This screen displays the current temperature and provides the functionality necessary to setup and perform temperature compensation. Below is a description of all the items on this screen.
Current Temperature:
This section displays the current temperature in °C.
If communications with the Hand Controller is lost "TIMEOUT" will be
shown in this window.
If communications with the Motor Controller is lost or
the temperature sensor is not connected then "FAILED"
will be shown in this window.
Strip Chart:
At the
bottom of this screen is a strip chart to show the temperature trend.
The 
buttons may be used to
increase or decrease the sample rate for the strip chart. The
amount of time that the strip chart will span will vary depending on the
sample rate setting. The
sample rate may be set anywhere between 1 and 250 seconds giving you a
minimum time span of 1 minute 15 seconds and a maximum possible time span
of 5 hours 12 minutes and 30 seconds. The
sample rate will be saved in the registry so it will be set to the same
value next time you run the program. On
the left side the Y-axis shows
the current range of temperature being displayed by the strip chart. The
chart will show a range of +/- 3 degrees and the strip chart will shift
the curve to the center if the current temperature moves more than +/-
1 degree from the current center value.
Temperature Compensation
Continuous Compensation:
Pressing
the 
button will place the focuser into temperature compensation
mode. No
movement commands will be accepted by the focuser while in this mode.
The led
on the hand controller will remain lit while the unit is in temperature
compensation mode. When
the focuser is in temperature compensation mode the button will switch
to 
which will
take the focuser back into normal mode when selected. While
in temperature compensation mode the focuser will make position adjustments
based on the changed in temperature and the coefficient setting. So
if the coefficient is 25 counts/degree and the temperature changes 2 degrees
the position will increase by 50 counts.
On-Demand Compensation:
Instead
of having the focuser continuously changing the focus position during
an exposure you also have the option of performing on-demand compensation
moves which will make a one time move based on the current temperature
and a stored temperature/position. This
may be useful for those that would like to only make compensation moves
between exposures and not during exposures. This
feature is available via the script interface so it can be automated to
perform a compensation move after each exposure or whenever desired. To
use this feature you first need to have the telescope focused using whatever
method you like and then press the 
button which will store
the current temperature and position. Then
any time you would like to make a compensation move you can just press
the 
button and the focuser will move based on the new
temperature, the coefficient setting, and the stored temperature/position
from the snapshot.
Using
Learning mode to determine the coefficient: The
learning feature can be used to calculate the temperature coefficient
for your setup. Focus
the telescope using your favorite method and then hit the 
button. The
led on the hand controller will flash on and off once every second while
in learning mode. A
snapshot of the current temperature and position will be taken when this
button is pressed. Wait
a sufficient amount of time for the temperature to change. A
minimum temperature change of at least 5 degrees is recommended. When
the temperature has changed to your satisfaction refocus the scope again.
You can
use the hand-controller or run your favorite autofocusing software for
refocusing. The
led will continue to flash while you are focusing because you will still
be in learning mode. After
the scope is focused hit the 
button to exit learning mode. The
led will stop flashing. The
temperature and the new focuser position will be used to calculate the
coefficient that will be used for temperature compensation. The
computed coefficient will be displayed near the new coefficient button
described below.
Manually
setting the coefficient: Using
the 
button you can manually change the coefficient that
is stored in the focuser. The
value you type in the edit box will be written to the focuser. This
value may be negative or positive. The
edit box will normally default to the current coefficient value so that
accidentally hitting the new coefficient button will not accidentally
overwrite your setting.