Power supply/sweeper model IPPS 2-6/60 specially designed by Insight Product Company to operate sub-mm wave BWO at frequencies up to 1500 Ghz.  IPPS 2-6/60 produces highly stable regulated voltages for slow wave structure (anode) and filament/heater.  This power supply is designed to simplify the operation with BWO, to protect BWO against distraction during start/stop routines, to allow fast frequency sweeping in the entire band, and also to allow BWO to be used within a frequency stabilization system. IPPS 2-6/60 provides following :

• Automated  START/STOP
• Quick over current protection
• Overheating protection
• Fast frequency sweep in the entire band
• Ultra fast anode voltage control for frequency stabilization
• Low ripple and high stability
• Digital readout for frequency, voltages and currents
• IEEE-488 control of output frequency
• Multiple possibilities to control the output frequency
• Fine filament voltage control
• Powered by single phase line only, relatively low size and weight

 
• SPECIFICATIONS

Automated START/STOP circuitry provides a safe environment for the BWO during START and STOP and eliminates impact of operators' errors that otherwise might destroy the tube. To initiate the START routine the operator should set the UP/DOWN switch to the position UP. To initiate the STOP routine the operator should set UP/DOWN switch to the position DOWN.

Automatic circuitry works to comply with the START/STOP routines required by the specifications to the BWO. During the START routine the automatic monotonously increase's heater voltage to the preset level, set slow wave voltage to minimum, and then, switch to the anode voltage preset by the operator . Total time for the START routine is from 3 to 5 minutes. During the STOP routine automatic circuitry decreases anode voltage from the working level to the minimal level required by the specifications. Set anode voltage to zero and then decrease heater voltage to the minimum. Total time for the STOP procedure is from 40 to 90 seconds.

Quick over current protection eliminates the negative impact of arcs inside the BWO to the tube safety. If anode current exceeds a preset limit the over current protection circuitry automatically sets anode voltage to zero. Total time from the receiving signal (anode current over the limit) to the actual zeroing of the anode voltage is not more then 20-50 microseconds. Because of fast voltage reducing, the level of the power dissipated at slow wave electrode is not enough to destroy the fine slow wave structure. So BWO will be ready for the future use.

Over current protection incorporates two protection systems: 1. Quick Responding Electronic Protection circuitry with typical response time 20-50 microseconds. 2. Electromechanical Relay Protection Circuitry with a typical response time 10-20 milliseconds. Electromechanical Relay Protection circuitry doubles the Quick Response Protection in case if the Quick Response Protection fails.

Overheating protection eliminates negative impact of operators' errors or water cooling line failure to destroy BWO tube. If for example, an operator forgets to switch ON the water cooling system, or the water cooling line fails the BWO temperature will rise up to the preset limit and after this overheating protection will set anode voltage to zero.
 

Output frequency can be sweep into the entire band for less then 1 milliseconds. This can be done simply by sending analog voltage from 2 to 6 Volts to the terminal "EXT WIDE". There are no additional mechanical or electrical switches, or signals needed to sweep in the entire anode voltage range from 2 to 6 kV.

Anode voltage can be controlled within bandwidth up to 20 MHz by sending analog signal to the terminal "Fast PLL Loop". To control anode voltage for approximately +/- 1 Volts it is necessary to send a signal up to +/-1V to the terminal "Fast PLL Loop". This is adequate for building any type of frequency stabilization systems, including a phase lock loop. To develop a frequency stabilization system in the entire frequency band of both terminals "Fast PLL Loop" and "EXT WIDE" should be used.

Implementation of precision high voltage dividers, voltage references make it possible to achieve low voltage ripple and stability. Anode voltage ripple and stability is less then 10-5 .

Power Supply IPPS 2-6/60 has a four decimal digit readout for output frequency, four decimal digit readouts for slow wave voltage, three decimal digit readouts for slow wave current, three decimal digit readouts for filament current, and three decimal digit readouts for filament voltage. Output frequency vs. slow wave voltage dependence table is burned into a removable EPROM. Output frequency vs. slow wave voltage dependence can be programmed for every BWO that is in use.

Output frequency can be controlled via the IEEE-488 (GPIB) interface in the entire frequency band. Built in 12 bit DAC (digital to analog converter) provide up to 4096 frequency points in the entire frequency band.

Power Supply/Sweeper IPPS 2-6/60 has over five modes to control output frequency. This makes IPPS 2-6/60 very convenient in various laboratory applications. The power supply provides the following frequency manipulating possibilities -
 

• Manual setting of output frequency by precision 10 - turn potentiometer;
• Frequency control by a computer via IEEE-488 interface;
• Fast frequency control by analog signal at front panel terminal;
• Ultra fast frequency modulation via front panel terminal;
• Frequency modulation by AC line;
• Frequency modulation by AC line pulse.

Fine control of filament voltage:

Filament voltage can be regulated from 5.5 to 7.5 Volt by precision 10 turn potentiometer.

Power Supply IPPS 2-6/60 operates from single phase AC line. Total power consumption less then 1.2 kWatt. IPPS 2-6/60 placed in 15"x19"x24" case, and weights less then 150 lb. In relation to other power supplies with similar characteristics above mentioned data is low. To compare, the carcinotron power supply with similar output voltages TH 20224 make by Siemel weights 440 lb., placed in 50.7"x27.3"x27.3" case, and consumes over 1.7 kWatt of AC power.

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