Zwo (Zhen Wang Optical)

../../../_images/asi178mm.png

Introduction

ZWO offers a large choice of cameras for astronomical applications. The cameras are connected via USB. The delivered driver library is available for Linux, Mac, and Windows.

The LImA module has been tested with the ASI 178MM-Cool model on Linux.

Prerequisite

Installation & Module configuration

  • follow first the steps for the linux installation linux_installation

  • follow first the steps for the windows installation windows_installation

The minimum configuration file is config.inc :

COMPILE_CORE=1
COMPILE_SIMULATOR=0
COMPILE_SPS_IMAGE=1
COMPILE_ESPIA=0
COMPILE_FRELON=0
COMPILE_MAXIPIX=0
COMPILE_PILATUS=0
COMPILE_BASLER=0
COMPILE_PROSILICA=0
COMPILE_ROPERSCIENTIFIC=0
COMPILE_MYTHEN=0
COMPILE_ADSC=0
COMPILE_UEYE=0
COMPILE_XH=0
COMPILE_XSPRESS3=0
COMPILE_XPAD=0
COMPILE_PERKINELMER=0
COMPILE_ANDOR=0
COMPILE_PHOTONICSCIENCE=0
COMPILE_PCO=0
COMPILE_MARCCD=0
COMPILE_POINTGREY=0
COMPILE_IMXPAD=0
COMPILE_DEXELA=0
COMPILE_ZWO=1
COMPILE_RAYONIXHS=0
COMPILE_CBF_SAVING=0
COMPILE_NXS_SAVING=0
COMPILE_FITS_SAVING=0
COMPILE_EDFGZ_SAVING=0
COMPILE_TIFF_SAVING=0
COMPILE_CONFIG=1
LINK_STRICT_VERSION=0
export COMPILE_CORE COMPILE_SPS_IMAGE COMPILE_SIMULATOR \
      COMPILE_ESPIA COMPILE_FRELON COMPILE_MAXIPIX COMPILE_PILATUS \
      COMPILE_BASLER COMPILE_PROSILICA COMPILE_ROPERSCIENTIFIC COMPILE_ADSC \
      COMPILE_MYTHEN COMPILE_UEYE COMPILE_XH COMPILE_XSPRESS3 COMPILE_XPAD COMPILE_PERKINELMER \
      COMPILE_ANDOR COMPILE_PHOTONICSCIENCE COMPILE_PCO COMPILE_MARCCD COMPILE_DEXELA COMPILE_ZWO\
      COMPILE_POINTGREY COMPILE_IMXPAD COMPILE_RAYONIXHS COMPILE_CBF_SAVING COMPILE_NXS_SAVING \
      COMPILE_FITS_SAVING COMPILE_EDFGZ_SAVING COMPILE_TIFF_SAVING COMPILE_CONFIG\
      LINK_STRICT_VERSION
  • start the compilation linux_compilation

  • finally for the Tango server installation PyTango Device Server

Initialisation and Capabilities

In order to help people to understand how the camera plugin has been implemented in LImA this section provide some important information about the developer’s choices.

Camera initialisation

TODO

Std capabilites

This plugin has been implement in respect of the mandatory capabilites but with some limitations according to some programmer’s choices. We only provide here extra information for a better understanding of the capabilities for the Zwo camera.

  • HwDetInfo

TODO

  • HwSync

TODO

Optional capabilites

In addition to the standard capabilities, we make the choice to implement some optional capabilities in order to have an improved simulation.

TODO

  • BinCtrl

    TODO

  • BufferCtrl

    TODO

  • FlipCtrl

    TODO

  • RoiCtrl

    TODO

  • ShutterCtrl

    TODO

  • SavingCtrl

    TODO

  • VideoCtrl

    TODO

Configuration

TODO

How to use

The LimaCCDs tango server provides a complete interface to the zwo plugin so feel free to test.

For a quick test one can use python, is this a short code example:

from Lima import Zwo
from lima import Core
import time

cam = Zwo.Camera(0)
hwint = Zwo.Interface(cam)

control = Core.CtControl(hwint)

acq = control.acquisition()

# setting new file parameters and autosaving mode
saving = control.saving()

pars = saving.getParameters()
pars.directory = '/tmp/'
pars.prefix = 'testsimul_'
pars.suffix = '.edf'
pars.fileFormat = Core.CtSaving.EDF
pars.savingMode = Core.CtSaving.AutoFrame
saving.setParameters(pars)

# now ask for 2 sec. exposure and 10 frames
acq.setAcqExpoTime(2)
acq.setNbImages(10)

control.prepareAcq()
control.startAcq()

# wait for last image (#9) ready
lastimg = control.getStatus().ImageCounters.LastImageReady
while lastimg != 9:
    time.sleep(0.1)
    lastimg = control.getStatus().ImageCounters.LastImageReady

# read the first image
im0 = control.ReadImage(0)