Operating Instructions Pocket Pictor For use with Pocket Pc s

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1 Introduction Operating Instructions Pocket Pictor For use with Pocket Pc s The compact size and low power consumption of Pocket PC s make them ideal for use in the field. Pocket Pictor is designed for Pocket PC and CCD users requiring a highly portable grab and go imaging solution. Because of the limited storage space on most Pocket PC s, only the tools required for successful imaging collecting are included; image processing functions are absent. Images gathered by the Pocket Pictor may be downloaded to a PC for processing at a later date. This manual assumes that the user is already familiar with CCD operation and terminology. Features The initial release of Pocket Pictor only supports the Pictor 416 series cameras. Subsequent versions will support the 208 and 216 series as well. The camera is connected to the imager through a serial cable, with a maximum baud rate of 115,200. Below are some of the features included with this release of Pocket Pictor: Supports full frame imaging and analog binning. 2X Focus Mode for easy focus. Multiple exposure capability. Color Filter Wheel support. Shift and Combine exposure mode. Dark Frame capability. Image AutoSave option. Two image display modes: Fit To Window and Full Resolution. Images saved in standard FITS format. Basic image scaling function.

2 Download and Installation Instructions 1. Download the appropriate.zip file from the Meade web site ( Pocket PC s come with a variety of different processors, so choose the software that matches your Pocket PC s model and processor. It is recommended you download and save the.zip file to your Windows desktop. 2. After downloading the zip file, extract the files using a program such as WinZip to a new folder on your desktop. Once the extraction is complete, open the new folder. Below is a sample of the files that may display in the folder. 3. Next, connect your Pocket PC to your desktop via your cable or cradle. ActiveSync must be running and you must have an open connection to your Pocket PC to continue. Once connected, a screen similar to the one in the example below displays, showing that your device is connected.

3 4. If you have not already done so, open the folder containing the extracted setup files and click on the setup icon to begin program installation. A screen similar to the one shown below displays.

4 5. Click the Next button to continue. The following screen displays. 6. Enter your name and your company name. You may enter User in the company name field if the software is to be used for personal use. After entering your user information, click the Next button. The setup program attempts to connect to your device and retrieve the application information. The following screen displays. 7. After the setup program has connected to the device and determined that the software is the correct version for your device, you are prompted to install Pocket Pictor into the default application directory, as shown below. Select Yes to begin the installation process.

5 8. During installation, a screen displays installation progress, as shown below. 9. Once installation is complete, the following screen displays. Click OK to finish the installation. 10. Next, the following screen displays. Click Finish to exit the setup program. Pocket Pictor is now be installed on your Pocket PC. To start the program, click on the Start Button and then on the Pocket Pictor menu item.

6 Setup It is recommended that the first time you use Pocket Pictor that you hook up your imager indoors and become familiar with the software operation before taking it outdoors for an imaging session. After running the Pocket Pictor setup program on your Pocket PC, the application now appears on the start menu of your PC. Tap on Pocket Pictor with the stylus to launch the application and to bring up the main screen. The first time the software is run, default program values are created and stored in the registry. A screen displays as shown below. Main Screen

7 Before using the software or connecting to the camera, set your default setting in the appropriate dialog boxes. Tap the File menu item and then tap the Preferences menu item. The following screen displays. Preferences Dialog Select your Camera type, Comm Port, and Baud Rate from the drop down boxes. Most Pocket PC s Comm ports are Comm 1. It is recommended that you use the maximum baud rate your camera supports. Next, set your desired default CCD temperature. This data is transmitted to the camera when a connection is established. After you set your preferences, tap the OK button to save your changes and return to the main screen.

8 Next tap the File menu and then tap on the Fits Info menu item. The following screen displays. Fits Info Dialog The information stored here is used when saving your images. It s a good idea to enter your user name, location and telescope now so you will already have this information stored when you ready to start your first imaging session. The only things you will have to fill in during your session are the object and comment sections, if desired. This information is used only for saving images and does not reflect the header information of the currently opened image. When you are finished entering the data, tap OK to save your changes and return to the main screen. If you are using a Meade Color Filter wheel, you now need to enter settings for that device. If you are not using the Color Filter wheel, skip this step and continue on to the Exposure Settings and Preferences described in the following section.

9 To select the Color Filter Wheel menu, tap the Camera menu and then tap the Filter Wheel menu item. The following screen displays. Filter Wheel Dialog Select your filter type at each wheel position from the drop down boxes. Next, check the boxes for the filters you want included in an RGB exposure. Finally, set the exposure percentage for each particular filter. For example, if the exposure settings are set to take a 1 minute exposure, a 50% setting for that filter takes only a 30 second exposure. Note: When a Color Filter Wheel is attached, use the Clear Filter setting for focusing (the Clear Filter is the default setting in the Filter Wheel menu). The Clear Filter allows more light (or a dimmer star) to the sensor, which results in a shorter integration time and therefore a quicker focus. In the example above, the Clear filter is at position 1. Once you have entered all the data for your Filter Wheel, tap the OK button to save your changes and return to the main screen. Finally, set the Exposure settings and Preferences. These settings are accessed from the menu toolbar. The icons on the toolbar from left to right are: - Exposure Settings. - Take Gray Scale Exposure Button. - Take RGB Exposure Button. - Image Scaling Button. - Save Image Button. - Help Screen Button.

10 Tap the exposure setting icon. The following screen displays. Exposure Setup Set the minutes, seconds and milliseconds for your exposure and also set the number of exposures you wish to take. Note: When you wish to take more than one image, your images are automatically saved and indexed with an image number, regardless of whether the AutoSave Images checkbox is checked or not. The Dark Frame option, if checked, keeps the shutter closed on the 416 series imager. This option may also be used when taking multiple exposures or when taking RGB exposures. This comes in handy when taking dark frames for your RGB images. By checking the Dark Frame and then taking R,G, and B exposures, all three Dark Frames are taken and saved automatically, eliminating the need to take three separate Dark Frames and manually adjusting the exposure times of each frame. The Shift and Combine option allows you to take multiple exposures that align and sum automatically. When using this option, the software first takes a Dark Frame. The dark frame is downloaded and saved. Next, the first image of the series is taken and downloaded. The Dark Frame is subtracted and the resulting image displays on the screen. You are then prompted to tap on a guide star with the stylus. Once you select a guide star, the remaining exposures are taken, downloaded and added using the selected guide star as a reference. After each

11 integration, the summed image displays. Guiding information briefly displays in the status bar between each exposure. Note: when using Shift and Combine, each individual exposure is not automatically saved to the device. If you wish to cancel multiple exposures that haven t yet been completed, press the action button on your Pocket PC. A tone is played and the exposures stop after the current operation is finished. Be sure to save your image when the Shift and Combine sequence is complete. The 2x2 Binning option enables the analog binning feature of the imager, greatly reducing image download and image-reducing times. AutoSave Images gives you the option of automatically saving your image. Note: the AutoSave Images check box does not save images taken in the Shift and Combine mode. Getting Connecting A user-supplied serial sync cable and a DB9M-to-DB9M null modem adapter, plus the serial cable supplied with Pictor are needed to connect your imager to your Pocket PC. First, insert the serial cable into your Pocket PC. Next, connect one end of the DB9M null modem adapter to the serial cable. Finally, hook the serial cable supplied with your Pictor to the other side of the null modem adapter. After making the connections, power up the imager and the Pocket PC. After the imager performs its self-test, you are ready to connect. Launch Pocket Pictor from the Start menu. Make sure you have setup up the correct camera type, serial port, baud rate and default temp as described earlier. Tap the Camera menu and then the Connect menu item. An hourglass cursor displays as a connection is established with the imager. If the connection is successful, tone is played and a brief message appears on the status bar letting you know the connection has been established and that CCD cool down has begun. This message is followed by a message displaying temperature and power levels as well as the current selected filter if a Filter Wheel is attached. The status message is updated every 3 seconds and displays as depicted in the following image.

12 Status Message In the above example, F1 indicates that filter 1 is the currently selected filter. Online indicates that you have an open connection to the camera. Temperature, chip temperature and current power level display as the final three indicators. As stated earlier, this information is updated approximately every 3 seconds except when an exposure is in progress. If you need to make an adjustment to the temperature after connecting to the camera, go to the preferences dialog and set the desired temperature. To transmit the new setting to the camera, tap the Camera menu and then tap the Set Temperature menu item. The new settings take effect within a few updates of the status message. To close the connection to the camera at the end of your session, tap the Camera menu followed by the Disconnect menu item. The camera then performs a safe thermal shutdown and the communications port closes. Note: while the software is connected to the camera, the automatic power off feature of your Pocket PC turns off to keep your connection established. The backlight still times out and turns off as usual. When you disconnect from the camera, the auto power off function is restored to a 1 minute timeout.

13 Focus Mode To focus the imager, use the procedures outlined above: connect to the camera and select the appropriate exposure settings. Tap the Camera menu and then the Focus Mode menu item. If you have selected an exposure over 5 seconds you will be asked if you are sure. An image is then taken and downloads from the camera. The status bar displays exposure and download progress. Once an image downloads, the min and max pixel values display on the status bar. Finally, the image displays and you are prompted to tap on an object in the image to center the focus frame. The current release of Pocket Pictor uses a fixed 100 x 100 pixel focus frame. After tapping an object in the image, subsequent images download and display. The focus frame displays at twice the normal size, 200 x 200 pixels, which allows you to see and focus easily on the smaller screen of your Pocket PC. Once your are satisfied you have achieved the best possible focus, tap the Done button. This selection completes any pending operations and returns you to the main screen. Taking a single unfiltered exposure Using the procedures outlined above, connect to the camera and select the appropriate exposure settings. If you want your image to be automatically saved after it is downloaded, be sure to check the AutoSave exposure option in the exposure dialog. Tap the Take Exposure toolbar icon. An image is taken, downloads from the camera and displays on the screen. If you want to save the image, tap the File menu followed by the Save File menu item. You are prompted to enter a filename. Enter a filename and tap OK. The image is saved in the My Documents folder of your Pocket PC. Taking multiple unfiltered exposures Using the procedures outlined above, connect to the camera and select the appropriate exposure settings. Be sure you set the number of exposures to a value greater than 1. When taking multiple unfiltered exposures, each image will be saved to your My Documents folder. The filenames will begin with Img unless you have checked the Dark Frame option, in which case they will start with Dark. The filename is followed by a number, which increments after each image.

14 Tap the Take Exposure toolbar icon. Each image is taken, downloads from the camera and displays on the screen. The status bar displays the progress of the operation. After all images are taken and display, the status bar once again displays temperature information. If you wish to cancel the operation before it is complete, press your Pocket PC s action button. A tone will be heard and the current operation is finished. All remaining operations are canceled. Taking multiple unfiltered exposures using Shift and Combine Using the procedures outlined above, connect to the camera and select the appropriate exposure settings. Be sure you have set the number of exposures to a value greater than 1 and the Shift and Combine option checked on. Remember that each individual exposure is not saved, even if the AutoSave option is checked on. Tap the Take Exposure toolbar icon. A Dark Frame is taken and downloads to your device. The first image of the set is then taken and downloads. This image displays and you are prompted to select a star to guide on. Select a star in the field. but one not to close to the edge of the image. After tapping on the image, the coordinates of the star you have selected display. Tap OK to continue. Next, the centroid information of the star displays in the 21 x 21 pixel guide box. Tap OK and the process of taking the remaining images begins. Each image is taken, downloads from the camera and displays on the screen. Each image has the Dark Frame subtracted, aligned and summed with the previous images. The status bar displays the progress of the operation and of the alignment corrections made to the images. After all images have been taken and displayed, the status bar once again displays temperature information. If you wish to cancel the operation before it is complete, press your Pocket PC s action button. A tone is heard and current operation is completed. All remaining operations are canceled. After the operation is complete, be sure to save your image tapping on the File menu followed by the Save File menu item. Taking a RGB Exposure Using the procedures outlined above, connect to the camera and select the appropriate exposure settings. Be sure to enter filter wheel information as described previously.

15 Tap the Take RGB Exposure toolbar icon. The filter wheel moves to the first RGB position and an exposure is taken. Once the image downloads, the image is saved automatically to your My Documents folder. The image is saved with a filename such as Red12.fit, Blue12.fit, or Green12.fit, which indicates the filter type and the image set. Each image is taken, downloads from the camera, is saved and displays on the screen. This process is repeated for each filter position that has been selected for an RGB image. The status bar displays the progress of the operation. After all images have been taken, the combination of the red, green and blue images display on the screen. After the process is complete, the status bar once again displays temperature information. Taking a single filtered exposure Using the procedures outlined above, connect to the camera and select the appropriate exposure settings. By checking only one filter position to include in an RGB exposure, you can take a single filtered image. Tap the Take RGB Exposure toolbar icon. The Filter Wheel moves to the RGB position you selected and an exposure taken. Once the image downloads, the image is saved automatically to your My Documents folder. The image is saved with a filename such as Red12.fit, which indicates the filter type and the image number. The status bar displays the progress of the operation. After the process is complete, the status bar once again displays temperature information. Opening Files To open a single fits image, tap the File menu followed by the Open File menu item. You are prompted to select a image. Tap on the image you wish to open. The image is loaded and displays on the screen. To view a set of RGB images, tap the File menu followed by the RGB Merge menu item. You are prompted to select a red, green and blue file in that order. After selecting all 3 files, the image displays on the screen. Note: Pocket Pictor currently does not align the images but stacks them to produce a color image. Pocket Pictor only opens fits files that are saved using Pocket Pictor.

16 Saving Files To save a image, tap the File menu followed by the Save File menu item. A save file dialog appears that prompts you for a filename. Enter a filename and tap OK. The file is saved in the My Documents folder of your Pocket PC. Image Scaling Once an image displays on the screen, it may be necessary to adjust the scaling of the image to view it correctly. Tap the Image Scaling toolbar icon. A set of sliders appears as depicted in the example below. Adjust the scaling to best suite your tastes. By default, the image initially displays using the min and max pixel values in the image. When you are finished, tap the OK button or Cancel to cancel the changes you made and return to the main screen. Note: the top slider adjusts the background and the bottom slider adjusts the range. Image Display Modes Scaling Example Pocket Pictor offers two different display modes: Fit To Window and Full Resolution. The Fit To Window option toggles between the Fit To Window mode, which resizes the displayed images to fit the screen, and the Full Resolution mode. The Fit to Window mode is the default setting; if you wish to view the image in the Full Resolution mode, tap the File menu followed by the Fit

17 To Window menu item. Images that are larger than the screen can be dragged around the display using the stylus. The Fit To Window mode is active when a checkmark appears beside it in the File menu, as shown below. Fit To Window Enabled Note: Shift and Combine and some other features do not work when in Full Resolution mode. If you incorrectly attempt to perform an operation that requires Fit To Window, you are prompted to change the display mode. If you have a question concerning the use of the Pocket Pictor, call the Meade Instrument Customer Service Department at (949) , or fax to (949) Customer Service hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Pacific Time, Monday through Friday. A D V A N C E D P R O D U C T S D I V I S I O N Meade Instruments Corporation W o r l d s L e a d in g M a n u f a c t u r e r o f Ast r o n o m ic a l T e le s co p e s f o r th e Se r io u s Am a t e u r 6001 Oak Canyon, Irvine, California (949) FAX: (949)

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