaranteed until the burst has been fully characterised.
User Interface
| LCD display | incorporates 100mm x 58mm LCD screen with touch input display details: Operation mode, Intensifier Power (off, on, tripped), intensifier gain, internal time base, Gate, T1, T2 and T3 delay and width setting |
| Optical encoder | in conjunction with the touch sensitive LCD, an optical encoder provides a simple and intuitive method for making manual adjustments to the controller |
Mechanical
| Housing | painted aluminium |
| Trigger connectors | SMA |
| Power connector | 5 mm Jack socket |
| USB | micro USB |
| Dimensions | 145 mm (L) x 90 mm (W) x 115 mm (H) excludes F Mount and connectors |
| Weight | <2 kg |
| Power | +12 V DC @ 2 A max, (external power adaptor provided) |