Array Control Electronics (ACE): ESO's next generation of CCD controllers for the Very Large Telescope

Roland Reiss

doi:10.1117/12.176692

1 June 1994 Array Control Electronics (ACE): ESO's next generation of CCD controllers for the Very Large Telescope

Roland Reiss

Proceedings Volume 2198, Instrumentation in Astronomy VIII; (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.176692
Event: 1994 Symposium on Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation for the 21st Century, 1994, Kailua, Kona, HI, United States

Abstract

A new controller concept based on transputer modules and digital signal processors (DSPs) has been developed at ESO. The controller can handle single CCDs or CCD mosaics with 1 to 64 outputs and with up to 256 clocks with software programmable independent high and low voltages. The same basic concept will be used for slow scan scientific and fast auto guiding/wavefront sensing applications. While the transputers are mainly used for data acquisition, communications and supervisory tasks, a DSP with very simple external logic performs the time-critical CCD clock pattern generation. The low noise, high speed clock driver with built-in telemetry is designed for highest operational safety. ACE can easily be interfaced to various types of host computers, PCs, Unix workstations or Local Control Units.

Citation Download Citation

Roland Reiss "Array Control Electronics (ACE): ESO's next generation of CCD controllers for the Very Large Telescope", Proc. SPIE 2198, Instrumentation in Astronomy VIII, (1 June 1994); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.176692

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