Driver Interface Standards

The documents here contain the official requirememts and the specifications for the ASCOM driver interface standards. Most are zip files containing Windows Help (CHM) files. For more information on the standards process, see the Standards Process page. At present there are seven ASCOM standards:

The General Requirements

In order to be called "ASCOM compliant", a component and/or interface must meet all of the applicable guidelines in this document. Only then may an interface standard, or a component's packaging and user interface, carry the ASCOM logo.

The Camera Driver Interface V1

The ASCOM Camera Interface V1 allows programs and scripts to control CCD and other astronomical cameras in a standard way, without regard to low level differences in control signals and connection methods. Corrected 04-Jun-2008 for ImageArray.

The Dome Driver Interface

The ASCOM Dome Interface allows programs to control domes and roll-off roofs. It provides an interface which is uniform and consistent, regardless of the actual hardware and connections used. A sample Dome control "middleware" application is included with the ASCOM Platform.

The FilterWheel Driver Interface V1

The ASCOM FilterWheel Interface V1 allows programs and scripts to control filter wheels in a standard way, without regard to low level differences in control signals and connection methods.

The Focuser Driver Interface

The ASCOM Focuser Interface allows focusers from a variety of manufacturers to be connected in a standard way with different software applications. It provides an interface which is uniform and consistent, regardless of the actual hardware and connections used.

The Rotator Interface V1

The ASCOM Rotator Interface V1 allows programs and scripts to control camera rotators in a standard way, without regard to low level differences in control signals and connection methods. This standard does not cover operation as a field de-rotator (e.g. for alt/az mounted telescopes). It is meant to provide controls needed for rotation of cameras for composition of images and selection of guide stars for internal guiders.

The Telescope Driver Interface V2

The ASCOM Telescope Interface V2.0 allows programs and scripts to control telescopes in a standard way, regardless of the individual telescope control language and connection method. For reference, the Telescope V1.0 document is also available.