The Transputer Based CCD Controller at ESO

Abstract

A new controller concept based on transputer modules (TRAMs) and Digital Signal Processors (DSPs) has been developed at ESO. The Array Control Electronics (ACE) 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 scan auto guiding/wave front sensing applications. While the transputers are mainly used for data acquisition, communication 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. A newly designed video processor board has four video channels each with its own 16-bit ADC. ACE can easily be interfaced to various types of host computers like PCs, Unix workstations or ESO’s VME-based LCUs (Local Control Units with VxWorks real-time operating system).