MIKE-GUI Software Documentation (macOS/Aqua)

Configuration Window

Observer: [edit] : observer's name

Camera: [menu] : {Blue,Red,Blue+Red}

Select one or both cameras.

[menu] : {online,simulator}

simulator: for tests with no dewar

online: dewar electronics are connected and running

Overscan: number of overscan pixels at the end of the readout line.

Biaslines: number of bias lines after the CCD lines.

PLC: [menu] : {offline, online }

offline: for tests with no PLC connected

online: mechanics and electronics connected and running

Telescope: [menu] : { Simulator,Baade_Mag_1,Clay_Mag_2 }

[menu] : telescope status { offline,online }

ADC-GUI: [menu] : {offline, online }

TCP/IP Server: enable the TCP/IP interface when checked.

Instrument Control and Data Acquisition

ExpTime: sets the exposure time (1..8200 seconds)

Object: OBJECT value in the FITS header.

This field will be sampled at the beginning of the readout.

The 'reload' button reads the object name from the TCS catalog.

Loops: number of exposures per sequence.

ImageType: sets the exposure type { Object, Comp, Bias, Dark, Flat }

SlitSize: Move the slit plate to the selected slit.

Lamp: Select the lamp from {off,Quartz,ThAr} .

Config: configuration notes

Comment: COMMENT value in the FITS header.

This field will be sampled at the beginning of the readout.

The FITS record will be truncated to the first 26 characters.

Image#: next file name number (rNNNN.fits,bNNNN.fits)

The number may be set using the Camera--FileNumber menu.

Start: starts a loop sequence of Loops exposures.

Pause: close the shutter and stop the exposure timer.

Resume: open the shutter and re-start the exposure timer.

Abort: aborts the current readout (frame will be lost).

Readout: sets the readout mode { Full, Subraster }

Speed: sets the readout speed/gain combination { Slow, Fast}

Binning: set the binning { 1-8 x 1-8 }

CamFocus: move the camera focus mechanism.

Grating: grating position (FITS header only, no motion control).

Filter: filter for the FITS header (no motion control).

TCP/IP Interface

xterm> nc localhost 50801
version
3.4 (0083)
^D
xterm>

Command: autofocus {blue,red} {0,1}

Command: autofocus {0,1} {0,1}

Response: # #

Turn on/off the AutoFocus feature for the red/blue camera.

The second form allows to switch both cameras at the same time.

Command: binning # #

Response: # #

Set or request (without parameter) the binning for both cameras

#: horizontal binning {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8}

#: vertical binning {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8}

The GUI returns the the current binning.

Command: camfocus {blue,red} #

Command: camfocus # #

Response: {0,1,2} [Eautofocus]

Moves the 'red' or 'blue' camera focus. The GUI responds with the number of focus motors moving, ie. '0' is returned when an error occured.

If no color is given you may send both camera foci (order: blue red).

Please note that this command does not block until the motion has stopped; you have to check using the 'status' command.

If the AutoFocus feature is active, the string "Eautofocus" is appended to the return string.

Command: camfocus

Response: # #

Without any parameters the GUI returns the focus of both cameras.

Command: datapath1 [path]

Command: datapath2 [path]

Response: string

Sets/returns the primary (secondary) data path.

'datapath' may be used instead of 'datapath1'.

Command: datapath2 none

To allow clearing the 'datapath2', the special keyword 'none' (no quotes) may be used.

Command: diffuser

Response: {0,1,-1}

0: OUT

1: IN

-1: failure to read the status

Command: exptime {blue,red} #

Response: #

Set the exposure time for the 'red' or 'blue' camera in seconds. If no color is given, the time is set for both cameras.

The GUI reponds with the current exposure time.

Command: exptime # #

Response: # #

Set or request (without parameters) the exposure time for both cameras (order: blue red).

Request: exptime

Response: # #

Without any parameters the GUI returns both exposure times (order: blue red)

Command: frame {blue,red} #

Response: #

Command: frame # #

Command: frame #

Response: # #

Set the frame number (file name) the red/blue camera.

The second form allows to switch both cameras at the same time.

If there is only one parameter, both frame numbers are set to the same value.

Command: imagetype {Object,Comp,Bias,Flat,Dark}

Response: string

Set or request (without parameter) the image type. The GUI responds with the current image type.

Command: lamp {off,Quartz,ThAr}

Response: string

Set or request the lamp.

The GUI returns the current lamp status.

Command: loops #

Response: #

Set (or request) the number of exposures in the loop. The GUI responds with the loop number.

Command: object string

Response: string

Set or request (without parameter) the object name.

The GUI responds with the current object name.

Command: runtime

Response: # [est]

Returns the calculated remaining time in the current exposure loop. The string 'est' is appende if a non-measured binning/speed combination is active.

Command: slit name

Response: {0,1}

name may be any of the slit names in the slitSize menu.

The GUI responds with '1' if a valid position name was requested (ie. the slit motor has started to move), or '0' on failure.

Please note that this command does not block until the motion has stopped; you have to check using the 'status' command.

Command: slit

Response: name

Without any parameter the GUI returns the slit position name.

Command: speed {blue,red} {Slow,Fast}

Response: speed

Command: speed {Slow,Fast} {Slow,Fast}

Response: speed_blue speed_red

Set the readout speed of the red/blue camera.

The second form allows to switch both cameras at the same time.

If there is only one parameter, both speeds are set to the same value.

Command: start

Response: {0,1}

Start an exposure loop (both cameras). The GUI responds with '1' if successful, '0' on failure.

Command: status

Response: # # #

#: {0,1}: '1' means that an exposure loop is running

#: {0,1}: '1' means that the slit is moving

#: {0,1,2}: indicates the number of focus motors moving

Command: tempmike

Response: #

Returns the instrument temperature.

Command: version

Response: 3.4 (0083)

Query the version name (build number) of the GUI.

Main Menu

Menu - MIKE

About MIKE: displays a window that shows the version of the GUI. Preferences: opens the Preferences window. Quit MIKE: terminate this GUI.

Menu - File

Load FITS: loads a FITS file from disk into the QuickLook display tool. Show Logfile: opens a Console window that displays the logfile. Show AppSupport: opens a Finder window displaying the content of the Application Support folder. Show DataPath: opens a Finder window displaying the content of the data path folder.

Menu - Camera

DataPath: opens a dialog that allows to set the path for the data (FITS) files. QuickLook: opens the QuickLook Tool windows. DewarStatus: opens the Dewar Status window. CCD-Hardhat: opens the CCD Hardhat window. FileNumber: enables (temporarily) the File number edit on the Data Acquisition window. PLC-Hardhat: opens the PLC Hardhat window.

Menu - Help

MIKE Software: opens this web page. User Manual: opens the LCO User Manual.

Preferenes

Preferences - General

Observer: observer's name for the FITS header.

Engineering Mode: Some functions require to switch to engineering mode as safety feature.

eg. the PLC-Hardhat and the CCD-Voltages.

Preferences - Camera

Shutter Closed: sound after the shutter closes (before readout).

Exposure Done: sound after the readout is done.

If the the text in the edit-box is enclosed in single quotes ('), it will be spoken using the default system voice; otherwise the string will be interpreted as a sound file name and be played.

Unless an absolute path is given, the file is expected to reside in the "/Users/Shared/Library/Application Support/MIKE" directory.

Preferences - QuickLook

Saturation Level: pixels above this level will be shown in red.

Default Subraster: subraster geometry when adding a subraster using the 'a' key on the display.

Clear Display Before Redaout: clears (black) the display before a new exposure is read out.

Trim bias section from loaded FITS files: This allows to display the bias sections (overscan and biaslines)

in the QuickLook tool for FITS files loaded from disk (not for data directly read from the array).

Auxiliary Windows

Data Paths

Select the data path(s) for the FITS files.

Default: sets the path following the standard at the Magellan telescopes.

Browse: opens a file selector that allows to set an optional secondary data path (eg. an external USB disk)

Dewar Status

Displays the temperatures, heater currents and setpoints of the DSP control loop.

CCD Hardhat

Reset DSP/CCD-Server: reloads the DSP code.

CCD Voltages: opens a window that allows to modify the CCD voltages (requires engineering mode)

PLC Hardhat

Slit Position: manually move the slit.

Shutter: manually open/close the shutter.

QuickLook Tool

TODO

Instrument Software Documentation Index