Removed lock timeout for metadata IO

        Return:

            dict: Dictionary containing complete microscope state

        """

        with self.lock:

        with self.lock(timeout=None):

            state = {"camera": self.camera.state, "stage": self.stage.state}

            return state

        """

        Applies a settings dictionary to the microscope. Missing parameters will be left untouched.

        """

        with self.lock:

        with self.lock(timeout=None):

            logging.debug("Microscope: Applying settings: {}".format(settings))

            # If attached to a camera

        This is to ensure that settings for currently disconnected hardware

        don't get removed from the settings file.

        """

        with self.lock:

        settings_current = {

            "id": self.id,

            "name": self.name,

            "extensions": self.extension_settings,

        }

        with self.lock(timeout=None):

            # If attached to a camera

            if self.camera:

                    settings_current_camera = self.camera.read_settings()

    @property

    def configuration(self):

        with self.lock(timeout=None):

            initial_configuration = self.configuration_file.load()

            current_configuration = {