From: "Milton Aupperle" <milton@outcastsoft.com>

Date: August 5, 2005 3:40:20 PM MDT

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Astro IIDC 2.02.00 "nearly" GM release

Hi folks;

The Astro IIDC 2.02.00 "nearly" GM release is now available at

http://www.outcastsoft.com/Astro_IIDC_Installer202.dmg

It's a 2.9 megabytes and includes full updated documentation.

Barring some catastrophic bug that is turned up this weekend, this

should be the Golden Master release.

Here is a brief summary of changes (from the bottom of the Read Me

First document in the installer).

------------------Start of Summary

- Removed a useless delay when closing the Scope Guiding window.

- Fixed a bug where recording a movie would sometimes fail if the

movie already existed.

- Fixed a problem with 16 bit Movie Alignment and Stacking processing

for ARG64, RGB48 and Mono16 bit movies when using 2x or larger

subpixel images. Apple has no decompression codec support for them for

generating RGB48 bit images, so we built our own decompression

routines for it.

- Rewrote Auto Exposure to be more reliable and less prone to

oscillations.

- Improved (by up to 300%) memory throughput by replacing Apple's

built in memcpy() code with our own hand PPC optimized version for

smaller < 64 byte transfers.

- Changed Movie Alignment and Stacking code for both sub pixel

alignments to be more accurate.

- Removed support for Celestron Scope control as it will never work

for what I wanted it to do (guiding) anyhow.

- Enabled Multi Processor Support for compression and decompression of

the "ASC_BAYER.component" (version 2.01.00) and optimized memory

transfers.

- Adds support for IIDC Hardware Trigger Mode 0, which allows you to

externally control frame delivery. Under the "Video Menu" is the

"Camera Trigger Method" submenu with the three options "Off", "On" and

"On and Grab Frame".

If the camera your using does not support Trigger OR it's a PGR camera

in extended exposure time mode, then only the "Off" item will be

enabled. When Trigger is on, frames of Video will only be transmitted

from the camera to the Mac after an IIDC trigger event is received. If

you choose the "On" item, you can use the "Grab Frame" button or the

"Record Movie" buttons to capture the next frame or start recording a

movie. When the next frame arrives after a IIDC Trigger event, it will

be grabbed or added to the movie. Selecting the "On and Grab Frame"

item is a special case and will automatically display in the preview

window and grab a frame of video to disk every time a Trigger event

is received.

We do not recommend using the "Auto Expos", "Color Balance" or "Spot

Color Balance" options while "Trigger" is enabled, as they iterate

through and must analyze multiple frames. So unless you triggering

often (≥ 5 fps), they simply will not operate properly.

Neither Trigger options will not be enabled with Point Grey Research

cameras if they are in extended PGR exposure time mode. So you need to

uncheck the "Allow extended PGR cameras exposure times" in the

"Preferences..." sheet and then close the camera control window before

it will allow you to select them.

Lastly we do not offer any advice on how to do the physical wiring of

the trigger for your IIDC camera. They are all different and you

should read whatever documentation came with the camera or talk to the

company that sold you it.

- The naming of grabbed frames has been changed slightly with file

name capture time now being reported to the nearest 1/100th of a

second. A Tiff file saved with the new method looks like this

"20050716_192947.17_U.tiff", with the .17 is 17/100 th of a second.

This is to accomodate "Trigger on and Grab Frame" mode which can

generate multiple frames per second as it is triggered.

- The "Grab Frame" button will now change to "Cancel Grab" after it is

clicked. So if your doing a longer exposure you can now cancel it

before the frame arrives instead of having to wait for completion.

- Adds support for synchronizing with 50 Hz light sources to remove

image flicker with CCD exposure times that are not multiples of 10.00

ms. This only applies for IIDC cameras that support the absolute frame

rate register, such as some Point Grey Research cameras. To switch

from 60HZ to 50HZ, you need to check mark the "Adjust frame rates for

50 Hz light sources to eliminate flicker." item in the

"Preferences..." sheet. After that, the Camera Frame Rate will change

to 50hz frame rates (i.e. 30 fps is now 25 fps. 15 fps is now 12.5

fps, etc.). This was especially important for bright field microscopy

in Europe, Japan or other countries that utilize 50 Hz power and is

also recommended if your using DC light sources that are powered by 50

Hz power.

- Added support for ActiveWire USB IsoOptical Board, which is what we

use for guiding or controlling the Orion MAK Scope. Theoretically it

can control 4 servos or DC motors directly (i.e. like RA motor, Dec

motor, Focus motor and a Blender to make tropical drinks on hot summer

nights) , however It is currently configured to control 2 motors using

collector pins C0, C3, C4 and C5. You don't need a driver with this

board, as Astro IIDC will automatically load the USB firmware for it

and then enumerate the device for use. So Astro IIDC now directly

controls FireWire, USB and POSIX serial devices in the same package.

You currently cannot use both a Key Span or other USB Serial devices

and the ActiveWire Board at the same time (internal limitation that we

have imposed for now). People interested in using it as an isoptical

relay box should contact us for details on how pins on the board are

are currently to be connected up - as ActiveWire's documentation on

IsoOptical pin outs is wrong.

- Fixed problem where in Tiger, Blue Tooth or Usb modem devices would

sometimes be presented as if they were serial port device when they

clearly are not.

- Fixed a flicker problem with the Point Grey Research cameras with 60

Hz light sources with CCD exposure times that are not multiples of

8.33 ms. This was especially important for bright field microscopy

support in USA, Canda or other countries that utilize 60 Hz power.

- Changed name of "LX Scope Control" menu item to "Mount Control",

which better reflects what it does.

- Added Auto overwrite for movies and files, which is automatic and it

does not prompt you at all.

------------------End of Summary

Have a nice weekend..

Milton J. Aupperle

President

ASC - Aupperle Services and Contracting

Mac Software (Drivers, Components and Application) Specialist

#1005 - 815 14th Avenue. S.W.

Calgary Alberta Canada T2R0N5

1-(403)-229-9456

milton@outcastsoft.com