IET PCS Series – The World’s Only Programmable Capacitance Decade Box
A broad range of laboratory grade programmable capacitance decade boxes for applications requiring a programmable impedance unit controlled manually and by a computer via an IEEE-488, RS-232 interface.
The PCS Series is a broad line of high precision programmable decade capacitors. They provide straight capacitance in a wide selection of ranges, tolerances and ratings. IET Labs also supplies custom combination substituters for capacitance and resistance as well as sources for voltage and current.
The PCS Series is a precision substituter with excellent characteristics of stability, temperature coefficient, and power coefficient. High dynamic ranges are available, starting as low as 1 pF and extending for as many as 10 decades. These features combined with a low virtually constant residual impedance make for very versatile instruments.
The PCS Series features two optional special settings, an “open circuit” and a “short circuit”. These modes are useful for obtaining reproducible transitions between settings, i.e. break-before-make or to short between settings. The “short circuit” setting also provides a reduced zero setting impedance.
Operation is both local using convenient direct reading front panel thumbwheel switches, and remote with optional parallel RS-232 Serial or IEEE-488 interfaces.
The PCS Series employs very low capacitance relays. High quality gold plated tellurium copper five-way binding posts serve to minimize the thermal emf effects which would artificially reflect a change in dc resistance measurements. All other conductors within the instrument, as well as the solder employed, contain no metals or junctions that could contribute to thermal emf problems.
With low resolutions and high dynamic ranges, the PCS Series may be used for exacting precision measurement applications requiring high accuracy, good stability, and low zero impedance. They are suited for automatic and manual calibration and testing, simulation of programmable loads, and many other laboratory and industrial applications.
The components employed in these substituters are accurate and stable. Low temperature coefficient capacitors are used. Capacitors are selected for best suitability to each decade.
The PCS Series offers an optional digital display to indicate the control command. The unit may be rack mounted to serve as a component in measurement and control systems.
DRIVERS – TEST KEYBOARD
To aid the user in operating the PRS/PCS/PLS, Two “Keyboard” Controller programs – the easiest way to control GPIB or RS232 devices without writing a program – are available from IET. This Keyboard programs automatically finds your device at start-up and it lets you enter just the data that you want to send to the device. This program works with ICS, Measurement Computing and National Instruments controllers.
For GPIB IEEE-488.1 and IEEE-488.2 interface
Download ICS_GPIBkybd_Install.zip
Unzip the file and follow instructions to install. Open the application. You may use the Find Listeners button to confirm that the PLS unit is recognized. Other instruments may also be recognized at this time.
Enter and set the Address to the PLS address. Use the window to send a command string to the PLS, where the command string is constructed as described in the operating manual. A command string might be, for example:
SOURce:DATA resistance string
For Serial RS-232 interface:
Download: ICS_Serkybd_Install.zip
Unzip the file and follow instructions to install. Open the application. Initialize the COM PORT and use the Device Command window to send a command string to the PLS, where the command string is constructed as described in the operating manual. A command string might be, for example:
SOURce:DATA resistance string