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Manual Operation of the X-Band IF

Required software to install to manually operate the X-Band IF system.

To manually operate the X-Band IF system please install the following software:

Once these two software packages are installed, the X-Band IF system can be completely remote controlled.

1 - Controlling the X-Band IF Synthesizer

How to control the X-Band IF microwave synthesizer manually

Please make sure the control software for the synthesizer is installed. If you haven’t done so, you can download it here.

2 - DAQ Control

How to control the analog and digital lines of the X-Band IF system manually.

Please make sure the control software for the DAQ interface is installed. If you haven’t done so, you can download it here.

Connecting to the DAQ Interface

To connect to the DAQ interface follow these steps:

  1. Make sure the X-Band IF USB interface is connected to the host computer.
  2. Start Kipling
  3. In the GUI click the green USB button (see figure above, left). The USB button will turn red, indicating that Kipling is connected to the DAQ interface (see figure above, right).

Digital Input/Output Control

To control the digital input/output lines click on the menu item Dashboard (see figure above). Each of the lines can be configured as an input or output by selecting the control from the drop-down menu. If the line is configured as an input the indicator to the left will show whether the line is logic high or low. If the line is configured as an output, the status can be changed by selecting the desired status from the drop-down menu.

Below is a list of the different digital channels used by the X-Band IF system.

Pulse Forming Unit (PFU)

Bit Name Function
CIO0 AWG LO select for PFU. 0 - Internal synthesizer (LO1), 1 - AUX LO, auxillary LO input on back panel

Receiver (RCVR)

Bit Name Function
CIO1 Enable/Disable video amplifiers. 0 - disabled, 1 - enabled
FIO4 Microwave signal amplifier, 0 - disabled, 1 - enabled +20 dB gain

Analog Output Control

The value of the various analog outputs can be controlled from the Register Matrix panel. The values for TDAC0 - TDAC3 can be set between -10 and +10 V, with a resolution of 16 bit.

Below is a list of the different analog channels used by the X-Band IF system.

Receiver

Bit Name Function
TDAC0 Video amplifier gain control (I channel), value from -10 to 10 V, -10 V - 30 dB gain, 10 V - 65 dB gain
TDAC1 Video amplifier gain control (Q channel), value from -10 to 10 V, -10 V - 30 dB gain, 10 V - 65 dB gain
TDAC2 LO level receiver, value from -10 to 10 V, -10 V - 0 attenuation, full power on LO of IQ mixer (RCVR), 10 V - 30 dB attenuation, lowest power on LO of IQ mixer (RCVR)

Miscellaneous Other Controls

The X-Band IF system has several spare digital and analog input and output lines connected to the IO and EXT connector located on the back panel. These lines can be configured by the user.

Note

For most sub-D connectors the pin number is either printed on the front either at the pin (male connector) or the receptacle (female connector).

EXT Connector (9 pin sub-D, back panel)

The external connector is most commonly used to control an extension to the X-IF system, such as a frequency extension.

All lines are configured as outputs in SpecMan.

Pin Number
sub-D
Bit Name
(LabJack)
SpecMan
Variable
Function Reserved For
1 EIO0 Ext1 DAQ bit EIO0, can be configured as input and output, TTL level
2 EIO2 Ext3 DAQ bit EIO2, can be configured as input and output, TTL level
3 EIO4 Ext5 DAQ bit EIO4, can be configured as input and output, TTL level
4 EIO6 Ext6 DAQ bit EIO6, can be configured as input and output, TTL level
5 GND n/a System GND
6 EIO1 Ext2 DAQ bit EIO1, can be configured as input and output, TTL level
7 EIO3 Ext4 DAQ bit EIO3, can be configured as input and output, TTL level
8 EIO5 Ext6 DAQ bit EIO5, can be configured as input and output, TTL level
9 EIO7 Ext8 DAQ bit EIO7, can be configured as input and output, TTL level

IO Connector (9 pin sub-D, back panel)

Pin Number
sub-D
Bit Name
(LabJack)
SpecMan
Variable
Function Reserved For (SpecMan)
1 MIO0 IO1 DAQ bit MIO 0, can be configured as input and output (TTL level) Enable/disable tune mode
2 MIO2 IO3 DAQ bit MIO 2, can be configured as input and output (TTL level)
3 DAC1 DAC1 DAQ bit DAC 1. This is an analog output. The value can be changed between 0 and 5 V. The output is controlled from the Dashboard menu
4 AIN1 DAQ bit AIN1, analog input range ±10V, ±1V, ±0.1V and ±0.01V
5 GND n/a System GND
6 MIO1 IO2 DAQ bit MIO 1, can be configured as input and output (TTL level) Enable/disable external high-power amplifier
7 TDAC3 TDAC 3, values (set in software) -10 to 10 V, output is 0 to 10 V, 14 bit resolution
8 AIN0 DAQ bit AIN0, analog input range ±10V, ±1V, ±0.1V and ±0.01V
9 Vs 5 V supply voltage

VCA Connector (SMA, back panel)

Bit Name Function
DAC0 VCA control (back panel). This is an analog output. The value can be changed between 0 and 5 V. The output is controlled from the Dashboard menu, value 0 to 5 V