IC-101 Electronics Module
The IC101 is a high-performance Charge Integrator intended for use with ionisation chambers. With a dynamic range spanning from less than 1 pA to 200 μA, the IC101 integrates advanced digitisation, filtering, and flexible communication interfaces, it also features full control over integration modes, external triggering and an optional high-voltage output up to ± 3 kV for ionisation chamber biasing.
Features
- Dynamic range <1 pA to 200 μA
- Integrated digitisation and filtering
- Fibre-optic, RS-232 and RS-485 interfaces.
- Integrated calibration test source
- Full control provided of integration modes
- External trigger capability
- Analog monitor output
- Frequency monitor output (VFC).
- Optional 3 kV high voltage output for ionization chamber biasing.
Applications
- Ionisation chamber readout
- Low current and charge measurement
Options
- Auxiliary HV output 0 to 3000V
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Operating principle | Gated integrator (charge integrating amplifier) |
| Integration capacitor | Dual, software selectable |
| Input noise | < 100 fA rms + 1 fA rms per pF input load up to 100 pF (1 second integration, 100 pF capacitor) |
| Input offset | < 10 pA , 15 to 25 C. Offset can be removed by zero subtraction. |
| Stability Output drift | < 200 fA / C / hour |
| External accuracy | Better than 0.5% of full scale in use, integration time 500 μsec to 1 sec, after calibration with built-in current source |
| Integration time | User selectable, 100 μsec to 10 sec. |
| External gate input | TTL 10 kohm impedance |
| Trigger modes | Internal (autorun), external |
| Digitisation | 16 bit bipolar |
| Averaging modes | Multiple conversions per integration; multiple integrations per reading to increase digital resolution up to 20 bits |
| Auxiliary HV PSU | (Factory option) 0 to 2000 V programmable (polarity and maximum voltage factory selectable), 1W max. Noise and ripple < 0.1% |
| Power input | +24 V (± 2 V) DC, 300 mA typ, 500 mA max |
| Controls | Two rotary switches for loop address and comms mode/baud rate |
| Displays | Status LEDs (power, device status, comms mode, data RX/TX). “HV on” LED |
| Case material | Stainless steel sheet |
| Weight | 1.2 kg (2.6 lb) |
| Operating environment | 10 to 35C (15 to 25 C recommended to reduce drift and offset) , < 70% humidity, non-condensing, vibration < 0.1g all axes (1 to 1000 Hz) Vibration must be as low as possible to measure at the lower limit of the dynamic range. |
| Shipping and storage | -10 to 50 C, < 80% humidity, non-condensing, vibration < 2g all axes, 1 to 1000 Hz |
Interfaces
| Interfaces | RS-232 or RS-485, 8-bit ASCII. Selectable baud rate up to 115 kbps. The electrical interface can be set to be RS-232 levels, or full-duplex differential RS-485. Fibre-optic loop, 10 Mbit/sec serial, 9-bit asynchronous binary. Ethernet connection to host through A300 or A500 loop controllers. |
| Host computer | ASCII communications based on SCPI. Diagnostic host program supplied for Microsoft® .net framework. Binary DLLs available for Microsoft® .net, National Instruments™ Labview ™, Microsoft® C++.and Linux. |
Monitor outputs
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Number | One, analog voltage One, frequency |
| Signal type | Analog voltage +/- 10 V into 10 kohm. Frequency 0 to 1 MHz TTL into 50 ohm. |
| Mapping | Signals map the selected nominal full scale current range. |
Connectors
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Signal input | RBNC female |
| HV out | SHV |
| External gate in | Lemo coax size 00 |
| Monitor outputs | Lemo coax size 00 for analog voltage Lemo coax size 00 for frequency |
| RS-232/RS485 | Six pin mini-DIN (“PS/2”) 1 Tx/Rs-485 Tx+ 2 Rx / RS-485 Rx- 3 Gnd 4 n/c 5 RS-485 Tx- 6 RS-485 Rx+ |
| Fibre optics | TX & RX ST bayonet, suitable for 1mm plastic fibre or 200 μm HCS fibre. |
| Power in | 2.1mm threaded jack. Mates with Switchcraft S761K or equivalent. |
| Ground | M3 threaded stud |
