5.10 Control Room Layout for DEIMOS Observers

DEIMOS is a large and sophisticated instrument. It is likely that its efficient use will require at least two observers, particularly if two barrels are in place. However, the instrument should be operable with only a slight loss in efficiency by a single observer. In addition, effective interaction with the Observing Assistant is essential. As part of the DEIMOS design, we wish to consider a physical layout that promotes efficient observing, for the cases of one or two observers plus an Observing Assistant. We adopt the standpoint that:

The physical environment for control of the telescope and instrument must facilitate ease-of-use. The physical layout of computer keyboards, monitors and image displays, and access to telescope information or control via the Observing Assistant, should be carefully considered. A well-planned layout can considerably aid efficiency of operations such as target acquistion, mask alignment and guiding; whereas a poorly-planned layout can contribute significantly to mistakes in communication and lost observing time.

Part of this consideration requires that certain ``territorial rights'' be defined. We propose the following:

The observer(s) will nominally have exclusive control of the following:
- Spectrograph internal stages, including the mask changer and hatch;
- Detector (shutter, CCD controller, and all downstream data flow).
The Observing Assistant (OA) will have exclusive control of:
- large telescope motions (ie motions larger than about 2 arcmin);
- Dome (including general dome lighting);
- LN2 operations.
The observer(s) and OA will share control of:
- small telescope offsets (ie motions smaller than about 2 arcmin);
- Guider;
- Instrument rotator;
- Dome calibration lamps.

(In the above, we have selected 2 arcmin for the critical size as it is roughly the radius of the guider field. The actual critical size is TDB.) With these divisions of ``territory'' we propose the following physical layout, in sequential order:

Console 1 -- the OA's console, for performing OA exclusive functions;
Console 2 -- the guider console. Either the observer or the OA could sit down and control the guider, the responsibility to be negotiated by the observer and OA. This console is also used for other shared functions.
Console 3 -- the instrument control console, for performing observer-exclusive functions;
Console 4 -- the observer's data-analysis console, for performing quick-look and automated spectral reductions.
DEIMOS image-display monitors (two) will be located above or beside the instrument console (Console 3). Another two image-display monitors will be located beside the data-analysis console (Console 4).

Please note that shared functions may be monitored from any console, but control should be from Console 2 (primarily or exclusively, depending on the function -- TBD).

Andrew C. Phillips / Lick Observatory

Last modified: 14 mar 96

phillips@ucolick.org