New detector controller and data acquisition system

As part of providing a detector test facility at the telescope a design for a calibrated light source has been made. In parallel with this some work has been done in looking at the use of commercial micro-controllers to replace small discrete circuit designs. One idea is to combine these two projects and make the calibrated light source digitally controlled which should make it more flexible, i.e. giving it a controllable level setting and make it remotely operable.

The following software developments were done in relation with the new data acquisition software (DAS) for the new detector controllers:

• DAS FITS header information module: This module will collect FITS header information for systems other than the detector controller itself

• DAS remote data saving module: This module is responsible for implementing the current remsave functionality in the new system

• DAS sequencer commands (ongoing): A set of sequencer commands identical to the ones we currently have has been developed for the new CCD3/DAS. This will make any script we currently have compatible with the new system

• DAS test documentation: A set of test documents has been made. These documents describes tests to be made on the different software components and the result the tests should give for the test to be passed

The main remaining task for the software is testing it with the controller and preparing the documentation. A full integrated test of the software and the controller at the telescope will be planned after the software has been successfully tested with the controller.