KEPCO TMA VXI-27 - Manual (Page 10)

TMA VXI-27 101602
1-1
SECTION 1 - INTRODUCTION
1.1 SCOPE OF MANUAL
This service manual contains the specifications and instructions for the installation and opera-
tion of the Model TMA VXI-27 Power Module Controller, manufactured by Kepco, Inc. Flushing,
N.Y. U.S.A. A parts list and schematic diagrams are located in Section 4
1.2 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Kepco model TMA VXI-27 is a Power Module Controller which plugs into a VXI computer
chassis and allows the user to program a VXI computer to control and monitor the outputs of up
to 27 Kepco power modules (such as “MAT”s, “MBT”'s, “MST”s and “BOP”s) equipped for com-
munication via the IEEE 1118 two-wire serial bus (see Figure 1-1). The IEEE 1118 two-wire
serial bus, also referred to as the Control Bus, allows the TMA VXI-27 to communicate with the
27 power modules up to a maximum distance of 1000 feet (300 meters).
The TMA VXI-27 includes plug&play software drivers which greatly simplify programming of the
power supplies connected to the IEEE 1118 serial bus. This is accomplished through a “soft
panel,” a virtual panel that gives the operator access to power supply operating controls and
indicators, allowing power supply operation by clicking a mouse on the virtual control, and
observing power supply indicators and measured values on a computer monitor.
The TMA VXI-27 communicates with the VXI computer via the VXIbus (an abbreviation for
“VMEbus eXtensions for Instrumentation”) which is based on the worldwide VMEbus standard
(IEEE STD 1014). The VXI backplane includes the 32-bit VME computer bus as well as
high-performance instrumentation buses for precision timing and synchronization between
instrument components. (See Appendix E for a Glossary of VXI terms.)
The TMA VXI-27 is a Message Based VXI servant interface with Programmable Interrupter
capabilities for Event generation, conforming to Specification VXI-1, REV. 1.4. As a Message
Based Device it implements all Word Serial Commands required for an I4 class (IEEE 488 com-
patible) Instrument (see Table 2-1). It is a Single Width C sized card.
The TMA VXI-27 communicates through the VXI backplane with the Resource Manager (Slot 0
Controller) using commands in either the default language, SCPI (Standard Commands for Pro-
grammable Instruments) commands (default), or CIIL (Control Interface Intermediate Lan-
guage), the alternate language. The VXI Resource Manager, known as the Slot 0 Controller, is a
common resource system module containing the VMEbus Resource Manager and VMEbus
System Controller. The Resource Manager provides configuration management services, com-
mander/servant mapping, self test and diagnostics.
The VXI Slot 0 Controller can set the output voltage with current limit, or the output current with
voltage limit of any one of the 27 KEPCO Power Supplies interconnected through the Control
Bus to the TMA VXI-27. It can then program the TMA VXI-27 to read back (through the Control
Bus) the actual output voltage and current delivered by each of the power modules to their
respective loads. The TMA VXI-27 continually polls all of the power modules on the Control Bus
for error flags. All data transmissions between the Slot 0 Controller and the TMA VXI-27 are
ASCII encoded. The values for the command parameters can be written in integer, decimal or
scientific notation.