SCAN.exe Version 1.8 a) Overview a.1) My E-Mail address / homepage a.2) Install the program b) Introduction to a drift scan image: c) How to take a drift scan image: d) Other points in the main menu: e) Menu Settings f) Example of a *.t7t file i) Step by Step introduction to some often used feathers j) New speckle featcher in version 1.8 a) Overview This program is written by Christoph Flohr.(not by SBIG) It is using a driver from SBIG. It can be used to take drift scan images (TDI= time delay integration) with a ST-7 CCD camera from SBIG, maybe there can be used even other cameras form SBIG, (only those witch use the parallel port), but the program is only tested with an ST-7. This program is a beta version. All rights reserved. Private use of this version is free. No warranty. The author assumes no liability for damages, direct or consequential, which may result from the use of SCAN. Please send me your remarks as an e-mail: -------------------------------------------------------------- My E-Mail address: mailto:Christoph.Flohr@t-online.de -------------------------------------------------------------- My homepage: http://home.t-online.de/home/christoph.flohr/astrone.htm -------------------------------------------------------------- It would be kind, if you send me your experiences with my program (Informations to: Camera, telescope, computer, limiting mag) some comments, links to images taken with SCAN or so. It would be great, if you set a link to my homepage. a.2) Install the program Just copy the files scan.exe and readme.txt to the hard disk, in a directory you created. If the files are in a zip file, uncompress them. Starting the program the first time, there will be created the following sub directories : set, picture,flat,dark,tstamp. b) Introduction to a drift scan image: To take a drift scan image the telescope drive will be turned off. The CCD is read out with the same speed as the picture of a star moves over the CCD. c) How to take a drift scan image: The camera should be focused first, with the SBIG software, CCDOPS using the telescope drive. After doing that, the orientation of the camera must be checked. To do this, shut off the telescope drive. (You can write down the rektaszension, declination and the time, so you can calculate the position of every object on drift scan images taken later) Taking 2 images, a star must move from the bottom (of the screen) to the top. Take an image with turned off telescope drive. The exposure time should be a little shorter, as a star needs to move over the CCD. (about 60 sec ) On the image you will see stripes. The stripes should proceed vertical. This can be evaluted using the X-Hairs of CCDOPS. Maybe you must rotate the camera a little. Then fix it in the found position. This adjustment Should be done carefully. This has to be done very exact. Now leave CCDOPS and start SCAN. SCAN < 1.6 must run under DOS or in the DOS Mode, Under Windows the system clock loses some timer ticks, the rows will not be read out to the correct time. SCAN >=1.6 may run also run under Windows. To run under Windows you must use a computer with a Pentium processor and choose the option Settings(33) "clock cycle counter Pentium" and fill in the frequency of the processor (Settings(34)). The frequency may be a little different to the frequency the CPU should work on. (My Pentium 233 MHz runs at about 233286000 Hz.) To check this out, use the program which avalible on my homepage to check the frequency of the CPU. This option should be also used in the DOS mode, if you use a computer with a Pentium processor. In the DOS mode you may use smartdrv (in the \windows directory). If in the DOS- Mode the camera could not be found, may be the BIOS settings must be changed (carefully). The parallel port should be configured for the use under DOS. Example: Enabled (not auto) Bi-directional (or EPP,ECP, EPP+ECP,SSP) Basic I/O address EA 378-37F ( or an other) Interrupt IRQ 07 Other devices must not use the same resources. I have added a menu to chose the Basic I/O address main menu(5) :settings settings(20) it can be used 3BC, 378 and 278. Or you can also put in an other address. After the start of SCAN, make the necessary settings under point (5) Settings. Important is the focal length(10) and the declination(6). If you want to use dark subtract function, call point (7) and chose under Settings Darksubtract(9). This Program works with a dark correction on a per line basis. The first lines wont be corrected in an correct way. Example: using a ST-7 the lines >510 will be corrected correct. Dark lines are saved in the path "dark". If you want to use flat field(line) correction, call point(11) to take a flat line. This program uses a flat field correction on a per line basis. Activate flat line correction settings(17). Your computer must be fast enough to do this (or your focal length short enough ). At point(4) a drift scan image will be taken. You will be asked for a file name . The images are saved in a path "\picture".(it will be created starting the program on the first time) Then the program will ask for the number of the lines that should be read out. number of lines * seconds per line = time of the whole exposure. If the number is reached, the exposure will be stopped. The exposure can also be stopped, pressing Esc.( in Auto Dice mode press "q") The program saves line per line on the hard disk. The program uses a autocontrast function on a per line basis, the screen may look a little strange and the ramping at the begin of the image is equalized. Pressing "c" after starting an image will deactivate the screen, pressing "space" will activate the screen again. The image can be shown with the SBIG program CCDOPS for Windows, if it is not to big (about < 15 MB). You can even use this program, main menu(21) to view a big ST7 file. (uncompressed) I will write a more comfortable program to view big ST7 files but that will last some time. d) Other points in the main menu: -------------------------------------------------- Main Menu I Input Number and Return I 1 Driver Info I 2 Establish Link I 3 Standard image I 4 Take Drift Scan Image ********** I 5 Settings... I 7 take dark line (for darksubtract) I 8 take dark frame (Drift Scan) I 9 read dark line from file I 10 Standard dark frame I 11 Flat Field Correction, take a line I 12 read flat line from file I 15 CCD Info I 16 Show temperature and Power I 21 Show Image I 30 Time and Date I 40 Take a Speckle image I 41 Take a Speckle image a dark frame I 90 Info I I 99 Quit program I -------------------------------------------------- Input the number and press return. 1: Driver information's 2: establish link to the camera (should be established by starting the program) 3: take a standard image "stare mode" ( in Settings(2) set an exposure time) 4: take the drift scan image here the drift scan image will be taken and during the integration saved line per line and shown line per line. A simple autocontrast function is integrated. The image is saved in the SBIG ST-7 format (Typ 3 format) (uncompressed) You need 1,53 KB for a line of a ST-7. Reading all 0.164 seconds a line (750 mm focal length) , you need 33 MB in one hour. 5: Settings when you use the program first, adapt the needed information's even if you change the declination, focal length or something else 7: Chose this for dark correction It will be calculated one line, which will be used for dark subtraction during taking an image(4) if you activated point(9) under settings. 8: Dark Frame It will not be used by this program. You can use it with other programs or to control the dark subtraction. 9: Read a dark line from your hard disk (taken before main menu(7) ) 10: take a standard dark frame (is not used by this program) 11: take a flat line for flat field(line) correction 12: read a flat line form file (taken before) 15: Information's about the used CCD camera. 16: Temperature of the CCD call this point sometimes to control the temperature and the power (<100%) 21: views the last image or an image taken before (uncompressed only). 30: shows the time and date menu 40: take a speckle image , see file: speckle.txt 41: " ,dark frame " " 90: Information's to this program 99: Quit leave this program. e) Menu Settings Menu Settings: Input number and return 1 Imaging CCD or Trekking CCD 2 Exposure time Standard image 3 Binning 4 Temperature should be 5 Temperature regulation on/off 6 Declination in degree ***** 7 Time per line, direct input 8 Name of the observer 9 Darksubstract on/off 10 Focal length **** 11 Aperture 12 View all Settings 15 Read rest of the lines 16 Set screen mode 19 Exposure delay in sec 17 Flat field correction 18 number of lines to read 20 Port address 22 Settings, save 23 open 24 view 30 Auto Grap 31 Auto Dice 32 Auto Grap/Dice number of images 33 clock cycle counter Pentium 34 frequency of the cpu 35 Planetary mode,start,maxlength 36 Speckle imaging,HeightSubFrame 37 NumberOfSubFrames 38 Exposure Time Sub Frame sec 39 Readout time lineSub Frame sec 40 Use XMS memory 41 Use XMS for time stamp file Settings,22:save,23:open,24:view 99 Main Menu ------------------------------------ 1: Imaging or Trekking CCD should be Imaging CCD 2: is not used for an drift scan image, only for main menu(3) Standard image put in in 1/100 sec for example 300 = 3 sec 3: set binning in most cases 1 x 1, can be 2 x 2 if focal length about >1500 mm 4: set temperature 5: set temperatuerregulation on or off 6: declination in degree important !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! example 3.5 is used to calculate the time between reading out the lines. 7: input the time between reading out the lines (direct) put in direct, if there are vertical stripes on the image. it will be overwritten calling declination or focal length,binning, sidereal rate The reason for vertical stripes may be: Running under windows, wrong focal length, wrong declination, wrong sidereal rate , the readout speed is not high enough (focal length to long at 1x1 binning (>4000 mm ST-7, >2000 mm ST-8)). You can use this point to check the readout speed, then fill in, for example 0.0000001, take a test drift scan image (telescope is not necessary), after the image is taken, a message is shown, like: " Seconds to take the image 31.3, lines 1000 , seconds per line , 0.0313 ". Compare, seconds per line, in this case, 0.0313 ,with the time to readout a line, calculated, after filling in the focal length of your telescope. 8: name of the observer 9: dark correction, under point(7) in the main menu a dark line must be taken if you change the settings , take a new line. 10: focal length in mm important !!!!!!!!!!!!1 11: aperture 12: show all settings 15: read out the rest of the lines after the end of the exposure. Choosing this, drift scan images with short effective exposure time and short focal length can be taken. The dark correction /flat line correction should not be used. example: ST-7 100 mm focal length 0 degree declination 1.234 seconds to read out a line. Take a image with 20 lines. The effective exposure time is 24.68 seconds. The picture height will be 530 lines (ST-7). 16: Screen mode using a ST-7 use 640*320 . Even the not shown columns will be saved. 17: Flat field (line) correction (Take a flat line at main menu(11) ) 18: number of lines to read in, for an drift scan image, the number of lines the program will read in, if this is set 0, the program will ask for this number before taking an drift scan image. Should be about 3000 or more. 19: Exposure delay in sec, program will wait ... sec before taking an exposure can be skipped (with ESC), you may use it with Auto Grab. 20: chose the port address for the parallel port, 3BC, 378 or 278 or an other 22: save this settings and other information's. The settings will be saved at the end of the program automatically in path \set in the file setlast.txt Here a file with an other name can be saved. Taking an drift scan image a similar file will be saved in the path \picture under *.t7t It contains additional informations. In the head of an ST-7 file only the important information's will be saved. 23: read a file with settings saved before. (You can also read in a *.t7t file form the path \picture) 24: show all settings and other information's 30: Auto Grab, on/off take many images with file names like file0001.st7 ... Use with drift scan image, standard image, drift scan image - reading the rest of the lines in. For drift scan images better use Auto Dice. With Auto Grab there is ramping on every file. In every file header (st7) the time and date is the time and date of the beginning of the current image(file). For every image a *.t7t file will be written. Choosing "nul" as file name, no information is stored at the hard disk (can be used for focusing or something else). 31: Auto Dice , the program will save many short images instead of one long stripe, chose the number of images at point (32), and the number of lines for every image at point(18), Ramping only on the first image. One Exposure on all files, the exposure is not broken between the images. Only for drift scan images. Read the rest of the lines is disabled In every file header (st7) the time and date is the time and date of the beginning of the actual image(file). Only one *.t7t file will be written. Example: 18 number of lines to read 510 31 Auto Dice 1 =on 32 Auto Grap/Dice number of images 5 Other settings set for a drift scan image. it will be saved 5 files, each file will be 510 lines high. 32: Auto Grap/ Auto Dice , number of images: input the number of images the program should take ,1 up to 9999. File name only 4 chars, rest is extended width *0001.st7 ... if the number is set to 1, Auto Dice and Auto Grab will be ignored. The number is used form the Auto Grab and the Auto Dice function. In every file header (st7) the time and date is the time and date of the beginning of the actual image(file). 33 clock cycle counter Pentium If the computer has a Pentium inside, you should use the clock cycle counter, which has a higher accuracy. Using this, the program can even run under windows in a DOS window. 34 frequency of the cpu: To use the clock cycle counter, put in the frequency of the CPU. ( Check the frequency with the program avalible on my homepage) 35 "planetary mode" , if the length is < as the number of columns at the CCD, there are read only length columns in (an narrower image) ,start is the first column to read in To use darksubtract/ flat field (line) correction, take a new dark line and a new flat line, if you change start. If the length of the image is bigger then the length of the dark line or flat line , take a new dark line and a new flat line. The readout speed increases if the length decreases. This feacher can be used if the readout speed is not high enough at a long focal lenght. 36 - 41 This settings are related to speckle imaging and do not affect drift scan images or standard images, see file : speckle.txt 99: back to the main menu f) Example of a *.t7t file Darksubstract=0 PathImages=picture Observer=Christoph_Flohr Ccdtypnr=0 Binningnr=0 Temperatur=-15.000000 Tempregon=0 FocalLength=750.000000 Aperture=27.390000 Dec=14.400000 ReadRest=0 ScreenMode=2 SecPerLine=0.169899 Darksubstract=0 ExTimeStandard=75 FlatLineCorrection=0 FlatLineIntensity=1349 FileDarkLine=dtest.st7 FileFlatLine=ftest.st7 ViewInRed=0 ExposureDelay=0.000000 LinesToReadIn=1000 PortAdrNr=2 PortBaseAddress=888 AutoGrabNumberOfImages=6 DiceOn=0 GrabOn=0 SiderialRate=1.000000 use_rdtsc=1 cpu_herz=233000000.000000 minutes_ahead_UT=60 pixelStart=0 pixelLength=765 sonst=0 sonst=0 sonst=0 sonst=0 sonst=0 sonst=0 sonst=0 sonst=0 sonst=0 Folgendes nicht in scan einlesen=0 takedarkframe=0 Standard_Image=0 CCD width in Pixel x 765 CCD height in Pixel y 510 CCD height per Pixel in 1/1000 mm x 9.000000 CCD height per Pixel in 1/1000 mm y 9.000000 Effektive exposure time in sec 86.640000 CameraName=SBIG ST-7 Dual CCD Camera TemperaturCcdBegin=23.891650 TemperaturCcdEnd=23.891650 TemperaturAmbientBegin=25.000000 TemperaturAmbientEnd=25.342499 DateBegin=11/03/99 TimeBegin=20:04:42 DateEnd=11/03/99 TimeEnd=20:08:22 Camera=ST-7 Version=1.8 sonst=0 sonst=0 sonst=0 sonst=0 sonst=0 sonst=0 sonst=0 sonst=0 Example of a time stamp file: (saved in \tstamp directory ) ( all times in milli seconds ) DateBegin= 11/03/99 TimeBegin= 20:04:42 TimePerLine= 169.898802 line , time ms , difference, error 0 170 1 340 170 0 2 510 170 0 3 680 170 0 4 849 169 0 5 1019 170 0 6 1189 170 0 g) paths On the first program start, the following paths will be created: dark flat picture settings tstamp dark = here the dark lines will be saved flat = here the flat lines will be saved picture= here the images will be saved images can be copyed in other paths settings= here the settings will be saved tstamp = here will be saved some time stamp files, only for control propose. i) Step by Step introduction to some often used feathers a) set temperature b) take an Standard image: c) take an drift scan image: d) take an drift scan image, sliced in many files (Auto Dice) e) take an drift scan image with dark subtraction f) take an drift scan image with dark subtraction and flat field correction ...will be continued auto grab take a drift scan image at short focal length (read in the rest of the lines) take many drift scan images at short focal length (auto grab) focus in drift scan mode --------------------------------------------------------------------------- a) for all images first set temperature of the CCD : main menu(5) settings settings(4) I 4: set temperature I settings(5) I 5: set temperatuerregulation on or off I wait until the temperature is reached. control the temperature: main menu(16) Show temperature and Power I ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- b) take a Standard image: ("stare mode ") main menu(5) settings settings(2) I 2 Exposure time Standard image I put in the exposure time in 1/100 sec settings(99) back to the main menu main menu(3) Standard image input a file name a standard image is taken --------------------------------------------------------------------------- c) take a drift scan image: main menu(5) settings settings(6) I 6 Declination in degree I put in the declination in degree settings(10) I 10 Focal length I put in the focal length in mm settings(99) back to the main menu main menu(4) I 4 drift scan image I input a file name input the number of lines to be read in a drift scan image is taken ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- d) Auto Dice You may use smart drive (c:\windows\smartDrv) (Hard disk cache) in the DOS-Mode because writing the file header, opening and closing the files will take some time without a cache ( about 0.5 sec without, with a cache < 0.1 sec ). IMHO even without a cache there is no big problem, only some lines will be read in a little late, but the following lines will be read in at the correct time. (Number of lines should be = lines of the CCD (ST-7=510) , then the shift of the centeroid will be equal for all objects one the image file ) You can control the correct read out times in the \tstamp directory. main menu(5) settings settings(6) I 6 Declination in degree I put in the declination in degree settings(10) I 10 Focal length I put in the focal length in mm settings(31) I 31 Auto Dice I set it to 1 (on) settings(32) I 32 Auto Grap/ Auto Dice , number of images: I put in the number of images (files) ( example=10) settings(18) I 18 number of lines to read in I put in the number of lines for every image (file) ( example: 510 ) (example: The image is sliced in 10 files, every file is 510 lines high, total 5100 lines) settings(99) back to the main menu main menu(4) I 4 drift scan image I input a file name, 4 chars, no extension ( if at settings 18 , is set to 0, input the number of lines to be read in for every image ) a drift scan image, sliced in several files, is taken If you chose 'img' as file name, for example, there are saved in the /picture path: img0001.st7 ,img0002.st7,img0003.st7, ... ------------------------------------------------------------------------ e) take a drift scan image with dark subtraction main menu(5) settings settings(6) I 6 Declination in degree I put in the declination in degree settings(10) I 10 Focal length I put in the focal length in mm settings(9) I 9: dark correction, I set 1 (on) settings(99) back to the main menu main menu(7) I 7 take dark line (for darksubtract) I put in a file name like m201505a -20 øC (CCD) , 15 Declination 5 øC(Ambient) or so a dark line will be taken if you change the settings (temperature, focal length, declination) , take a new line. ( if the difference of the declination is small, you can use the old dark line) the line is saved on your hard disk, an in the memory. Starting the program the next time, the line will be read in. You can also read in the line : main menu(9) main menu(4) I 4 drift scan image I input a file name input the number of lines to be read in a drift scan image is taken --------------------------------------------------------------------------- e) take a drift scan image with dark subtraction and flat field correction main menu(5) settings settings(6) I 6 Declination in degree I put in the declination in degree settings(10) I 10 Focal length I put in the focal length in mm settings(9) I 9: dark correction, I set 1 (on) settings(17) I 17: Flat field(line) correction ) set 1 (on) settings(99) back to the main menu main menu(7) I 7 take dark line (for darksubtract) I put in a file name like m201505a -20 øC (CCD) , 15 Declination 5 øC(Ambient) a dark line will be taken if you change the settings (temperature, focal length, declination) , take a new line. ( if the difference of the declination is small, you can use the old dark line) main menu(11) point the telescope to a illuminated white surface I 11 Flat Field Correction, take a line I put in a file name like m201505a -20 øC (CCD) , 15 Declination 5 øC(Ambient) a flat line will be taken the line is saved on your hard disk, an in the memory. after it is taken, there is shown the intensity of the flat line, it should be between about 2000-20000 if it is out of that range, you should take a new flat line with more or less illumination if you change the settings (temperature, focal length, declination) , take a new line. ( if the difference of the declination is small, you can use the old flat line) Starting the program the next time, the line will be read in. You can also read in the line : main menu(12) main menu(4) I 4 drift scan image I input a file name input the number of lines to be read in a drift scan image is taken --------------------------------------------------------------------------- j) New speckle featcher in version 1.8 Version 1.8 has a featcher to take speckle images. Read speckle.txt about this. In the settings menu, the settings 36 - 41 are related to speckle images, this settings do not affect the other settings. To take speckle images, run the program under DOS or in the DOS mode. To take drift scan images or standard images, the program may still run under Windows in a DOS window, on a pentium PC, if the clock cycle counter is used.