This is a charge coupled device (CCD), SITE Model SI 424, representative of the 30 CCDs used in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey camera focal plane array. CCDs consist of two dimensional arrays of large numbers of tiny silicon diodes that convert light photons directly to electrical signals that can be processed digitally to produce images. The surface of this front illuminated CCD contains a square array of 2048 by 2048 pixels for a total of over 4 million elements. This example was manufactured by Scientific Imaging Technologies Inc. and donated by them to NASM in 2000.
Display Status
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Country of Origin
United States of America
Type
INSTRUMENTS-Scientific
Manufacturer
Scientific Imaging Technologies, Inc.
Dimensions
3-D (L x W x H) (framed): 6.3 × 6.3 × 1.1cm (2 1/2 × 2 1/2 × 7/16 in.)
2-D - Unframed (H x W) (unframed): 5.4 × 5.4cm (2 1/8 × 2 1/8 in.)
Materials
Silicon chip in gold frame
Inventory Number
A20000694000
Credit Line
Gift of Scientific Imaging Technologies Inc.
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
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