ZImager operations and commands

Scope: the common ADC and focus, middle-channel filter, three detector rotators, and U/V/Z imaging channels.

Connections: ZImager harness and server harness. Related work: calibration and acquisition procedures.

Mechanisms

Function	Settings and commands	Status and feedback	Details still needed
ADC	Set correction; track/hold; set individual prism positions for engineering	Prism positions, correction, tracking state	Coordinate conventions, tracking inputs, controller
Middle-channel filter	Select named filter	Requested and sensed filter, moving/unknown/fault	Filter list and mechanism
Detector rotators	Set orientation; track/hold; stop; individual channel adjustment	Per-channel angle, rate, limits, reference state	Field/pupil modes and whether channels can track independently
Common focus	Set focus; start/stop focus maintenance; get/set focus curve	Requested and actual position, active curve, temperature or other process input	Units, reference method, process input, update interval

Focus maintenance is intended to make slow corrections during observing. The appropriate process signal and update interval need to be established with the optical measurements.

Science detectors

Function	Inputs	Status and results	Details still needed
Configure science readout	Channel, exposure time, full frame/subarray, supported detector settings	Applied settings and readiness	Available modes, rates, gain and cooling controls
Acquire, finish, or abort	Channel selection and exposure/series settings	Per-channel progress, completed and partial frames	Channel synchronization, independent cadence, and finish/abort behavior
Detector characterization	Bias/pedestal, dark, gain, noise, and linearity measurements as applicable	Images and acquisition settings	Measurement procedures

Per-frame timing needs to support the high-speed imaging requirement, including the relationship between channels. The timing source and hardware connections are still open.

Partial operation and recovery

Fixed-channel imaging should be able to continue through middle-channel filter changes. A failed detector channel should leave the remaining channels available. After a controller restart, position and acquisition state need to be recovered without disturbing a usable optical configuration.

Team notes: Controller consolidation and interfaces remain open. The common focus is retained here; independent detector focus has not been added. The present channel labels are U/V/Z. Final band names, filter positions, and supported acquisition modes will fill out these tables as the design develops.