INTEGRATE: build up an image on the detectors

This page is part of the ING document INS-DAS-24: client-server interface for control of cameras

Purpose: do either an exposure or a dark integration with associated timing.

Actors: udas_run client; udas_camera server; camera.

Outline: the client invokes the INTEGRATE action. The server orders the camera to start an exposure, and waits for the the camera to finish. The server records the exposure times.

Normal course of events:

The camera shutter is closed.
Client invokes INTEGRATE on the server with these arguments:

Argument1 is the keyword "expose".
Argument2 is the exposure time in seconds.

Server validates the arguments.
Server orders camera to start the exposure and notes the start time.
Server waits for the given exposure time, checking at one-second intervals for a retiming of the exposure.
Server waits for the camera to say that the exposure is over.
Server gets the precise length of the exposure from camera and records this internally.
Server returns good status to client.

Variations:

In step 2, the keyword is "dark" instead of "expose". Server omits steps 4, 6 and 7 but does step 5, hence timing a dark frame. No exposure time is recorded.
At step 1, the shutter is open, not closed. Server omits steps 4, 6 and 7 but does step 5.
At step 3, the arguments are invalid. Server omits steps 4+, returns an error message to client, and returns status UDAS__BADEXPTIME or UDAS_BADEXPTYPE to client.
At step 4, the clocks are not integrating or idling. Server aborts the action and returns status UDAS__CLOCKSBUSY.