;++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
;
;*NAME:                pics_s_exp 
;
;*CATEGORY:            PMAS instrument control software
;
;*PURPOSE:             start 'real' exposure
;
;*CALLING SEQUENCE:    pics_s_exp ,err,sec, WAIT=0/1, WIPE=0/1
;
;*PARAMETERS
;             input:   expt   optional: exposure time in seconds (float),
;                             fraction of second is allowed
;
;            output:   err    error variable (string), ''= no error
;
;          Keywords:   /WAIT  wait for completion, return after file is
;                             stored on disk, otherwise return immediately
;                             after command has been sent (= default)
;                      /WIPE  switch on wipe mode after exposure has been
;                             completed (default: wipe not switched on).
;                             Works only if WAIT=1
;
;		       XBIN=  x bin factor (1,2, or 3)
;                      YBIN=  y bin factor (1,2, or 3)
;                      Note:  BIN keywords are optional; if not present use
;                             previous setting as stored in epics database
;
;		       WIN=   [ X0,Y0, XSIZE,YSIZE ] window readout parameters.    		
;                             If WIN is not set, the full CCD will be read out.
;                      RCP = '...'   <hostname:/path> for automatic remote copy
;
;*EXAMPLES:
;
;*SYSTEM VARIABLES USED:
;
;*COMMON BLOCKS:
;
;*INTERACTIVE INPUT:
;
;*SUBROUTINES CALLED:
;
;*FILES USED:
;
;*SIDE EFFECTS:
;
;*RESTRICTIONS:
;
;*NOTES:
;
;*PROCEDURE:
;
;*MODIFICATION HISTORY: 
pics_s_exp_VERSION = 'pics_s_exp.pro Version 1.3 --- 27/08/02 mmr'
;
;	06/06/02	MMR	initial programming
;       10/06/02  V1.1  mmr     /LOG option
;       11/06/02  V1.2  mmr     meaning of XBIN and YBIN modified
;       27/08/02  V1.3  mmr     syntax change of pics_db_update.pro accomodated
;          
;*AUTHORS:
;
;	MMR		Martin M. Roth	Astrophysikalisches Institut Potsdam
;					An der Sternwarte 16
;					D-14547 Potsdam  
;					Tel. +49 - 331 - 7499 313
;                                       email: mmroth@aip.de
;
;---