Control and Measurement Board (COMB) with Dimm-PC core
The compact COMB incorporates a single PC and its environmental functions, as well as the
specific measurement processing functions in one board. The COMB board hosts a Lithium
battery for real time clock operation, with a protection circuitry. However, care must be taken
when replacing the battery, correct polarity and insertion must be observed (use Duracell
CR2032, or equivalent)
CAUTION: Danger of explosion if battery is incorrectly replaced. Replace only with the
same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Dispose of used batteries
according to the manufacturer's instructions.
The PC system of the COMB board is based on the Dimm-PC module, which is a credit card
size PC with AMD Elan SC520 133 MHz micro-controller. Dimm-PC itself contains 32Mbyte
RAM and same size of SanDisk that acts like a hard disk. Dimm-PC module is easily
replaceable as it has an open socket (it has also a screw for safe fixing). COMB card contains
single ICs and some drivers/protection-circuits for the interfaces such as LPT, COM1, PS2,
USB, IDE, Floppy and Speaker.
Measurement processing is based on FPGA circuit. After power on, FPGA holds the Dimm-
PC in wait state (with –IOCHRDY signal) until a PIC microcontroller configures the FPGA circuit
from the IDEPROM (status LED on front panel is red during configuration). After that the FPGA
controls the entire pneumatic system through the Pneumatic I
2
C bus, the Keyboard and Display
module with video RAM for MDA (Monochrome Display Adapter) emulation, and Start button &
status LED. FPGA circuit also performs measurement data acquisition by using the 10-bit A/D
chip. FPGA performs digital data processing and stores the results in its internal FIFO memory.
Cell parameters are sent to the Dimm-PC by single DMA cycles.
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