SingleFrame-QHYCCD

C++ program to take a single frame from a QHYCCD camera. The program loops over different temperature, offset, gain, and exposure settings to take multiple pictures in one go.

Dependencies

• QHYCCD SDK
• CFITSIO
• A QHYCCD camera

Description

This C++ program takes multiple single frame images from a QHYCCD camera by looping over different temperature, offset, gain, and exposure settings. In the program, you can set these settings in the corresponding arrays:

• sampleGains for gain settings
• sampleOffsets for offset settings
• sampleTemps for temperature settings
• sampleExps for exposure time settings

The howManyTimesToRun parameter specifies how many times to take images at each unique combination of gain, offset, temperature, and exposure time.

The tempError parameter specifies the temperature error range (if the current CCD temperature is within the error range, the image will be taken.

The fwPosition parameter specifies the filter wheel position (if there is a filter wheel attached).

The savePath parameter specifies where to save the image and the prefix for the image.

Operation

Simply run make and ./SingleFrameMode to compile and run the program.

Any changes made to SingleFrameMode.cpp after compilation would require a make clean and subsequent make to recompile.

Things to look out for

• This program was written for a QHY600M camera, therefore several variables are defaulted to that camera (such as roiSizeX and roiSizeY). If you are using a different QHYCCD camera, please change them accordingly.
• Appending onto the above note, there may be some functions that may not work on other cameras that do on the QHY600M, such as setting read mode. Please comment those lines accordingly.
• The QHY600M camera takes exposure time input in microseconds. Therefore, there is a constant declared const int SECOND = 1000000 to have user input in seconds for ease of usage. This can be changed accordingly if needed.
• The savePath parameter should be changed to where you want to save the image. The last part of the savePath string is the image name prefix (currently set to qhyImg. Each image name starts with this.
• The image names are of the format qhyImg_(Unix Time)_exp_(exposure time)_us_gain_(gain setting)_offset_(offset setting)_temp_(temperature)_(which iteration of the image).fits. This is to allow for uniqueness and sorting ease.
• The program saves the image as a FITS file, this can be changed to anything else if needed.