LDSS3 Software Documentation - Release Notes

Version History

3.2 , 3.1 , 3.0
2.6 , 2.5 , 2.4 , 2.3 , 2.2 , 2.1 , 2.0
1.8 , 1.7 , 1.6 , 1.5 , 1.4 , 1.3 , 1.2 , 1.1 , 1.0

v3.2.4 (2024-02-21)
  • Added the frame command to the TCP/IP interface.
  • Added the 'datapath1' and 'datapath2' commands to the TCP/IP interface.
  • Added the subraster command to the TCP/IP interface.
    • v3.2.3 (2023-09-11)
  • Added the autofocus command to the TCP/IP interface.
    • v3.2.2 (2023-08-30)
  • Added the focus command to the TCP/IP interface.
    • v3.2.1 (2023-06-28)
  • Added the exptype, binning, and object commands to the TCP/IP interface.
  • Fixed a bug in the "N&Shuffle dialog (the binning preset was empty).
    • v3.2 (2023-05-10)
  • Added the aperture, filter, and grism commands to the TCP/IP interface.
    • Also updated the status command to reflect the state of the wheels.

    v3.1 (2022-01-21)
  • Reuse the Configuration/Startup window during the runtime of the GUI for renaming of the wheel positions.
    • Select "Configuration" from the LDSS3C MainMenu and update the wheel position names

    v3.0 (2021-12-17)
  • The macOS GUI is now the official default version.

    • v2.6.3 (2021-09-23)
  • Fixed the code that failed to handle user input properly when the Standard Focus was entered as a floating point number.
    • v2.6.2 (2019-08-30)
  • Restore the AutoFocus setting at GUI startup.
    • The first correction is done about 10 seconds after the GUI is opened.
    v2.6.1 (2019-02-19)
  • Modified the SUBRASTER keyword in the FITS heater to indicate the actual subraster geometry even if the full ('0' padded) frame is saved.
    • SUBRASTR='[x1:x2,y1:y2]' (added the "[]" brackets)
    v2.6 (2018-03-09)
  • Allow to change the observer name from the Options menu.

    • v2.5 (2017-11-30)
  • Default readout speed changed to "Fast" (was "Slow").
  • Preset the stdFocus value in the dialog box with '0'.
    • Do not update the stdFocus and stdTemp values if the stdFocus value is left at '0'.
  • Write the stdFocus and stdTemp values to the logfile:
    • stdFocus= %d stdTemp= %.1f
  • Added "JD" (Julian date) to the FITS header.
  • Updated the readnoise/gain values in the FITS header.
  • Use UT in the logfile (was local time).

    • v2.4.4 (2017-10-23)
  • Issue the STOP command before the ABORT command.
    This stops the exposure timer and clears the STATUS to "idle".
  • Removed the '4 second delay' introduced in v2.4.3
    • v2.4.3 (2017-10-02)
  • Added a 4 second delay after an aborted exposure before a new exposure can be started.
    • The "FNAL" code is seriously confused after receiving an "ABORT" command.
    v2.4.2 (2017-09-06)
  • Increased the wait time during the "wipe" from 2 seconds to 2.5 seconds.
    • This attempts to avoid crashes of the FNAL backend that appear to happen when an exposure is stopped or aborted right at the beginning of the exposure.
    v2.4.1 (2017-05-15)
  • Added logging of the instrument temperature.
  • Added logging of auto focus adjustments.
  • Write error messages created by focus motions to the Messages window when in AutoFocus mode,
    • instead of opening popup windows.
    v2.4 (2017-04-11)
  • Auto focus vs. temperature.
    • The GUI automatically adjust the focus with temperature when the difference to the current focus is more than 4 units. 
           deltaTemp = CurrentTemp - DayTimeTemp (when std_focus was measured).
       newFocus = (21.0*DeltaTemp) + std_Focus + focus_offset[filter]
    Please use the "Options--StdFocus" menu to enter the focus of the Sloan-R filter and the temperature when it was measured. Note: The GUI presets the temperature with the current instrument temperature (_not_ the last used focus temperature).
  • "Abort" button.
    • The "Abort" button stops the exposure but does _not_ readout the CCD.

    v2.3.4 (2016-08-11)
  • Fixed the compass rose on the QuickLook Tool ("Normal" orientation).
    • v2.3.3 (2016-04-13)
  • Limited the exposure time to 2000 seconds.
    • The FNAL/PanView code does not handle exposure times larger than about 2057 seconds.
    v2.3.2 (2015-11-05)
  • Fixed updating of the 'Guiding' popup-buttons (MacOS-X) in the Nod&Shuffle dialog.
    • v2.3.1 (2015-04-27)
  • Fixed bug in the coordinated offset routine during Nod&Shuffle.
    • v2.3 (2015-03-10)
  • Nod&Shuffle: Allow to select the guider mode at each pointing (A,B).
  • Intercept Window Close events from the Window Manager (CXTLib-v4.070).
  • 64-bit executable

    • v2.2.2 (2014-09-03)
  • Make the FRAME_TIMEOUT dependent on the readout speed.
    • Slow: 200 seconds
    Fast: 50 seconds
    Turbo: 40 seconds
  • Adjusted the lower focus limit and standard focus value.
    • focus_min: 5550
    focus_std: 5750 (r-sloan @ 12.6 C)
    v2.2.1 (2014-07-16)
  • The Nod&Shuffle mode uses "gdrmountw" to wait for the guider probe.
  • Display a warning if the GUI is started with the telescope offline.
    • v2.2 (2014-06-05)
  • Implement the Stop Exposure feature.
    • It allows to close the shutter and start the readout at any time during the exposure.
  • Allow to change the gain, speed and binning during the exposure.
  • Allow to change the number of loops during an exposure loop.
  • Allow to change the exposure time during readout. This takes effect for the next exposure.
  • Removed the 'Abort Exposure' feature because the FNAL system cannot abort a readout in progress.

    • v2.1 (2014-05-16)
  • Forked the FNAL version and renamed the binary to ldsscgui.
    • This removes the option to run both OCIW/FNAL cameras from the same binary.
    The new dewar has two orientations: Normal and Nod&Shuffle (Configuration Window)
  • Added the following FITS records:
      CCDSETP
      TEMPSTGE
      TEMPNECK
      HEATER
      TEMPSL1
      TEMPSL3
      TEMPSL5
      TIME-OBS
      DEWARORI
  • Re-designed the Dewar-Status window:
  • Added a control to turn On/Off the substrate voltage (Vsub).
    • Before turning on Vsub, the GUI issues a warning about a cold and dark CCD.
    The ldsscgui will issue a warning if the user attempts to take an exposure while Vsub=Off or close the GUI while Vsub=On.
  • Added an indicator for the disk status.
    • This control was on the original ldss3gui but had been removed for space considerations.
  • Added logging of each command to the LabView program and increased the timeout.
  • Reduced the number of times the ldsscgui opens/closes the TCP/IP connection to the LabView software
    • (ie. now only once per exposure). We may experiment with leaving the connection always open.

    v2.0 (2014-03-11)
  • Installed the "LDSS3-C" (FNAL) version of the ldss3gui.
    • The controls on the ldss3gui have not changed. Most changes should be invisble to the observer.
    One exception is the dewar status:

  • 64-bit compatible.

    • v1.8.3 (2012-05-31)
  • Use temperature setpoint-4 from the DSP.
    • v1.8.2 (2012-02-02)
  • Serialize the IMS-controller setup and the LDSS3 status update at program startup in an attempt to avoid a timeout when one of them takes a long time after an extended period of system in-activity.
    • v1.8.1 (2012-01-11)
  • Communication port with the TCS computer changed.
    • v1.8 (2008-06-11)
  • Temperature sensor (instrument) added
  • EtherTrak/Positek focus encoder

    • v1.7 (2007-10-26)
  • Default readout speed changed to 'Slow'.

    • v1.6 (2007-08-24)
  • QlTool resize-bug fixed.
  • FITS keyword 'DISPAXIS' added.

    • v1.5 (2007-04-06)
  • Use temperature sensor-4 only in FITS header.
  • Fixed MAC-OS-X menu updates.

    • v1.4 (2007-03-27)
  • Fixed 3x3 binning bug in QlTool.

    • v1.3 (2006-05-08)
  • Fixed bias section in FITS header.
  • Added data section to FITS header.

    • v1.2 (2006/Feb)
  • Save Nod&Shuffe paramters in setup file.
  • Fixed Nod&Shuffle abort bug.

    • v1.1 (2005-11-24)
  • Move guider box instead of guider probe during Nod&Shuffle.

    • v1.0 (2005-07-18)
  • First release.

    • 2005-02-09, Christoph C. Birk, Carnegie Observatories