Frame transfer CCD driving circuit design for space camera

摘要

Micro-satellite is characterized by miniaturized structure and low cost, so it is a good choice to use area array CCD space camera as image system on micro-satellite. FT-18 is a monochrome frame transfer image sensor offering 1024×1024 pixels with excellent antiblooming and variable electronic shuttering. The main components of driving circuit for FT-18 include power supply unit, microcontroller unit, clock signal generator unit, and analog-to-digital (A/D) converter. The microcontroller unit controls startup sequence of all voltage, the exposure time of CCD and the working status of A/D converter; the clock signal generator unit generates sequence signals for CCD and A/D converter; the A/D converter converts the output of FT-18 to a 12-bit digital output. Special attention should be paid to the reliability of this camera for it will work in a condition different from ground. The camera may suffer from vacuum discharge, particle radiation, strong shock, hypergravity and so on. All these should be considered in the design of space camera, and enough environment tests should be done to ensure it can work normally in space.