Leo R. Dalesio

The Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System architecture: Past, present, and future

Abstract The Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System (EPICS), has been used at a number of sites for performing data acquisition, supervisory control, closed-loop control, sequential control, and operational optimization. The EPICS architecture was originally developed by a group with diverse backgrounds in physics and industrial control. The current architecture represents one instance of the “standard model”. It provides distributed processing and communication from any local area network (LAN) device to the front end controllers. This paper presents the current architecture, performance envelope, current installations, and planned extensions for requirements not met by the current architecture.

The Los Alamos accelerator control system database: A generic instrumentation interface☆

Abstract Controlling experimental-physics applications requires a control system that can be quickly integrated and easily modified. One aspect of the control system is the interface to the instrumentation. An instrumentation set has been chosen to implement the basic functions needed to monitor and control these applications. A data-driven interface to this instrumentation set provides the required quick integration of the control system. This type of interface is limited by its built-in capabilities. Therefore, these capabilities must provide an adequate range of functions to be of any use. The data-driven interface must support the instrumentation range required, the events on which to read or control the instrumentation and a method for manipulating the data to calculate terms or close control loops. The database for the Los Alamos Accelerator Control System addresses these requirements.

Vacuum control system for the Los Alamos Low Energy Demonstration Accelerator proton injector

A vacuum control system has been developed for use on the Los Alamos National Laboratory continuous wave (cw) Low Energy Demonstration Accelerator (LEDA) proton injector. This paper summarizes hardware and software implementation to satisfy the following design criteria: (1) performs as a standalone system-no direct access to CPU/memory components by computer control hardware during normal operations, (2) has local (chassis) and remote control (EPICS & LabVIEW) capabilities, (3) is electrically isolated and filtered from electrical transients created from injector high voltage spark-downs to ground, and (4) incorporates fast protect and fail safe components.