Operator's Manual
Issue 14
/
Mar 2016 / UMC0071
Mercury
iPS
©2016 Oxford Instruments NanoScience. All rights reserved.
Page
21
2.6.4 Motherboard
The motherboard contains the processor that handles the top-level control the iPS. The
operating program and control applications are stored on a flash drive. This issues top level
instructions to the magnet control board in the Master and any Slave units attached via the
RS485/modbus interface. It also drives the display and touch screen interface as well as
managing the remote communication ports. The motherboard also provides a single
temperature-sensor input.
2.6.4.1 Expansion slots and daughter boards
There are eight expansion slots on the iPS motherboard, each of which can accept an optional
daughter board. There is a dedicated slot for a GPIB board. Slot number 1 is adjacent to the
power supply in the iPS.
The iPS can therefore accept up to 8 daughter boards. These can consist of combinations of
the following board types:
Temperature sensor
This is a board containing a single temperature sensor interface. A maximum of eight of
these boards can be fitted. Chapter 11 gives a full technical description.
Level meter
This is a board containing a single level meter, which is used to monitor the amount of gas or
liquid in the system. A maximum of eight of these boards can be fitted. Chapter 7 gives a full
technical description.
Auxiliary I/O board
This is a board containing a number of input/output (I/O) lines. Some of these lines are used
to drive a stepper motor to control gas-flow. A maximum of eight of these boards can be
fitted. Chapter 12 gives a full technical description.
GPIB
This is a board which provides an external GPIB interface for connection to another device
(e.g. a PC). Only one of these boards can be fitted. Chapter 14 gives a full technical
description.
