Franconia FC 02 User manual

USER MANUAL
FC 02
Controller for turntable and antenna mast
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Contents
1.0 Safety Summary....................................................................................................................................... 3
2.0 Introduction..............................................................................................................................................4
3.0 General description.................................................................................................................................. 5
Front Panel Features............................................................................................................................. 5
Rear Panel Features ............................................................................................................................. 5
4.0 Confi uration........................................................................................................................................... 7
Optic connections to devices................................................................................................................ 7
Connections to computer......................................................................................................................7
5.0 Software installation................................................................................................................................ 9
Hardware- and Software Requirements................................................................................................9
Installation of FC 02 application software............................................................................................9
6.0 Software operation................................................................................................................................. 10
Overview............................................................................................................................................ 10
Turntable controls...............................................................................................................................11
Antenna mast controls........................................................................................................................ 13
Pro ram functions...............................................................................................................................15
7.0 IEEE 488.2 commands...........................................................................................................................17
Commands..........................................................................................................................................17
8.0 SCPI commands.....................................................................................................................................18
IEEE 488.2 Status Re isters............................................................................................................... 21
SCPI Error Code.................................................................................................................................22
9.0 Specifications.........................................................................................................................................23
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1.0 Safety Summary
The followin eneral safety precautions must be observed durin all phases of operation, service, and
repair of this instrument. Failure to comply with these precautions or with specific warnin s elsewhere in
this manual violates safety standards of desi n, manufacture, and intended use of this instrument.
We assume no liability for the customer´s failure to comply with these requirements.
Before applyin power:
•Verify that the product is set to match the available line volta e and that the correct fuse is
installed.
Ground the instrument:
•This product is a Safety Class 1 Product (provided with a protective earthin round
incorporated in the power cord). The mains plu shall only be inserted in a socket outlet
provided with a protective earth contact. Any interruption of the protective conductor
inside or outside of the product is likely to make the product dan erous. Intentional
interruption is prohibited.
Do not remove instrument covers:
•Operatin personnel must not remove instrument covers. There are no user serviceable
parts inside. Refer servicin to qualified personnel.
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2.0 Introduction
The FC 02 is a positionin controller developed for usin the different positionin devices developed by
Frankonia.
This controller allows any user to control in the meantime several devices as turntables, antenna mast,
slide clamp bar, etc …
The FC 02 offers different ways of control by providin serial RS-232 as well as GPIB (IEEE488.2)
interfaces.
The connection to the different devices is made usin optic fibers duplex cables in order to avoid any RF
interferences, which could be conducted alon wire cables.
Complete software with an attractive and er onomic desi n is delivered with each controller in order to
control the devices manually and also to have a display of the operations in real time.
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.0 General description
The FC 02 is delivered in a 1U – 19” rack size in order to win a lot of space into the system units rack.
Also the depth is half size and doesn’t need any additional fixation kit.
Only a power switch with li ht is available on the front.
At the rear all the communication ports and optic connections are installed.
The FC 02 inte rates a flash memory. The firmware could be easily up raded via the RS232 port linked to
a PC. The firmware up rade will be available on our website in the download section as well as a detailed
description of this procedure. This offers also the possibility to modify easily our positionin controller in
order to solve some communication problems with some testin software.
Front Panel Features
[1]: Power
Line switch turns the FC 02 on and off
Rear Panel Features
The FC 02 uses only 2 optic fibers channel for controllin up to 16 different devices.
The basic version of this controller is able to control one turntable and two antenna masts.
[2]: Power input
Input for the line power source.
Line Fuse: Replace only with a fuse of the same ratin . See the label on the rear panel.
[3]: Voltage selector - verify that the product is set to match the available line volta e
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[4]: IEEE-488 (GPIB)
24 pin Centronics connector. The GPIB interface Bus complies with the IEEE 488.2
standards. The FC 02 use the Standard Commands for Pro rammable Instruments (SCPI) and
the IEEE 488.2 protocol on which SCPI is based.
[5]: Serial connector (RS-232)
The RS 232 port is a standard serial port (Baud rate 9600) used for the manual mode or used
for up radin the flash memory. The socket is a type Sub 9 pin female.
[6]: Optical in
F-SMA Receiver, 660nm
[7]: Optical out
F-SMA Transmitter, 660nm
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4.0 Configuration
Optic connections to devices
FTM / FTD = Frankonia TurnTable
FAM = Frankonia Antenna Mast
As you can see in order to simplify the fibers optic layout Frankonia had developed an optic bus system in
the chamber. Up to 16 different Frankonia devices can be connected to this bus usin the same controller
hardware. The software must be developed accordin to the different devices.
Only one duplex fiber starts from the FC 02.
Connections to computer
Several possibilities are offered for connectin the FC 02 to the Computer in char e of the
instrumentation control.
The FC 02 can be used in manual mode usin the RS232 or the GPIB interface usin a computer
connected to one of these 2 interfaces.
The software delivered with the controller will be able to control by a few clicks with your mouse the
whole system, and you will visualize the operation in real time on your computer screen display.
Manual Mode and automatic mode without instrumentation
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The FC 02 can be connected in parallel into the GPIB chain and can receive orders as the whole
instrumentation in automatic mode. Our software will display the operation in course in the meantime
(several windows could be open on the computer PC1).
Also orders can be iven manually to the FC 02 usin our software.
Automatic mode with instrumentation
The FC 02 could be connected also to 2 separate computers if needed.
This offers the possibility to et the display on a separate computer usin the RS232 port if needed.
Automatic mode with 2 computers
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5.0 Software installation
•I you send directly SCPI commands on the GPIB inter ace,
you don’t need any driver or so tware.
•I you want a visualization o the operation in course or control manually the devices,
then you need to install the so tware delivered with the controller.
Hardware- and Software Requirements
You should have the followin hardware and software to work with your FC 02:
•PC with Windows NT/2000/XP operatin system
•compatible mouse and VGA raphics (min. 800 x 600 pts.).
Installation of FC 02 application software
•Insert the application software CD and click on setup.exe
•Follow the instructions on your screen.
•The installer creates a directory named FC02 where you can doubleclick on FC02.exe to
start the application.
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6.0 Software operation
Overview
After installation of the software and confi uration of the hardware devices you are ready to
➔Double-click on FC02.exe (Directory FC02/FC02.exe)
The followin main menu is displayed:
The FC 02 software checks automatically the status of the network connected on the optic fiber link, and
shows 2 main parts in its standard version.
The upper part concerns the FTM (Frankonia Turntable), and the lower part concerns the FAM
(Frankonia antenna mast).
When a device is not found, the software indicates it, and the correspondin part is shown in rey.
When you power on the system, it needs to be initialized in order to find its reference point.
The initialisation procedure is performed automatically and described in the FTM and FAM user manuals.
The software indicates automatically if turntable and/or antenna mast have to be initialized.
How to start the initialisation run for turntable and antenna mast is described later in this manual.
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Only when the init is made, all the commands will be available.The menu bar contains the main
commands. The followin table explains each menu item on the menu bar in order from left to ri ht:
Menu Item Shortcut Function
Turntab e Limits Enter imits of movement of the turntab e in degrees
Offset Enter offset of movement of the turntab e in degrees
Start init Start an initia isation run of the turntab e
Antenna Limits Enter imits of movement of antenna mast in m
Offset Enter offset of movement of antenna mast in m
Start init Start an initia isation run of the antenna mast
Program Load settings Strg+L Load settings
Save settings Strg+S Save current settings
Info Show program version
Quit Strg+Q Exit the app ication software
Turntable controls
The software limits of the turntable can be lowered if needed. As a factory settin theses values are set to
max. –200° and + 200°. We have defined this value in order to avoid any problems with the cables of the
equipment under test if the turntable makes a complete tour on itself.
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An offset is available in order to offer the possibility to modify the init position if necessary. As a
standard this value is set to 0. This value must be entered in de rees.
When the turntable had finished the initialization, the reference startin point is 0,0°.
➔ Click on Turntable/start init to start the initialisation run of the turntable
The accuracy of our turntables is +/- 0,2°. Our controller FC 02 is a hi h resolution, and it can control the
turntables with a resolution of 0,1°.
Our turntable presents 30 levels of speed (more details are available in the FTT user manual).
With our software, you can set what you want into the ri ht white cases:
•Tar et: from –200° to 200° (dependin on the settin s for offset & limits)
•Step: from 0 ° to 200°
•Speed: from 1 (slow) to 30 (fast)
•Please notice: The rotatin knob represents the physical position of the turntable and is not
influenced by the settin s of limits and offset!
The displayed values (de ) take into account the settin of offset!
•If the software detects a motion initiated by an external software all buttons except the Stop
button are disabled. All buttons are enabled a ain 20 sec after the motion stops.
Tar et is the an le where you want to o. When you click on start the turntable will move to this place at
the speed choosen.
Step is a step of an le which will be reproduced each time you click on Step + or Step – at the speed
choosen.
Be ore the use o high speed, be sure that the equipment under test is ixed correctly.
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When the software limit is or will be reached within the next movin the turntable will refuse to start. In
that case you must reduce your requirement, or o in the other direction.
If you use automatic commands via GPIB interface, this software will serve you also as a display.
Antenna mast controls
The software limits of the antenna mast can be chan ed if needed. As a factory settin these values are set
to 0,8m and 4m (in case of 4m antenna mast) or 6m (in case of 6m antenna mast).
We have defined these values in order to avoid any problem with standard use of antennas.
An offset is available in order to offer the possibility to modify the init position if necessary, or to avoid
any trouble with antennas with different sizes. As a standard this value is set to 0. This value must be
entered in m.
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When the antenna mast has finished the initialization, the reference startin point is 0,8m in standard.
This offset can be set for horizontal and for vertical polarizations.
➔ click on Antenna/start init to start the initialisation run of the antenna mast
The accuracy of our antenna mast is +/- 3mm. Our controller FC 02 is a hi h resolution, and can control
the antenna mast with a unit of 1mm.
Our antenna mast presents 30 levels of speed (more details are available into the FAM user manual).
With our software, you can set what you want into the ri ht white cases:
•Tar et: from 0,8m to 4m or 6m (dependin on the settin s for offset & limits)
•Step: from 0m to 3,2 m or 5,2m
•Speed: from 1 (slow) to 30 (fast)
•Please notice: The up and down oin knob represents the physical position of the antenna
and is not influenced by the settin s of limits and offset!
The displayed values (m) take into account the settin of offset!
•If the software detects a motion initiated by an external software all buttons except the Stop
button are disabled. All buttons are enabled a ain 20 sec after the motion stops.
Tar et is the position where you want to o. When you click on start the antenna mast will move to this
place at the speed choosen.
Step is a step of distance which will be reproduced each time you click on Step + or Step – at the speed
choosen.
Be ore the use o high speed, be sure that the antenna is ixed correctly, and that there is no
obstruction or the coaxial cables.
When the software limit is or will be reached within the next movin the antenna mast will refuse to start.
In that case you must reduce your requirement, or o in the other direction.
If you use automatic commands via GPIB interface, this software will serve you also as a display.
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Program functions
Each time you start the software, the file de ault.set is loaded. The default settin s of this file are
explained in the table below:
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Variab e Defau t setting Description
offset 0,0 deg Turntab e offset
imit_max 200,0 deg Turntab e imit +
imit_min -200,0 deg Turntab e imit -
speed_ttab 10 Turntab e speed
step_ttab 10 deg Turntab e step
offset_h 0,000 m Antenna mast horizonta offset
offset_v 0,000 m Antenna mast vertica offset
imit_h_max 4,000 m Antenna mast hor. imit +
imit_h_min 0,800 m Antenna mast hor. imit -
imit_v_max 4,000 m Antenna mast vert. imit +
imit_v_min 0,800 m Antenna mast vert. imit -
speed_ant 10 Antenna mast speed
step_ant 0,100 m Antenna mast step
heigh 4,000 m Antenna mast height
init 0,800 m Initia isation point
offset_h2 0,000 m Antenna mast 2 horizonta offset
offset_v2 0,000 m Antenna mast 2 vertica offset
imit_h_max2 4,000 m Antenna mast 2 hor. imit +
imit_h_min2 0,800 m Antenna mast 2 hor. imit -
imit_v_max2 4,000 m Antenna mast 2 vert. imit +
imit_v_min2 0,800 m Antenna mast 2 vert. imit -
speed_ant2 5 Antenna mast 2 speed
step_ant2 0,100 m Antenna mast 2 step
height2 4,000 m Antenna mast 2 height
init2 0,800 m Initia isation point antenna mast 2
Variables of default.set
➔Click on Program/Load settings to load a predefined setup file.
➔Click on Program/Save settings to overwrite the default settin s or to create as many
different setup files as you want.
➔Click on Program/In o to show the version number of the software.
➔Click on Program/Quit to exit the application software.
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7.0 IEEE 488.2 commands
Commands
•*CAL: Conducts a calibration (initialization run) if the device is not calibrated. Durin initialization
run, the lo ical device cannot be chan ed!
•*CAL?: Query of calibration status of the selected lo ical device.
Answers: 0: calibration successful
1: calibration failed
2: calibration in course
•*CLS: Clear Status sets the status re isters ESR, STB, OPER and QUEST at zero.
•*ESE <0...255>: Event Status Enable sets the event status enable re ister with the selected value.
•*ESE?: Query of the event status enable re ister.
•*ESR?: Query and deletion of the event status re ister.
•*IDN?: Query of the identification text (Frankonia, FC02, 0, V1.0).
•*OPC: Operation Complete sets the OPC bit (bit 0) in the event status re ister, after completed
execution of all previous commands.
•*OPC?: Query Operation Complete reports an additional 1, after completed execution of all previous
commands.
•*RST: Sets the equipment to initial state.
Limit:hi h = maximum, Limit:low = minimum, Offset = 0, Direction = up, Step = 0.1m (antenna +
clamp) / = 10° (turntable), velocity = 10
•*SRE <0...255>: Service Request Enable sets the service request enable re ister with the selected
value.
•*SRE?: Query of the service request enable re ister.
•*STB?: Query of the status re ister (serial poll)
•*TST?: Equipment performs self test and reports 0 (no failure) or 1 (failure).
•*WAI: Wait to Continue allows the execution of a new command only after completed execution of all
previous commands.
When the controller is switched on, all status and enable re isters are set to 0 and all parameters are set to
initial state (Exception: Bit 7 of the event status re ister is set to „Power on“.)
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8.0 SCPI commands
Instrument subsystem:
Command Parameter Unit Result
INST[:SEL]{?}
INST:NSEL{?}
ANT / TTAB / ACL /
ANT2
1 / 2 / 3 / 4
Se ection of the ogica equipment by keyword or
number. On ? output of the se ected ogica device.
System subsystem:
Command Parameter Unit Result
SYST:ERR[:NEXT]? Query on y Output and de etion of the ast error in the error ist.
SYST:VERS? Query on y Output of the SCPI standard „1999.0“.
SYST:COMM:GPIB:ADDR{
?}
0...30 / MIN / MAX Setting of the GPIB address (saved in EEPROM,
defau t va ue: 15).
SYST:COMM:SER[:REC]
:BAUD{?}
1200 / 2400 / 4800 /
9600 / 19200 / MIN /
MAX
Setting of the RS232 baud rate (saved in EEPROM,
defau t va ue: 9600).
Status subsystem:
Command Parameter Unit Result
STAT:OPER[:EVEN]? Query on y Output of the operation register.
STAT:OPER:COND? Query on y Output of the operation condition register.
STAT:OPER:ENAB{?} 0...65535 Setting of the operation enab e register.
STAT:QUES[:EVEN]? Query on y Output of the questionab e register.
STAT:QUES:COND? Query on y Output of the questionab e condition register.
STAT:QUES:ENAB{?} 0...65535 Setting of the questionab e enab e register.
STAT:PRES Reset of the operationa /questionab e enab e
register.
Trigger subsystem:
Command Parameter Unit Result
INIT[:IMM] Starts a movement into the previous y set direction.
ABOR Stops every started movement (even initia ization
run).
Input/output subsystem or the antenna mast (ANT, ANT2):
Command Parameter Unit Result
POS[:X][:DIST][:IMM]{?} <NRf / 0.8...6> / MIN /
MAX / UP / DOWN
m The antenna mast moves to the programmed
position or direction, resp.. Upon inquiry, the actua
position is reported.
POS[:X][:DIST][:IMM]:STE
P{?}
<NRf / 0...5.2> / MIN /
MAX
m Step width at POS UP / DOWN command.
POS[:X][:DIST]:LIM[1/2]:HI
GH{?}
<NRf / 0.8...6> / MIN /
MAX
m
POS[:X][:DIST]:LIM[1/2]:LO
W{?}
<NRf / 0.8...6> / MIN /
MAX
m
Upper and ower imit va ue for the antenna with
horizonta [1] and vertica [2] po arization.
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Command Parameter Unit Result
POS[:X][:DIST]:OFFS[1/2]{
?}
<NRf / ±1> / MIN /
MAX
m Offset with horizonta [1] and vertica [2] po arization.
POS[:X][:DIST]:VEL{?} <NRf / 1...30> / MIN /
MAX
Ve ocity in steps.
POS[:X][:DIST]:DIR{?} UP / DOWN Determination of direction, however no automatic
movement.
[POS:]POL{?} <NRf / ±/2> / MIN /
MAX
rad Turns antenna into the programmed position.
[POS:]POL:HOR Turns antenna into vertica po arization.
[POS:]POL:VERT Turns antenna into horizonta po arization.
Input/Output subsystem or the turntable (TTAB):
Command Parameter Unit Result
POS[:X]:ANGL[:IMM]{?} <NRf / ±200> / MIN /
MAX / UP / DOWN
deg The turntab e moves into the programmed position,
or direction, resp. (UP = c ockwise). On inquiry, the
actua position is reported.
POS[:X]:ANGL[:IMM]:STEP
{?}
<NRf / 0..200> / MIN /
MAX
deg Step width at POS UP / DOWN command.
POS[:X]:ANGL:LIM:HIGH{?
}
<NRf / 0..200> / MIN /
MAX
deg
POS[:X]:ANGL:LIM:LOW{?
}
<NRf / -200..0> / MIN /
MAX
deg
Upper and ower imit va ue of the position.
POS[:X]:ANGL:OFFS{?} <NRf / ±200> / MIN /
MAX
deg Offset of the position. The imit va ues remain
unchanged!
POS[:X]:ANGL:VEL{?} <NRf / 1..30> / MIN /
MAX
Ve ocity in steps.
POS[:X]:ANGL:DIR{?} UP / DOWN Determination of direction (UP = c ockwise), but no
automatic movement.
Input/Output subsystem or the clamp line (ACL):
Command Parameter Unit Result
POS[:X][:DIST][:IMM]{?} <NRf / 0...10> / MIN /
MAX / UP / DOWN
m The absorber c amp moves into the programmed
position, or direction, resp.. On inquiry, the actua
position is reported.
POS[:X][:DIST][:IMM]:STE
P{?}
<NRf / 0...10> / MIN /
MAX
m Step width at POS UP / DOWN command.
POS[:X][:DIST]:LIM:HIGH{?
}
<NRf / 0...10> / MIN /
MAX
m
POS[:X][:DIST]:LIM:LOW{?
}
<NRf / 0...10> / MIN /
MAX
m
Upper and ower imit va ue for the position.
POS[:X][:DIST]:OFFS{?} <NRf / ±1> / MIN /
MAX
m Offset for the position.
POS[:X][:DIST]:VEL{?} <NRf / 1...30> / MIN /
MAX
Ve ocity in steps.
POS[:X][:DIST]:DIR{?} UP / DOWN Determination of direction, but no automatic
movement.
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{?} Command is valid as command (without “?”) and valid as query (with “?”).
Commands in brackets [ ] are optional.
All position commands may be preceded optionally by the commands [INP:] or [OUTP:]
(i.e. INP:POS ≙ OUTP:POS ≙ POS)! This applies also for the Input/Output Subsystems for the turntable
(TTAB) and the clamp line (ACL). The parameter ANT2 is also valid in its lon version ANTenna2.
<NRf / value>: Numerical entries are admissible optionally with prefix and exponent. Value is the valid
numerical ran e. The value can be followed by a unit. For indication of len ths mm, cm and m are valid,
for an les de and rad. The values have to be converted correspondin ly.
Numerical outputs are always in standard units (see tables). With respect to MIN and MAX the maximum
and minimum values are used.
On inquiries with MIN and MAX (? followed by parameter), the valid minimum and maximum values
(e. . POS? MAX) are reported.
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