guider chips and cameras

[geary%cfa3.DECNET at cfa.harvard.edu]

>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