Luminescence measurements with CCDs

A multi-parametric measurement system of low light intensity based on a CCD is evaluated in this article. The light arrives through several optic fibres from the corresponding sample or chemical sensor phase, where the luminous phenomenon is produced. Possible applications of this system include fields like environmental control, biology or medicine. Two low-cost CCDs have been used with the aim of evaluating their performance in situations of low luminosity so as to justify their possible use in measurement of luminescence phenomena. Both systems are made up, firstly, of a CCD sensor and an analog stage, where the signal is amplified and suitably sampled. The whole system is managed by the control stage, made up of a PLD, so as to achieve design flexibility and integration.