DH Instruments PPC User manual

©2000 DH Instruments, Inc.
PPC COMMUNICATIONS
SOFTWARE
User’s Manual

PPC Communication Software User's Manual
©2000 DH Instruments, Inc.
High pressure liquids and gases are potentially hazardous. Energy stored in these liquids and gases can
be released unexpectedly and with extreme force. High pressure systems should be assembled and
operated only by personnel who have been instructed in proper safety practices.
©1998 - 2000 DH Instruments, Inc. All rights reserved.
Information in this document is subject to change without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, for any purpose, without the express written
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DH Instruments, DH, and DHI are trademarks, registered and otherwise of DH Instruments, Inc.
Document No. 550056a-01
000815
Printed in the USA.

PPC Communication Software User's Manual
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TABLE OF CONTENTS................................................................................ i
TABLES.................................................................................................... ii
FIGURES .................................................................................................. ii
ABOUT THIS MANUAL.............................................................................. iv
1. INTRODUCTION.................................................................................... 1
1.1 OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................................................1
1.2 GETTING STARTED .................................................................................................................................1
1.2.1 OPERATION ......................................................................................................................................................2
1.2.2 PRESSURE GENERATION ...............................................................................................................................3
1.2.2.1 GENERATION MODE........................................................................................................................3
1.2.2.2 TARGET PRESSURE........................................................................................................................3
1.2.2.3 PRESSURE ARRAY ..........................................................................................................................4
1.2.3 REMOTE COMMAND ........................................................................................................................................4
1.2.4 GENERAL ..........................................................................................................................................................5

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Table 1. Key Press Command List..........................................................................................................3
F
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Figure 1. PPC Communication Terminal Screen...................................................................................... 2

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Manual Conventions
(CAUTION) is used in throughout the manual to identify user warnings and cautions.
(NOTE) is used throughout the manual to identify operating and applications advice and
additional explanations.
[ ] indicates direct function keys (e.g., [RANGE]).
< > indicates PG7000 screen displays (e.g., <1yes>).

PPC Communication Software User's Manual
Page 1 ©2000 DH Instruments, Inc.
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 OVERVIEW
With your PPC, you received a software CD with PPC communications software. These programs
are intended to make it easy for you to get familiar with your PPC using any PC compatible computer.
There are three programs on the disk:
• TERMINAL: Will transform your computer into a terminal to work with the PPC. It is a useful
program when first learning about your PPC and its operation. Further information on using the
terminal program is given below.
The TERMINAL.EXE program is intended to be used as an interactive communication link
between the PPC and a host computer. This program handles all the proper protocol to assure
communication between the PPC and the host computer with very little operator intervention.
The source code is also included and can be used as a guide for writing your own
application software.
• I/O: An elementary program allowing you to send single commands to the PPC and read back
its response.
• SAMPLE: Sample of a typical PPC initialization and the beginning of an automated sequence.
This program is listed in the manual.
1.2 GETTING STARTED
To initiate the program, type TERMINAL at the DOS prompt.
The host computer can communicate to the PPC through the following ports: COM1, COM2 and an
IEEE-488 interface. The first screen will prompt you for the interface you would like to use. COM1 or
COM2 or IEEE can be selected by pressing <1>,<2> or <3> respectively.
For IEEE communications, the TERMINAL program assumes that an IEEE interface card PC-488
from CAPITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION (CEC: 617-273-1818) has been installed in the
host computer. The terminal program will not work with any other IEEE-488 interface card.

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After the interface selection has been made, the terminal program will search for the PPC. If one of
the serial interfaces is selected as the communication port, the terminal program will search for the
PPC at different baud rates from 9 600 to 300. If the IEEE interface is selected, the program will first
ensure that an IEEE card is installed in the computer, then search all available addresses from 1 to
30 attempting to establish communications with the PPC.
Once the program locates the PPC, the remote light on the PPC will come ON and the screen should
fill with the returned data. The terminal program will now be monitoring the current pressure in
the PPC. If communication with the PPC is not established, check your RS232 cable pin-outs. If
your PPC has an IEEE interface, be sure that the interface selector switch on the back of the PPC is
set to the proper position.
1.2.1 OPERATION
The top part of the screen contains the most common parameters used for
pressure generation. See Figure 1. These parameters can be easily changed by pressing
the appropriate highlighted key and entering the required data. The actual data is the only
parameter that has to be entered. The terminal program will send out the corresponding
command in the proper format. When setting any of these parameters, a message will be
displayed in the current pressure window to indicate what is being changed. Table 1 lists
these parameters along with the related KEY PRESS and the actual command that it
corresponds to.
PPC COMMUNICATIONS TERMINAL Version 3.00
Copyright DH INSTRUMENTS April 1995
Range : 6000 psi Interface : COM1
Device : PPC
Hold : 25.000 Target : 0.050 Stability : 0.120
Vacuum : No Max P : 6000.000 Units : psi
Target Pressure : 0.000 psi - pressure Array -
current pressure : R -1.560 psi min pres. :
max pres. :
Generation Mode : Static Hold Off # of Inc. :
Ret to a. :
dwell :
Remote command :
reply : Execute Continue
status: Idle baud: 2400
<ESC> to EXIT
Figure 1. PPC Communication Terminal Screen
*

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Table 1. Key Press Command List
KEY PRESS PURPOSE RELATED COMMAND
[D] DEVICE DEVICE=
[H] HOLD HS=
[T] TARGET TS=
[S] STABILITY SS=
[V] VACUUM VAC=
[M] MAX P UL=
[N] RANGE RANGE=
[U] UNITS UNIT=
If the DEVICE is changed, then the other parameters are also updated. The TERMINAL
program uses the standard PPC remote commands. For further information on specific
commands, please refer to the proper PPC operating manual.
The middle part of the screen is used for pressure monitoring and pressure generation.
1.2.2 PRESSURE GENERATION
1.2.2.1 GENERATION MODE
The GENERATION MODE can be set by simply pressing [G]. A menu will be
displayed giving you the option to select either <Static> or <Dynamic>. If the static
mode is selected, another option will be displayed to determine whether the pressure
hold is ON or OFF. <Hold ON> refers to setting the pressure with the PS command
which just sets the pressure. <Hold OFF> refers to setting the pressure with the
PSH command which sets and holds the pressure. In dynamic mode, the target
limit is automatically set to zero and the pressure hold is always ON, so no selection
is necessary.
1.2.2.2 TARGET PRESSURE
The TARGET PRESSURE can be set by pressing [P]. When a new value is
entered, that value becomes the target pressure and a pressure generation to the
next target value will take place. The current pressure generation mode and hold
state will determine how the pressure is generation and maintained. Pressing [ESC]
during a pressure generation procedure will abort the function. The pressure
generation time is monitored and displayed at the bottom of the screen. This is the
time in seconds required to reach a ready condition.

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1.2.2.3 PRESSURE ARRAY
The pressure array is intended to be used to generate a sequence of pressures in a
specific order. The pressures will be generated using with PS or PSH. This is
determined by the Generation setting. To set up an array, press [A].
• min press: MINIMUM PRESSURE is the first pressure that is to be generated.
It may also be the last pressure to be generated if return to start is set to YES.
No limit checking is provided on the minimum or the maximum pressure so care
must be taken to ensure that these values are in the normal operating range of
the PPC.
• max press: MAXIMUM PRESSURE is the highest pressure in the sequence
that the PPC is to generate.
• # of inc: NUMBER OF INCREMENTS is the number of pressure steps that the
PPC will generate between the minimum and the maximum pressure.
• ret to s: RETURN TO START determines if the PPC will return to the minimum
pressure after reaching the maximum pressure. If this is set to NO, then the
pressure array will stop executing after the maximum pressure has been
reached. If this is set to YES, then after the maximum pressure has been
reached, the pressure array will continue to generate the same pressures but in
the opposite direction until the minimum pressure has again been reached.
• dwell: DWELL is the delay in seconds that the PPC will remain at each pressure
increment after a ready condition has occurred. After a ready indicator is
received, then this delay will be executed before the next pressure will
be generated. If a delay of 0(zero) is entered, then the next pressure generation
will not begin until the [C] key has been pressed. This allows you to stay at a
pressure for as long as you like and continue when you are ready.
Once a pressure array has been set up, it can be executed by pressing [F].
1.2.3 REMOTE COMMAND
The remote command can be used to send any command to the PPC. When using the
remote command < -- REMOTE COMMAND -- > will be displayed in the current
pressure window. See the PPC1 Operating Manual for a list of the remote
commands available. Pressing [ESC] will return you to the pressure monitoring mode.

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1.2.4 GENERAL
The terminal program contains automatic error checking. The PPC will return an error
whenever it receives an invalid command. The terminal program monitors all incoming
responses from the PPC and when an error is received, will request the cause of the error.
The returned error response is then displayed at the bottom of the screen.
The keyboard input is not interrupt driven and may seem to lag behind a key press at
certain times. This is normal due to the structure of the program. All function and key
presses are picked up in a simple run-time loop.
To return to DOS from the terminal program, press [ESC] from the pressure generation mode.

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