Comparison of High-end CCD and sCMOS detectors

Comparison of 2048x2048 pixel detectors with our LF40+ for neutron and x-ray imaging. Blue highlights the main advantages of more expensive units.
Type
Resolution pixels
Image area mm
Pixel size µm
Quantum efficiency
Fullwell capacity eReadout noise eReadout range A/D*
Dynamic range Effec*
Dark current (typ.)
e-/pixel/s
Shutter
Frame rate fps max**
Exposure time s
Binning h,v
Region of interest
Mount
Cooling
Trigger input signals
Data interface**
Power supply
Weight
NeutronOptics LF40+
PCO pco.2000
ANDOR iKon-L 936
ANDOR Zyla 4.2
Interline transfer CCD
KAI-04022
2048 x 2048
15.2 x 15.2
7.4 x7.4
55%
40,000
11
16-bits
3636
0.01 @ -20 °C
Interline transfer CCD
KAI-04022
2048 x 2048
15.2 x 15.2
7.4 x7.4
55%
40,000
6
14-bits
6667
0.01 @ -20 °C
Scientific sCMOS
global electronic
0.2
500 ms .. unlimited
x1 x2 x4 x8
selectable
Nikon F-mount
C-mount
T2-mount (standard)
Peltier Δ-40 °C
(2-stages, air/water)
Software only
global electronic
2.2 to 14.7
500 ns .. unlimited
x1 x2 x4 x8
selectable
Nikon F-mount
C-mount
Front or Back
Illuminated CCD
2048 x 2048
27.6 x 27.6
13.5 x 13.5
>90%
100,000
3
16-bits
33333
<0.020 @ -70 °C
<0.0003 @ -100 °C
mechanical
1
500 ms .. unlimited?
x1 x2 x4 x8 x16
selectable
Nikon F-mount
USB 2.0
USB 3.0, CameraLink,
GigE/USB 2.0,
IEEE1394a
12VDC 24-40W
1.8 kg
12VDC 24W
1.0 kg
Peltier Δ-50 °C
(2/3 stages)
acquire enable,
exposure trigger
2048 x 2048
13.3 x 13.3
6.5 x 6.5
72%
30,000
1
12-bits or 16-bits
30000
0.14 @ min °C
Rolling/global electronic
53 or 100
500 µs .. 60 s
x1 x2 x4
selectable
Nikon F-mount
C-mount (opt.)
PCO pco.edge gold
4.2
Scientific sCMOS
2048 x 2048
13.3 x 13.3
6.5 x 6.5
> 70%
30,000
1
16-bits
30000
< 0.08 @ -15 °C
< 0.02 @ -30 °C
Rolling/global electronic
40 or 100
500 µs .. 60 s
x1 x2 x4
selectable
Nikon F-mount
C-mount (opt.)
T2-mount (request)
Peltier Δ-30 °C water
Peltier Δ-15 °C air
Frame trigger,
programmable input
Peltier Δ-100 °C
(4- or 5- stages)
External Trigger
(Input), Shutter
(Output)
USB 2.0
Peltier Δ-27 °C
Water cooling option
Internal/External Trigger
USB 3.0, Camera Link
USB 3.0, Camera Link
100-240VAC
4.6 kg
100-240VAC
1.0 kg
24VDC 36W
1.8 kg
* The effective dynamic range is the Fullwell capacity divided by the Readout noise, and is generally lower than the nominal A/D readout (typically 16-bits).
The human eye can detect a dynamic range of only 256 grey levels corresponding to 8-bits. Higher dynamic ranges are needed for quantitative measures.
** USB 2.0 is limited in practice to ~280Mbits/s i.e for a 2048x2048x16 bit camera to ~4 fps. USB 3.0 is limited to ~4000Mbits/s or ~64 fps for 16-bit readout.
The PCO.2000 uses the same Kodak KAI-4022 as our LF40+ and has similar imaging performance, except that it uses more expensive electronics with much
faster readout and higher frame rates. The iKon-L 936 CCD has bigger pixels (which will collect more light) and a deeper fullwell capacity (which will give
greater dynamic range) with a greater quantum efficiency. It necessarily uses a 4/5-stage Peltier for deep cooling to reduce noise with moderate frame rate.
The Zyla 4.2 sCMOS and PCO.edge gold 4.2 use the same sCMOS chips and are similar. Their main advantage over CCD detectors is the much faster
frame rate for lower readout noise (but higher dark current, which limits exposures). The sCMOS detectors are most suited for fast data acquisition, while the
CCD detectors are most suited for low flux neutron imaging with longer acquisitions. The alternatives to our LF40+ are also at least x4 more expensive.

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