SBIG Camera Firmware Updates - Astronomy & Scientific Imaging Solutions

Updating your Camera’s Firmware

We release firmware updates to the Aluma, Aluma AC, STC, and StarChaser series cameras and guiders which can contain: bug-fixes, improvements, optimizations, and new features. We advise updating the DL Imaging suite simultaneously. You can update your FPGA firmware via the DL Config application as follows:

Install the latest version of DL Config – this will also update your camera drivers
Power up your camera and connect to the computer (USB recommended), but make sure it is not connected to MaxIm DL or other control software
Download the latest firmware revision (below)
Go to Start Menu / DL Config Utility and run the DL Config Utility
Make sure your camera is selected
Click the Firmware button
Click the Browse button to locate the firmware file you downloaded
Click Upload and confirm
Wait until the process is completed. Do not interrupt the process or it will revert to old firmware
When complete, power down the camera and power it up again

For details on how to update your camera’s Wireless firmware, please review this document.

NOTE: Original Equipment Manufacturers with customized camera firmware should contact us for assistance. The firmware presented here is not for OEM use and is intended for end-users of standard product.

NOTE: Users of SBIG STF, STX, and STXL series cameras should instead use the SBIG Driver Checker.

NOTE: Users looking to update their StarChaser cameras should use the correct model number. Use StarChaser E for units with serial numbers SC1300M2110xxxx and later, and StarChaser for units with serial numbers before that.

Filter by Type

Camera Model

Type

Files

FPGA

AC4040 Firmware Revision 12

IMPORTANT: This update should be installed by all AC4040BSI customers.

- This addresses an issue where an application does not successfully connect to the camera. Although the camera is operating and shows in the Windows Device Manager, it may not respond to the connect request.

Download MD5: 9E8120B73EE095485D051BAECB389F96

FPGA

AC4040 Firmware Revision 9

- Improved robustness of Filter Wheel operation for increased reliability under abnormal conditions.
- Slightly improved image download speed.
- Slightly improved sensor cooling capacity and reduced dark current.

Download MD5: 9DFCBA882FE308207E96F59686942942

FPGA

Aluma CCD Firmware Revision 26

Revision 26 - 2022/05/18
+ Minor performance improvements.

Download MD5: 82526A841CFD98C71B0D3D97F8609495

FPGA

Aluma CCD Firmware Revision 25

Revision 25 - 2022/04/08
- Fixed Aluma 77-00 noise issue in long exposures.
- Slightly increased amplifier recovery time in Aluma 694 and Aluma 814. This should improve image uniformity for precision applications.

Download MD5: F46B1DBCD2933E4E361F6CCDC2CAC5BB

FPGA

AC2020 Firmware Revision 3

Revision 3 - 2022/04/08:
- Increased readout speed. Note: It might lower the dark current and read noise. Customers might need to take new calibration images.
- Increased download speed for single images (High Gain and Low Gain).
- Increased Filter Wheel reliability. Added automatic recovery in case of a communication error or physical stall, eliminating the need for manual intervention.
- Fixed occasional camera hang issue when imaging continuously for over 12 hours.

Download MD5: E867C9FFE9AA220E7223AE8C13B2585B

FPGA

AC4040 Firmware Revision 8

Revision 8 - 2022/03/30
+ Added support for 4040BSI (detection, clocking, LDC, LP).
+ Fixed StackPro for 4040BSI by performing stacking after swtiching to LP mode, which required increasing min subexposure from 1s to 2s.
+ Fixed an issue resulting in intermittent hangs when operating camera for extended periods of time (several hours+).
+ Moved TriggerIn loop to after actuating the shutter for instant response.

Download MD5: B3C3BC98890311E9986AC5B9A0F7AE19

FPGA

Aluma CCD Firmware Revision 24

Revision 24 - 2022/02/10
+ Added support for AFW16 and Dual-Wheel.

Download MD5: 0AEF1EEE7C32111650462B3CA2F8724B

FPGA

AC2020 Firmware Revision 2

Revision 2 - 2022/02/09
+ Slightly increased FAN LOW speed to ensure smooth auto fan from 0-100% TEC power.
+ Updated FW code to support all AFW devices 2-16 pos.
+ Updated shutter motor micro-stepping for smoother operation.
+ Fixed TriggerOut. Fixed IR LED toggle function.
+ Added CameraCapability for RBI.

Download MD5: 99A54AC679A98BAF3AF21A7430737C74

FPGA

AC4040 Firmware Revision 7

Revision 7 - 2022/02/09
+ Updated FW code to support all AFW devices 2-16 pos.
+ Updated shutter motor micro-stepping for smoother operation.

Download MD5: 170B58BE2B381517A35D349CA1DE2341

FPGA

STC Firmware Revision 8

Revision 8 - 2022/01/12
+ Added 8bit readout mode.
+ Added support for AFW16 and DualWheel.
+ Updated I2C interface to work with old and new FW/AO.

Download MD5: 68779714903D82E7156C4999CDFEF889

FPGA

StarChaser E Firmware Revision 7

Revision 7 - 2021/10/14
+ Release of new product: StarChaser E. Based on existing SC-2/SC-3 hardware with extended range as the P3 sensor version has wider sensitivity and includes IR.

Note: This firmware file is *not* compatible with StarChaser cameras built before October 1st 2021.

Download MD5: A41FBF24AD97B3D28DC7F70FF90FA3A0

FPGA

Aluma CCD Firmware Revision 23

Revision 23 - 2021/10/13
+ Switched to a hardware Exposure Timer for better precision and reliability.
+ Added missing CameraCapabilities.
+ Added CameraOption.
+ Added GetCoolerState.

Download MD5: 0922DEFA6BE17C8F4B09B915A5F64C9C

FPGA

STC Firmware Revision 7

Revision 7 - 2021/07/20
+ Added double buffer to speed up download by 33%.
+ Added two extra half steps after detecting STC-7 internal FW position to centre the filter slot properly.

Download MD5: 63bc24ca4a58ca762ae3adf0538b3d95

FPGA

STC Firmware Revision 6

Revision 6 - 2021/03/24
+ Added GetCoolerStatus
+ Fixed wrong initial state of the STC mechanical shutter.

Download MD5: 19593a2f3a541b60353ea7c769bdbda4

FPGA

AC2020 Firmware Revision 1

Revision 1 - 2021/06/17
+ Initial Release

Download MD5: dcefaff79654dab792f9d67e46e88f56

FPGA

AC4040 Firmware Revision 6

Revision 6 - 2021/05/13
+ Added support for Dual-Wheel operation of AFW model filter wheels
+ Changed default partial stacking exposure from 1s to 15s
+ Improved TEC setpoint ramp down (now independed from imaging)
+ updated max cooling power and CoolerPowerPercentage formula
+ Updated auto fan setting to be more linear
+ Updated TEC LUT to 12-bit
+ Added AFW error handling

Download MD5: b06310cc206ce26a9aed7eca18c3f4be

FPGA

AC4040 Firmware Revision 5

Revision 5 - 2021/03/18
+ Updated AC4040 firmware.
+ Fix issue with StackPro
+ Added extended cooler status reporting

Download MD5: 2864332A82DF54F30195B85613EBE710

FPGA

STC Firmware Revision 5

Revision 5 - 2021/02/05
- This firmware fixes potential issues where the image download would hang after changing binning mode

Download MD5: e9e53bdbfb27cd345ad7743b08148354

FPGA

Aluma CCD Firmware Revision 22

Revision 22 - 2021/01/21
- Lowered vertical shift time for 694 and 814 from 88us to 56us
- Added a flag for NEW ALUMA that disables the Guider and reports only a single imaging sensor
- Added up-to-date CameraCapabilities

Download MD5: a353f8b27a06f7f61fc39e4e00bb9972

FPGA

AC4040 Firmware Revision 3

Revision 3 - 2020/11/20
+ Initial release of AC4040 firmware.

Download MD5: d2bd57b6980752d95925d4ff233be4bd

FPGA

STC Firmware Revision 4

Revision 4 - 2020/11/14
+ Improved support for internal filter wheels by defaulting camera's "UseFWAsShutter" setting to "Off" by default.
+ Added support for changing fan controls during exposure.
+ Updated CameraCapabilities to reflect latest version of the protocol spec.

Download MD5: f9a36d9e4f3b1a337f19332bf558f099

FPGA

StarChaser Firmware Revision 6

Revision 6 - 2020/10/23
+ Improved stability when operating at low temperature

Download MD5: 5453e4ee49224370b0796604a7374ea9

FPGA

STC Firmware Revision 3

Revision 3 - 2020/09/09
+ correct issues with external filter wheel control.

Download MD5: e8a900679536df77c5978270404941cf

FPGA

StarChaser Firmware Revision 5

Revision 5 - 2020/09/03
+ corrected endianness of exposure time for FITS header and fixed AO connectivity issues.

Download MD5: b74e9bf6f9bc5cfb983edeee185ee3f3

FPGA

StarChaser Firmware Revision 4

Revision 4 - 2020/08/20
+ Fixed bug with endianness of exposure duration in image metadata.

Download MD5: 2504e224dd2fff6dc148faad7725014d

FPGA

Aluma CCD Firmware Revision 21

Revision 21 - 2020/08/19
+ Maintenance release containing support for new camera models

Download MD5: bca949f1bbf7e069b1ac64310eb574c7

FPGA

Aluma CCD Firmware Revision 20

Revision 20 - 2019/10/29
+ Status LED now defaults to "ON" in Aluma firmware, pursuant to changes in revision 18.

Download MD5: 12dde15932343a07d67348096ea344dd

WiFi

Aluma CCD Firmware Revision 4

Revision 4 - 2019/10/29
+ Updating WiFi software to include extensions to the DLAPI communication (consistent with DLAPI version 1.3.5.0)

Download MD5: fc145bad4ba122b278123606d697bfcb

FPGA

Aluma CCD Firmware Revision 19

Revision 19 - 2019/10/24
+ Fixed a bug where filter wheel status was not being reported correctly (specifically, reporting idle while the filter wheel was still in transit)

Download MD5: 22b7d2dbfe4cd49416090cd314733908

FPGA

Aluma CCD Firmware Revision 18

Revision 18 - 2019/08/16
+ Added support for Camera Capabilities DLAPI functionality
+ Added support for controlling Status LED in Sensor Settings
+ Improved telescope guiding: Previously, guiding was done from the main line causing guide pulse durations longer than requested, usually by 15ms, sometimes even 16ms. It is now done in the interrupts, making sure that guiding duration is always precise

Download MD5: 712a80ce063455f020e0bb72c3484aa9

FPGA

Aluma CCD Firmware Revision 17

Revision 17 - 2019/06/27
+ Improved auto-fan feature
+ Fixed issue with camera occasionally generating a blank image
+ Filter wheel requests when no filter wheel is present now generates a DeviceError
+ Filter wheel requests that specify an out-of-bounds slot now generates an InvalidParameter error

Download MD5: 3164b1a8def119e3b74c0a7ff927b8b2

FPGA

Aluma CCD Firmware Revision 16

Revision 16 - 2019/03/14
+ Fixed a bug when taking images with the main and external sensors simultaneously (at different binnings) resulting in the external sensor overriding the binning settings for the main sensor
+ various optimizations

Download MD5: 5593a4cafcceb72023298abc259ee089

FPGA

Aluma CCD Firmware Revision 15

Revision 15 - 2019/03/07
+ Fixed a bug with the filter wheel involving timing of I2C messages, and hangs
+ Fixed a bug where camera could request an exposure before the filter wheel stopped moving

Download MD5: cae2cedf49d93c501bbdb944d826d642

FPGA

Aluma CCD Firmware Revision 14

Revision 14 - 2019/02/06
+ Fixed a bug with shutter initialization on connect
+ various optimizations & safety checks

Download MD5: cdba2844747b505ea375f5e91c85dcb3

FPGA

Aluma CCD Firmware Revision 13

Revision 13 - 2018/12/27
+ Added new auto-fan feature
+ Added support for new high-resolution shutters
+ Added support for new temperature sensors
+ Set thresholds to prevent camera from overheating: heat sink at 50C -> set fan to high heat sink at 65C -> turn off the cooler
+ Fixed bug where the CCD amplifier would stay low when an exposure was aborted, now when abort is requested, the amplifier goes back up
+ various optimizations

Download MD5: efa5120b6adfc12da5385e0cc00ee37d

FPGA

Aluma CCD Firmware Revision 12

Revision 12 - 2018/10/23
+ Added support for AO peripherals
+ Fixed issue when Pulse Guiding correcting pulse durations and status reporting to the camera

Download MD5: cb99719cd82dcc5d194c8bd204a56971

FPGA

Aluma CCD Firmware Revision 10

Revision 10 - 2018/06/28
+ Added support for KAF-3200
+ Various optimizations

Download MD5: 96ed39b736bfcc8ec6f08cc774d86475

FPGA

Aluma CCD Firmware Revision 9

Revision 9 - 2018/05/04
+ Initial release of Aluma FPGA firmware

Download MD5: 861465028d9079f24339392976d8cb65

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