科学级相机和光谱仪制造商牛津仪器Andor Technology，正式发布全新iKon-XL大靶面CCD相机，iKon-XL相机采用独特的“ColdSpace”技术可以将背照式16.8M超大靶面，背照式CCD芯片（e2v）制冷到-100℃，无需液氮或者制冷机。iKon-XL可应用于系外行星搜寻，大尺度巡天，测光，天文光谱，空间碎片追踪，是理想的天文观测相机。
此外，iKon-XL相机平台具有创新性的宽动态范围技术，采用高达18bit的A/D，在一次读出中即得到最低的读出噪声和最大的满井容量。其标配USB3.0或远距离光纤接口，连接方式灵活。成像信息可以选择通过单通道或者四通道读出，四通道读出的稳定性得益与其特殊的电路设计和均衡的图像象限平衡。
此次发布的这台高灵敏度相机平台使用来自e2v的两款芯片：CCD231-84和CCD230-80， 具有高达95%的量子效率，NIR增强的深耗尽芯片，低至2e-的读出噪声，高达350Ke-满井容量。-100℃制冷温度保证了低于黄道光背景的极低暗电流，可以满足对弱信号的长时间曝光拍摄。
牛津仪器Andor成像产品经理Colin Coates博士评价道：“iKon-XL是一款性能优越，设计成熟的‘一站式服务’探测器，该款相机很少需要维护，使用寿命很长，将置于全球观察站并通过远程操控使用。即使在严苛的观测环境下，也可以将此产品视作理想的“现成”解决方案。
牛津仪器将继续以支持中国科学研究发展为己任，为中国广大科研人员提供高性能、高可靠性的Andor相关设备；同时牛津仪器的服务团队也可以为用户提供系列服务套餐，包括配件和耗材、延保合同、产品培训、服务维修和技术支持。
iKon-XL 231
Andor’s NEW iKon-XL is a TE-cooled, very large area CCD camera platform, accommodating big field of view sensors that are ideally suited to long exposure astronomy applications. Patent-pending ColdSpace™ technology thermoelectrically cools a back-illuminated 16.8 Megapixel sensor (e2v) down to -100 °C, avoiding the requirement for liquid nitrogen or unreliable cryo coolers. Extended Dynamic Range technology is complemented by up to 18-bit digitization capability.
The iKon-XL 231 model uses the e2v CCD231-84 ‘astro’ back-illuminated sensor, combining exceptionally low read noise of 2.1 e- with a very large well depth of 350,000 e- and available with a range of sensor QE coatings, in both standard and deep depletion formats.
– 100 °C TE cooled large area sensors
NO liquid nitrogen, NO cryo-cooler
Extended Dynamic Range (18-bit)
e2v CCD231-84 sensor (deep depletion available)
iKon-XL 230
Andor’s NEW iKon-XL is a TE-cooled, very large area CCD camera platform, accommodating big field of view sensors that are ideally suited to long exposure astronomy applications. Patent-pending ColdSpace™ technology thermoelectrically cools a back-illuminated 16.8 Megapixel sensor (e2v) down to -100 °C, avoiding the requirement for liquid nitrogen or unreliable cryo coolers. The iKon-XL 230 model uses the e2v CCD230-84 back-illuminated sensor, offering a very large 61.4 x 61.4 mm imaging area from a 4096 x 4096 array format and 15 μm pixel size, ideal for applications such as Astronomy or X-ray/Neutron radiography.
– 100 °C TE cooled large area sensors
NO liquid nitrogen, NO cryo-cooler
Extended Dynamic Range (18-bit)
e2v CCD230-84 sensor