AO-L Adaptive Optics for Large Format STL cameras

The smaller AO-7 Adaptive Optics accessory was designed for the CCDs in the ST-7/8/9/10/2000 cameras. It is not recommended for use with the larger format STL series cameras. A larger moving element is required to eliminate vignetting of the larger CCDs and also to maintain good image quality due to corrections over the entier field of view. The 50mm diagonal mirror of the smaller AO-7 would be placed too far away from the CCD in the large format designs to be effective over the entire field of view. For these reasons, a new larger AO device has been developed for the STL series cameras. This new AO is placed in line and has a refractive element that can be made to respond more quickly than the moving mirror of the AO-7. It is larger, however, and the new AO will not make as many moves per second as the AO-7, it will however, respond faster when making a move.

This AO is operated via the I2C port on the STL camera, and it may be operated with other I2C accessories such as the new STL 8 position 2" filter wheel. It is also compatible with any ST-7/8/9/10/2000 camera having an I2C port.