char[] trimAspectBits(){
  try {
    return Arrays.copyOf(aspectBits,bitNum);
  }
 catch (  Exception ex) {
    log.error("failed to read and copy aspectBits");
    return null;
  }
}

char [ ] trimAspectBits ( ) { try { return Arrays . copyOf ( aspectBits , bitNum ) ; } catch ( Exception ex ) { log . error ( "failed to read and copy aspectBits" ) ; return null ; } }
sends the on / off positions for an aspect to mast
