This gives brief notes about the new ICS system:
Starting up and shutting down the system
For the Instrument control to be carried out by the Sparc, the switch box next to the engineering PC must be in the appropriate positions. Note cables for the PC have been removed for the Sparc to be used. These can be re-inserted for engineering control. To start the system up, log into the system computer (lpss12 ) as observer, using the password on the front of the computer. Then enter the following two commands:
to load the correct observing system and patches
to start the system - takes a minute or so.
Before any of the CCD commands are accepted the setup_ccd command must be entered, (eg setup_ccd tek3)
To Shutdown just enter the following command before logging off:
This removes all the tasks - takes 30s or so
abort Abort an observation, discarding and associated data
arc take an exposure and save it, with the OBSTYPE defined as ARC
bias take a bias frame, and save it with the OBSTYPE defined as
BIAS
bin select binned readout of the detector
clear_speed set the clear speed
continue restart an exposure suspended by pause (q.v.)
dark take a dark frame and save it with the OBSTYPE defined as DARK
disable_win suspend the effect of windowing on a CCD
enable_win resume windowing after disable_win (q.v.)
finish terminate an exposure immediately; saving the data
flash take an exposure and save it, with the OBSTYPE defined as
FLASH
flat take an exposure and save it, with the OBSTYPE defined as FLAT
glance take one exposure and leave as the glance file
killmultrun stop the last exposure
multarc make multiple exposures, all with OBSTYPE defined as ARC
multbias make multiple exposures, all with OBSTYPE defined as BIAS
multdark make multiple exposures, all with OBSTYPE defined as DARK
multflash make multiple exposures, all with OBSTYPE defined as FLASH
multflat make multiple exposures, all with OBSTYPE defined as FLAT
multrun make multiple exposures, all with OBSTYPE defined as RUN
multsky make multiple exposures, all with OBSTYPE defined as SKY
newtime change the length of an exposure
nonastro change the readout speed to NONASTRO
pause suspend an exposure
preflash set the length of a CCD preflash
promote promote a scratch file to a normal run
quick set the readout speed to QUICK
readout_speed change the read-put speed of the CCD
reset reset the CCD controller
rspeed synonym of readout_speed
rtcsync synchronise the CCD controller's real time clock
run take one exposure and save it, OBSTYPE will be defined as RUN
scratch take one exposure and save it to a scratch file
setup_ccd prepare channel, needed before any other command is accepted
shutter move or unjam the shutter (open, close and unjam)
sky take an exposure and save it, with the OBSTYPE defined as SKY
slow change the readout speed to SLOW
standard change the readout speed to STANDARD
turbo change the readout speed to TURBO
unbin change the binning parameters to (1,1)
window define a read-out window on a CCD (winNo, xSize, ySize, xOffset,
yOffset)
bscf Move the below slit colour filter (0,1..)
bsnd Move the below slit neutral density filter (0,1...)
camshut Move the IDS camera shutter (open, close)
cenwave Change the grating angle to give the give central wavelength
change_ids List all exchangeable optics and allow changing
collimator Move the position of the collimator
dekker Move the dekker slide (0 - 8)
gshut Move the grating shutter (open, close)
hart Move the hartmanns (1 for in, 0 for out)
slit Set the slit width in microns
slitarc Set the slit width in arcseconds
ascf Move above slit colour filter (0, 1 ... )
asnd Move above slit neutral density filter (0, 1 ... )
autofilt Change the autoguider filter wheel (0, 1 ... )
autocentre Centres the autoguider XY probe
autopark Parks the autoguider XY probe
autoxy Move the autoguider XY probe (x,y)
change_agb List contents of all filter wheels and allow a change
compfilta Move comparison filter wheel A (formerly afarc) (0, 1
... )
compfiltb Move comparison filter wheel B (formerly bfarc) (0, 1
... )
complamps Control comparison lamps - use full lamp name (eg W, CuNe,
CuAr or off)
compmirror Move comparison mirror - and TV shutter (in, out)
compnd Move comparison filters A and B to get desired neutral density
flipmirror Move the flip mirror (in, out)
tvfilt Change the TV filter (0, 1 ... )
tvcentre Centres the TV XY probe
tvpark Parks the TV XY probe
tvxy Move the TV XY probe
Once an image has been taken with the "run" command, it can be checked with IRAF as follows:
If the system seems to be behaing badly, try the following until it works:
The Sparc system computer is connected to the CCD controller and IDS and AGB MMS (controllers) via RS232 serial ports. The wires leave the Sparc from the 8 way serial port pack (known as the magma card) sticking out of the back. The AGB and IDS wires go to the switch box next to the engineering PC. The Serial port to the Pekin Elmer TCS (the infamous IPL - InterProcessor Link) goes via a remote serial port server, in the clip centre, below the Mirror Support PC. If the power to this is cycled, the System computer Sparc will have to be rebooted - following instructions in how to recover the portservers. There is a switch box to select whether this IPL goes to the Sparc system computer or the old Perkin Elmer system computer. Clearly this should be set to Sparc.
Last modifed 12/05/97.