INFICON STC-2000A Thin Film Deposition Controller Operating Manual - Manual (Page 37)

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STC-2000A DEPOSITION CONTROLLER
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RS232 Communications Connection: Located in the approximate center of the back panel and labeled
with the text RS232 is a male 9 pin D-sub connector for the purpose of communications with a PC or
laptop computer. A straight through cable (that is, pin 1 at one end is connected to pin 1 at the other end,
pin 2 to pin2, etc.) cannot be used. A cable configuration known as a null modem cable needs to be used.
A diagram of the connections is shown in section 4.11. Operations (start/stop) and menu programming
normally done through the front panel controls can be accomplished remotely by means of the interface.
Software downloads that become the product firmware can also be accomplished through this port. Menu
programming needs to be set for the proper baud rate and communication protocol
(Main/Executive/Comm. Setup menus). [Section 3.15 and 3.16 has more details]
Grounding Stud: Located on the back panel near the AC power connector/switch, the ground stud is a
threaded screw embedded in the back panel providing an electrical connection to the chassis ground of the
STC-2000A as well as to the ground connection of the AC plug. This should be used to maintain the
system equipment grounds, including the chamber, at the same potential as earth ground. As there are
many potential sources of high-energy noise that are part of a deposition system, implementation of this
ground system can substantially reduce noise resulting in improved system stability. [Section 4 has more
details]
Input Card Options: An opto-isolated input card can be configured in a number of ways. Inputs can be
isolated or non-isolated, internally powered or externally powered (individually or as a group). Jumpers on
the input card are used to make the selections. All of the opto-coupler LED cathodes are brought out to the
25 pin D-sub female (i.e. pins 3,6,9,12,14,17,20,23
[(-) Input Pins] ). The opto-coupler LED anodes are
brought into a jumper header (JP1) where each of the anodes can either be routed to a voltage source or
sent out to the 25 pin D-sub female (i.e. pins 2,5,8,11,16,19,22,25
[(+) Input Pins] ). The voltage source itself
is further selectable on a separate 3 pin jumper header (JP2) such that an internal voltage (+5VDC) can be
selected or an external voltage can be selected (comes in on pin 1 of the 25 pin D-sub female). The
voltage source, regardless of the JP2 selection, can therefore be applied to all of the anodes when JP1
selects the voltage source. Any one or more of the anodes can be alternately routed through JP1 to keep
them isolated from the other anodes and the voltage source. Jumpers can short from the center to one of the
ends. Since there are 8 anodes, there are also 8 JP1 sections. The depiction below is a generalization of a
single LED input (1 of 8). [Section 4.8 has more details]
cathode D-sub [(-) Input Pins]
JP1
D-sub [(+) Input Pins]
anode
int. pwr.
JP2
D-sub (pin 1 only) ext. pwr.
dig. gnd. D-sub (pin 13 only)
SECTION 2.XX page 37 of 292