EPICURE Software Release 45.1 <P> <b> FID User's Guide</b>

EPICURE Software Release 45.1

FID User's Guide

JACK C. SCHMIDT

.5cm The Cryogenic Controls System has undergone massive changes since the last Experimental run. The Apple personal computers have been replaced with VAXstations that communicate with the multibus through a VME interface. This upgrade has brought about the redesigning of application software needed to control the cryogenic systems.

Closed Loop Application Changes

The new FID (Frig Interactive Display) application was designed after reviewing the advantages and disadvantages of the Closed Loop applications available on the Apples and on the ACNET system. Diagram 1 shows the FID screen. The screen layout was designed with the KISMIF (Keep It Simple, Make It Fun) principle in mind. All loop information returned from the multibus is displayed on the screen and menus have been implemented to make the application user-friendly. Loop values may now be stored to a file and recalled at the users request.

User Control

The input of loop data has changed greatly from the Apple system. There are no USC commands. The user has full control over the screen and isn't required to learn complex abbreviations to set loop elements. The user locates the cursor over a settable field, types in new information, and enters a carriage return to send the information to the front end. The new value will be left justified and displayed in bold video. When the front end responds with new readback, the data is right justified and displayed in the settable field. If a carriage return is not entered, the settable field is overwritten with data from the front end as soon as the user moves the cursor out of the settable field. Loop selection is achievable by either menu selection or typing in a new name in the appropriate field on the screen and entering a carriage return. In both instances, the program accesses the loop file for the appropriate record and converts the input and output device names to TANS. These TANs are compared to the TANs returned from the front end. If they match, the text names stored in the file are written to the device name fields; if there is a mismatch, the front end TANs are displayed.

File Manipulation

Users of the FID application now have the ability to adjust a loop to their specifications and save the loop values to a file. Specifically, the file manipulation routines allow the user to save all loop values, retrieve and display saved values, and restore settable values to the front end. An added feature is the ability to save four records per loop to the file. These options are COOLDOWN, INTERMEDIATE, NORMAL and TEST. This information is stored in a file only. The multibus knows nothing about these options. The multibus only remembers the last values set into it. Therefore, if a user requests loop four, cooldown mode, the multibus will return data for loop four but it knows nothing about the cooldown mode. Hence the file values may not correspond to the multibus data. It is up to the user to restore the file values to the front end. The files are created per multibus and are located in the demo account. Though all cryogenic operators will have access to saving loops, only one file will be affected.

Menu Use Explained

Menus have been added to the FID application to create a user-friendly environment. To access the menu bar (line 2 of the FID screen) press the Do key or click on the menu with the mouse. Menu movement in the horizontal and vertical menus is accomplished by the arrow keys or by positioning the mouse over the field and clicking. Menu item selection is accomplished by entering a carriage return or by double-clicking the mouse. To exit a menu without making a selection, press Ctrl-Z. Copies of the FID screen at the end of this document show the menus available to the program user.

The Menu bar

The menu bar contains six items that allow the user access to specific functions of the FID application. list [Page] When selected the Page option displays a pulldown menu of items that deal with the screen. [Multibus] Selects which multibus will be accessed for data. A multibus must be selected before a loop is chosen or an error message will result. [Loops] When selected puts up a pulldown menu with the twenty loops listed for that multibus. This allows the user to switch loops without having to type in a new loop name. [Mode] This is a new feature of the FID application. A pulldown menu is displayed with four choices, allowing the user to select a particular type of loop along with the loop number. [Print] Lists the print queues available and routes a copy of the screen to the chosen queue. [Exit] Exits the FID program and returns the user back to the calling environment.

Page Pulldown Menu

The Page pulldown menu displays four choices (Dia 2). These allow the user to save and restore loops to files and to display stored file information when necessary. list [Restore] Downloads file information for displayed loop and mode to the multibus. [Save] Saves current screen to a record in a file. Record is based on loop number, multibus number, and mode. [Compare] Displays the file information on the screen in inverse video along with the current multibus values (Dia 3). [Normal] Removes the file information from the screen.

Multibus Pulldown Menu

The Multibus pulldown menu lists the Cryo multibuses that can be accessed. The user selects the multibus the user is interested in.

Loops Pulldown Menu

The Loops pulldown menu lists the Closed Loops from 0 to 19 (Dia 4). The user selects the loop of interest and the screen is updated with that information.

Mode Pulldown Menu

The mode pulldown menu allows the user to select one of four running modes for the loop (Dia 5). This refers to information stored in the records and not what is actually at the front end. By selecting a new mode the user is able to access file information pertinent to that loop . list [Cooldown] The cooldown mode is for tuning a loop during a cooldown. [Intermediate] When a cryogenic system is between cooldown and normal running modes it is said to be in the intermediate mode. [Normal] This mode contains the values a loop should operate at under 'normal' conditions. [Test] This mode was created to let the operator 'play' with a loop and save the values.

Display Fields

The FID screen consists of five types of display fields: text entry, text display, toggle, numerical entry and numerical display. Cursor movement between fields is accomplished by use of the arrow keys (one cell at a time) or by defined keys that allow settable field jumping ( pf3 --- next field, pf4 --- previous field), or by locating the mouse over the field and clicking.

Text Entry Fields

list [Loop Name] Allows the user to enter an EPICURE database loop name to select a new Closed Loop. Note: A multibus must be selected before entering a loopname. [Loop Title] This field allows the user to input up to 40 alphanumeric characters to describe the loop. This information is stored in the closed loop file and not sent to the multibus. [Input Device] Allows the user to select a different input device for the Closed Loop. The name must be defined in the EPICURE database. [Output Device] Allows the user to select a different output device for the Closed Loop. The name must be defined in the EPICURE database.

Text Display Fields

These fields are not settable, but display pertinent information about the FID file. list [Saved] This field contains the date the last time the requested loop was written to the FID file. This field contains data only when file information is being displayed. [Loop Mode] Displays the menu-selected mode of the FID.

Toggle Fields

The only toggle-able fields pertain to loop status. Pressing return or clicking the mouse, when the cursor is located in the field, will generate a request opposite of the one currently displayed. When the multibus acknowledges the set, the field is updated with the new information. Normal loop status will be displayed in normal video - ENABLE, ACTIVE, DEFINED, and abnormal status will be displayed in bold video --- DISABLE, INACTIVE, UNDEFINED.

Numeric Entry Fields

These fields require numeric entry. The cryo operator should recognize all fields with the exception of the Deadband ½ Width and gain (PG, IG, DG) fields. The Deadband ½ Width field replaces the Minimum Error Tolerance field displayed on the Apple FID display.

Loop gains are now settable. If a user adjusts a gain, the user will notice a change in the appropriate k-factors. If a user changes a k-factor, the user will notice a change in the gain values. The gain and k-factor settings are based on the following equations:

eqnarray* PG & = & -(K_1 + 2K_2)

IG & = & K_0 + K_1 + K_2ST

DG & = & K_2 ST

K_0 & = & PG + IG ST + DGST

K_1 & = & - PG - 2 DGST

K_2 & = & DGST eqnarray*

Notice that these equations will not produce linear results. In other words, if PG is changed, new K0 and K1 values will be calculated. If K0 is changed, then IG will be recalculated, not PG.

Numeric Display Fields

These fields display readback values from the front end and are not settable. The cryo operator should recognize all fields from the Apple loop application.

Error Reporting

Errors that occur with data acquisition from the front end will be displayed in abbreviated format in the field affected. The following is a list of common errors and what they mean.

list [LESSDATA] The multibus has returned less information than the Closed Loop application expected to see. If this error occurs, try entering the loop name again. If the error continues, call one of the computer people. [MOREDATA] The multibus has returned more information than the Closed Loop application expected to see. If this error occurs, try entering the loop name again. If the error continues, call one of the computer people. [TBLRNGERR] The returned data information is outside the range table defined in the database. Adjusting the loop settings will remove this error.

Security, Privacy, Legal

rwest@fsus04.fnal.gov