FAST-PS-M – User’s Manual
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have high performance and deterministic loop control. On the ARM CPU an embedded
Linux OS is installed, with the task to supervise all process as communication,
diagnostics and local interface handling.
Remote communication is guaranteed by means of an Ethernet 10/100/1000
autosensing socket present on the front panel of the power unit. The power supply can
be also monitored and controlled via a navigation switch and a graphic high resolution
color display featuring user-friendly menus.
In addition to the standard Ethernet interface it is possible to communicate with
the unit using the SFP-ports on the front panel. This interface allows to communicate
with the unit using a proprietary packet structure with a very high update rate (more
than 10 kHz). These ports are connected directly to the FPGA logic and so the given
packet is elaborated directly by the hardware logic.
This approach eliminates the software stratification that manages the packet and
the computational time is smaller and deterministic, allowing a very high update rate of
the setpoint, giving the user more flexibility and excellent rates for the digital control
of the power supply.
1.3
FAST-PS-M at a glance
The FAST-PS-M system is composed by a single 19-inch 1U crate. The FAST-
PS-M unit and its I/O connections are presented in
Figure 1
(front view) and
Figure 2
(rear view).
Figure 1:
FAST-PS-M front view
On the front side of the FAST-PS-M unit are placed: a power switch, a colour
graphic display with navigation switch for the local control of the module, three
communication sockets (2 SFPs and one Ethernet ports), four status LEDs and one USB
device connector.