摘要 |
<p>Output signal samples provided from a solid-state imager, responsive to dark current accumulated in its CCD registers, are supplied to circuitry for measuring dark current noise level. The measured level is compared to a reference value for generating an error signal controlling the application of power to a thermoelectric cooler cooling the solid-state imager. The imager is cooled sufficiently to reduce dark current generation. A servomechanism for keeping dark current level acceptably low with minimal power consumption by the thermoelectric cooler is thus provided.</p> |