Instruction Manual - Rev. 4 Model PB-5 Precision Pulse Generator Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation 2955 Kerner Blvd., San Rafael, CA 94901 Phone: 415-453-9955, Fax: 415-453-9956, Email: info@berkeleynucleonics.com, Web: www.berkeleynucleonics.
TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION 1. OPERATIONS 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Principles of Operation 1.3 Function of Controls and Connectors 1.4 Menu Selections 1.5 Optimum Performance 1.6 Testing a Preamplifier 1.7 Measuring Differential Linearity of a MCA Page 2 2 4 5 6 7 7 SECTION 2. RS-232 COMMANDS 9 SECTION 3. PB5 HOST INSTRUCTIONS 3.1 What is PB5 HOST 3.2 Limitations 3.3 Hardware and Software Requirements 3.4 Installation and Setup 3.5 Toolbar Navigation 3.6 Command Format 3.7 PB5 HOST Command Summary 3.
SECTION 1 OPERATIONS 1.1 INTRODUCTION The PB-5 sets a new standard for nuclear pulse generators. It offers full digital controllability with a built-in ramp generator. It provides tail and flat top pulses with excellent integral linearity and extremely low amplitude change with temperature. The PB-5 is capable of testing the stability, linearity and resolution of the most demanding spectroscopy circuits and instrumentation. It is the successor to the industry standard PB-4.
FIGURE 1. Block Diagram of Model PB-5 Precision Pulse Generator The Trigger Out Generator provides a pulse synchronized with the beginning of the reprate generator or the External Pulse Input. This provides synchronization with the target instrument. The pulse Rep-Rate, Delay, and Width Generators are controlled by the Range Selector and the associated 10-bit DAC voltage. The pulse rise and fall times are selected via the µC selector bus, providing shape control to the output amplifiers.
factors from 1 to 1000. Factory testing and calibration is provided via an external tester. A multi-pin connector separates the µC from the analog circuits. Normally they are connected together by this multi-pin plug. When the plug is removed a cable can be inserted from an external tester which provides the functions of the µC. In conjunction with this mode of operation a test socket, connected to vital circuit points, collects data that can be used by an external test computer.
Hyper Terminal settings: Flow control: None Data bits: 8 Emulation: VT 100 Parity: None 1.4 MENU SELECTIONS Figure 2. shows the two level menu employed by the PB-5. The menu is selected by using the up/down keys on the keypad and pressing enter or by using the spinner/switch knob. Operating solely by the spinner is most convenient since rotating and depressing the push switch, all in one motion, makes the menu selection easy. There are only two levels of menu selection - the main menu and the sub menu.
FIGURE 2. Model PB-5 Menu 1.5 OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE To achieve optimum performance of the model PB-5 several factors should be considered as follows: 1.5.1 NIM Power Supply It is important that the NIM power supply meet all regulation, long term stability, and ripple specified by the manufacturer. For high performance, the Berkeley Nucleonics Portanim, Model AP-3, is recommended to power the PB-5. 1.5.
used for low-amplitude tail pulses, the flat top portion will become longer as amplitude decreases. Since some amount of flat top is desirable this may not be a problem especially when using long tail pulses. However, low-level pulses below one or two volts can have up to 700 ns flat top when attenuation is not used. 1.5.3 Linearity Measurements In order to achieve the best statistical distribution and low drift, it is best to use the fastest ramp time (30 seconds) and the maximum number of cycles (999).
edges of each channel and calculating the width of each channel individually. This method is subject to error since it is difficult to accurately find the edges of each channel particularly due to system noise. DNL may be more conveniently and quickly determined by using the sliding pulser method, where a constant frequency pulse is swept in amplitude at a constant rate.
SECTION 2 RS-232 COMMANDS A PC can control all parameters of the model PB-5. The following commands will allow full operation of the pulser including the RAMP mode. This is convenient when remote operation of the PB-5 is required (see last paragraph of Section 1.3 for information on configuring the PC). This full set of commands can be conveniently displayed by typing "help".
SECTION 3 PB5 HOST INSTRUCTIONS 3.1 WHAT IS PB5 HOST? PB5 Host is a software program that provides BNC Model PB-5 Precision Pulse Generator users with a Graphical User Interface (GUI) allowing for remote operation. It is designed for PB-5 users who require a quick, single-window status update, and for users who wish to control one or more PB-5 Pulse Generators remotely. 3.2 LIMITATIONS PB5 Host commands are NOT buffered. Commands are sent to the Model PB-5 in real time.
7) If more than one Model PB-5 are connected, select the appropriate COM Port for each PB-5 Module (see Fig. 4) 8) Click the Connect check box to establish communication to the PB-5. 9) Once communication(s) is established, PB5 Host will acquire the current PB-5 status and automatically display the status to the screen. 10) Sending commands to the Model PB-5 can be accomplished by typing the appropriate command to the Command Line. (see Command Format and PB5 Host Command Summary).
Figure 4. Multiple PB-5 view 3.5 TOOL BAR NAVIGATION Menu Keyboard Shortcut File | Open Saved Setting Action Load previously saved settings Save current setting to a file File | Save Setting As Recall factory defaults (saved local to PB-5) File | Reset Quit PB5 Host Program File | Exit Shift+Ctrl+F12 Option | Single Ctrl-S Select Single PB-5 View (Window) * Option | Multi Ctrl-M Select Multiple PB-5 View (Window)** About Information About PB5 Host Program NOTE: * Default to Channel 1.
3.6 COMMAND FORMAT [Channel]PB5_Command Parameter on Multi Channel Mode and Single Channel Mode. PB5_Command Parameter on Single Channel Mode only. example (Multi Channel Mode): 1 Frequency 100 will set PB-5 connected on Channel 1 to 100 Hz. 8 Delay 500n will set PB-5 connected on Channel 8 to 500 ns delay. 5 Load c:\Lab\Set1.bnc will load settings saved as file Set1.bnc located at folder c:\lab\ to PB-5 connected on Channel 5.
Command Summary (-cont-) Command DELAy RISE FALL AMPLitude ATTEnuation PULSe POLArity TAIL Keyboard Shortcut Parameter Range E&C 250n - 10m Home & End 50n, 100n, 200n, 500n, 1µ, 2µ, 5µ, 10µ Page Up & Page Down Up & Down Arrow Left & Right Arrow Description Set delay to parameter specified. Ctrl-E set 1 ns* Up Ctrl-C set 1 ns* Down Alt-E set 10 ns* Up Alt-C set 10 ns* Down. *Varies depending on range. Set rise time to parameter specified.
Command Summary (-cont-) Command TRIGger THREshold Keyboard Shortcut Parameter Range Description Set trigger to external clock or INternal, external trigger or gated or EXternal, GAted, single cycle (1 pulse) and Fire ONe, FIre to issue 1 pulse. 0 3.5 Set threshold level to parameter specified. DISPlay KEv / VOlt Set display either keV or Volt.* EQUIvalent 100 - 9999 Set keV equivalent voltage. CLAMp ON, OFf Set pulse clamping either on or off. RAMP EXEC Execute ramp RAMP VBEGin 0 9.
3.8 PB5 HOST SUPPORT Berkeley Nucleonics Corp. 2955 Kerner Blvd. San Rafael, CA 94901-5533 www.berkeleynucleonics.com Toll Free 800.234.7858 Phone: 415.453.9955 Fax: 415.453.9956 For BUG report or Feature addition request: email: info@berkeleynucleonics.
SECTION 4 SPECIFICATIONS Rep Rate: 2.0 Hz to 500 kHz Width: 100 ns to 1 ms, continuously variable Delay: 250 ns to 10 ms Rise Time: 0.05 µs to 10 µs (10%-90%) in 8 steps Decay Time: 0.5 µs to 1.0 ms (100%-37%) in 11 steps Amplitude: 0.0 to 10.
Power Required: + 24 V 170 mA - 24 V 150 mA + 12 V 450 mA -12V 5 mA Mechanical: Triple-width AEC NIM module 4.05" wide x 8.70" high in accordance with TID-20893 (Rev 3.) Weight: 3 lbs. Net, 6 lbs.
