guider chips and cameras (fwd)

Sent to ccd-owner at eso.org by mistake:

John Geary wrote:
> 
> >Here at Lick we have several guide cameras which use an EEV 385x576
> >CCD.  We would like to upgrade these CCDs to something better.  The
> >small EEV ccds we have can not be used in MPP mode, so one of their
> >limiting factors is thermal background in our TE-cooled cameras.
> >EEV has the same size CCD with MPP implants, but the cost is about
> >ten times higher.  Does anyone have any suggestions for another
> >CCD of approximately the same size, but which also has MPP and is
> >relatively inexpensive?
> 
> >Richard Stover
> >Lick Observatory
> 
> There are many hundreds of the 512 X 1024 (15-micron) chips available from
> the various 2k3eb Loral wafer runs.  I believe at least six runs have been
> completed (120+ wafers) and there are 8 of these per wafer.  Yield from two
> runs of these that I tested was in excess of 50%.  These CCDs have 4 output
> amps and are partitioned to allow frame-transfer or full framing, for various
> guider modes.  Some of us are entertaining the idea of working up some of
> these chips for both internal(guider) needs and perhaps also for sale commer-
> cially, both as guiders and for amateur telescope use.
> 
> We would entertain any proposals to integrate this device into an existing
> guide camera design, perhaps in exchange for a number of chip assets, which
> could then be used internally or sold externally.
> 
> --J. Geary
>