ORCA-Lightning Digital CMOS camera

C14120-20P

Inspiration does not obey speed limits.

For imaging scientists, inspiration is often found at the edges―at the spatial, temporal, and optical boundaries of a system. It’s that grainy image of the cytoskeleton that has just enough photons to confidently resolve two unique molecules. It’s data extracted from a few pixels, whittled away from a larger array, to achieve capture rates relevant to neuronal signaling. It’s the mesmerizing cellular migrations of a developing embryo, reconstructed from a lightsheet time-lapse, that offer new insights and spark new questions.
By more than doubling speed, resolution and field of view relative to current scientific cameras, the ORCA-Lightning is designed to inspire new frontiers of exploration. Compared to a Gen II sCMOS, the ORCA-Lightning delivers 2 times the pixel area, 2.8 times the pixels and 3.4 times faster pixel-per-second readout.
All these increases translate to the ability to capture more image data faster, and still achieve Hamamatsu-quality images and information content. So whether you’re developing the next cutting-edge lightsheet system or building a library of the mouse connectome, the high throughput of the ORCA-Lightning will get you to your goal faster. And, we hope, open doors to new discoveries.

Features

  • High resolution : 4608 x 2592 (12 Megapixels)
  • High Speed: 121 frames/s (at full resolution)
  • Read noise : 2.0 electrons rms (Standard Full Well Capacity mode)
  • Pixel size : 5.5 μm X 5.5 μm
  • Dynamic Range 17 000:1 (High Full Well Capacity mode)
  • Peak QE : 60 % (at 550 nm)

High-speed imaging

Can even take high-speed images which were difficult to fully capture until now, with approximately 6 times the readout speed, while maintaining a level of readout noise similar to that of ORCA-Flash4.0 V3.

 

C14120-20P Comparison of speed

Speed comparison with ORCA-Flash4.0 V3

Cameras used in light-sheet microscopes put emphasis on high speed, demanding fast readout. Because images with increased readout speed result in obtaining fewer photons upon capture, it is necessary to keep the camera's readout noise low when trying to capture high S/N images. ORCA-Lightning can capture images at approximately 6 times the readout speed, while maintaining a level of readout noise similar to that of ORCA-Flash4.0 V3.

Using CoaXPress as an interface and optimizing high speed data transfer to the PC, ORCA-Lightning realizes high-speed image acquisition.

Readout speed (for each effective number of pixels and modes)

Customers can select the best mode depending on their usage.
In addition to a readout from a Standard Full Well Capacity mode (12 bit), ORCA-Lightning also supports a readout from a High Full Well Capacity mode (16 bit) for high dynamic range.

Effective number of pixels
(H) × (V)
Readout speed (frames per second)
Free running mode *1 Edge trigger mode *2 Synchronous readout trigger mode *3 Global reset trigger mode *4
12 bit 16 bit 12 bit 16 bit 12 bit 16 bit 12 bit 16 bit
4608 × 2592 121 30 121 30 121 30 120 30
2688 × 2592 208 30 207 30 208 30 207 30
2560 × 2560 221 30 220 30 221 30 220 30
2048 × 2048 307 38 305 38 308 38 305 38
1024 × 1024 610 76 603 75 612 76 600 75
512 × 512 1201 150 1175 146 1210 151 1166 145
256 × 256 2332 291 2234 279 2367 295 2203 275
128 × 4 31 725 3965 19 828 2478 39 657 4957 17 625 2203

*1 Free running mode is operated via camera alone.
*2 Edge trigger mode starts the exposure by the edge (rising/falling edge) of the trigger signal input to the external device.
*3 Synchronous readout trigger mode ends the exposure of the camera and readout is started, while the next exposure is simultaneously started by the edge (rising/falling edge) of the trigger signal input to the external device.
*4 Global reset trigger mode starts the exposure of all pixels all together by synchronizing the trigger signal from external device.

High speed test of 3D imaging

We took consecutive images and produced 3D imaging of a free-swimming Volvox.
When capturing the image of a free-swimming Volvox, imaging speed of 2-dimensional (area of observation) and 3-dimensional (number of images) settings were selected with a precondition of approximately 8 volumes per second.
With its high speed, ORCA-Lightning can capture clearer images within a wide range compared to ORCA-Flash4.0 V3.

Imaging conditions

  • Microscope: ezDSLM (light-sheet microscope)
  • Objective lens: 10×
  • Excitation wavelength: 488 nm
  • Fluorescence wavelength: red (autofluorescence)
  • Sample: Volvox
  • Observation target: Free-swimming Volvox
  • Method of imaging: Acquisition of approximately 8 volume image (stereoscopic) per second

C14120-20P Comparison of 3D imaging

Collaborator: Laboratory for Spatiotemporal Regulations Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS) / National Institute for Basic Biology (NIBB), Dr.Atsushi Taniguchi, Dr.Shigenori Nonaka

Wide field of view

C14120-20P Comparison of sensor size

Comparison of sensor size between ORCA-Flash4.0 V3 and ORCA-Lightning

ORCA-Lightning covers the twice large field of view compared to ORCA-Flash4.0 V3, so that it can improve throughput and efficiency of work.

Sample image 1: Test pattern

C14120-20P, Comparison of sensor size, test pattern

Imaging condition

  • Microscope: Nikon Ti2-E
  • Objective lens: CFI Plan Apo Lambda 10× / 0.45
  • F mount adapter: TI-BDTV2 +DS-F
  • Sample: Plotting objective Micrometer (Calibrated in 0.01 mm girds, 2 mm Line length)

Sample image 2: Dendritic spines of neuron

C14120-20P Imaging sample

Collaborator: Department of Cellular Neurobiology Graduate School of Medicine the University of Tokyo, Dr.Yutaro Kashiwagi, Dr.Shigeo Okabe

Imaging condition

  • Microscope: Nikon Ti2-E
  • Objective lens: CFI Plan Apo Lambda 100× oil / 1.45
  • F mount adapter: TI-BDTV2 +DS-F
  • Sample: GFP expressed mouse hippocampal neurons in dispersed cell culture (3 weeks culture)
  • Pixel number: 4608(H) × 2592(V)
  • Exposure time: 20 ms

Lightsheet Readout Mode [Patented]

Movie gallery

Free-swimming Volvox carteri scaned by ezDSLM (Digital Scanned Light-sheet Microscope)

Free-swimming Paramecium bursaria scaned by ezDSLM (Digital Scanned Light-sheet Microscope)

GFP expressing blood cells of Oryzias latipes scaned by ezDSLM (Digital Scanned Light-sheet Microscope)

Collaborator: Laboratory for Spatiotemporal Regulations Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS) / National Institute for Basic Biology (NIBB), Dr. Atsushi Taniguchi, Dr. Shigenori Nonaka
Sample provider: National Institute for Basic Biology (NIBB), Spectrography and BioImaging Facility, Joe Sakamoto Ph. D (NBRP Medaka)

PC recommendation

With the introduction of the ORCA-Lightning, users are now able to stream 12 megapixel images to their computers 121 frames per second. The computer recommendations for this high data rate can be met by using the guidelines listed this PC Recommendations for ORCA-Lightning.

Specifications

Type number C14120-20P
Imaging device Scientific CMOS image sensor
Effective no. of pixels 4608 (H) × 2592 (V)
Cell size 5.5 μm (H) × 5.5 μm (V)
Effective area 25.344 mm (H) × 14.256 mm (V)
Full well capacity Standard Full Well Capacity mode: 1000 electrons
High Full Well Capacity mode: 38 000 electrons
Readout speed 121 frames/s (at full resolution)
Readout noise Standard Full Well Capacity mode:1.5 electrons median
Standard Full Well Capacity mode:2.0 electrons rms
High Full Well Capacity mode:2.2 electrons median
High Full Well Capacity mode: 2.7 electrons rms
Exposure time Standard Full Well Capacity mode: 6.304 μs to 1 s
High Full Well Capacity mode: 50.432 μs to 1 s
Cooling temperature Forced-air cooled (Ambient temperature: +25 ˚C): +20 ˚C
Water cooled: +20 ˚C
Dark current 15 electrons/pixel/s (Typ.) : Air cooled (cooling temperature: +20 ˚C)
Dynamic range Standard Full Well Capacity mode: 650 : 1
High Full Well Capacity mode: 17 000 : 1
Sub-array Yes
Binning 2×2, 4×4
External trigger input Edge trigger, Global reset edge trigger, Level trigger, Global reset level trigger, Synchronous readout trigger, Start trigger
External trigger signal routing SMA
Trigger delay function 0 s to 10 s in 1 μs steps
Interface CoaXPress (Quad CXP-6)
A/D converter Standard Full Well Capacity mode: 12 bitHigh Full Well Capacity mode: 16 bit
Power consumption Approx. 200 VA
Ambient operating temperature 0 ˚C to +40 ˚C : Forced-air cooled (With no condensation)
Ambient operating humidity 30 % to 80 %

Spectral response

Dimensions

Instruction manual

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