MercuryiTC
©2014 Oxford Instruments Omicron NanoScience. All rights reserved.
Page 20
2.9.1 Motherboard
The motherboard contains the processors that control the iTC. The operating program and
control applications are stored on a flash drive. The motherboard also provides a single
temperature-sensor input and a single heater output.
2.9.2 Expansion slots and daughter boards
There are eight expansion slots on the iTC 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 iTC.
The iTC 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 9 gives a full technical description.
• Heater
This is a board containing a single heater interface. A maximum of three heater boards can
be fitted. Chapter 10 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 5 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 11 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 13 gives a full technical
description.
• Pressure
This is a board which measures signals from a pressure transducer. It can be used to control