Microgate’s Slope Computer is based on a single board (Microgate BCU – Basic Computational Unit) and can be easily interfaced to various CCD controllers through a re-programmable parallel interface.
- Computational unit: single TigerSharc DSP, 500 MegaMACs/s
- CCD controller interface: up to two SciMeasure LittleJoe controllers through standard AIA ports. Can be easily interfaced to other controllers.
- Latency: can handle 128x128 CCDs at 1ms frame rate with no latency (pipelined operation)
- Easy WFS configuration through look-up-table, can be used for both Schack-Hartmann and Pyramid Wavefron Sensors
- Slopes linearization through 2048 points look-up-table
- Real Time interface: Fibre Channel, up to 4.25 Gbit/s (two channels, 2.125 Gbit/s each).
- Diagnostic and setup interface: Gigabit Ethernet, copper or fiber available
- Small size (270x50x103 mm, WxHxD), can be directly mounted on the optical bench
- Low power dissipation: 11W typical
- Computational power can be easily expanded by adding Microgate DSP control boards
Current Applications
- LBT Slope Computers:
- LBT acquisition CCD (same electronics used as frame grabber)
- MMT new generation multi-conjugate adaptive optics system (MCAO)