Sigma C4 Controller - Sigma Systems Corporation

Sigma C4 Controller
Programmable Controller with native IEEE-488 GPIB
Robust industrial design – Easy to use – Sophisticated control
3 Modes • Local single set-point
• Front panel programmable, multiple programs, 100 steps
• Native IEEE-488 GPIB and RS-232 remote control
2 Probes* • Control with either or both probes and read the other
• T-Drive tm and Touch ‘n Go tm speed tests and optimize
production throughput
Precise • 0.1° readout, ± 0.1°C accuracy, “on the fly” adjustable PID control
• 500 Ohm platinum RTD for precise control
Versatile
Low Noise
• 2 point (per probe) probe accuracy optimization
• Celsius or Fahrenheit operation
• Controls heat, boost heat, cryogenic cooling, refrigeration,
plus one additional TTL Output and Input
• Always current – serial port software upgrades
• Zero crossing switching for RFI free operation
* Second probe optional with chambers and platforms
* LabVIEW drivers available
Touch ‘n Go tm - Rapid Thermal Cycling feature built-in to every C4 controller
Repetitive thermal cycling just got a lot faster. The Touch ‘n Go
feature included in every Sigma C4 controller eliminates the settling
time required by other controllers to settle at the upper and
lower cycle temperatures. Instead of the usual tedious settling at
each set-point, a Touch ‘n Go program simply “touches” at the
set-point, then instantly goes on to the next set-point. Cycles are
dramatically faster, so tests get finished sooner.
A “normal” cycling profile looks like the graph below. The flat
parts of the curve at the top and bottom are typical of the settling
time a normal controller requires to satisfy a “go to set-point”
command. The normal controller does not move on to the next
set-point until the controlled temperature has been within a set
range of the current set-point for a specific amount of time. This
process is appropriate for normal go-to-temperature commands,
but wastes a lot of time in repetitive cycling where an instantaneous
excursion to the upper and lower temperatures is all that is
required.
If you need to run a fast cycling program between two (or more)
temperatures, but you do not need precise settling at each temperature,
Touch ‘n Go can substantially speed the process. The
Temperature ˚C
120.0
100.0
80.0
60.0
40.0
20.0
Sigma Systems "Touch 'n Go"
Using TP294 Thermal Platform
& Adjustable Settling Band Feature
Touch 'n Go Cycle - 3.3 minutes
Normal cycle - 8.8 minutes
120.0
Sigma Systems Normal Temperature Cycling
Using TP294 Thermal Platform
Normal cycle - 8.8 minutes
0.0
–20.0
0.8
2.6
4.4
6.2
8.0
Time - minutes
9.8
11.6
13.4
15.2
Using Standard Control
Using Adjustable Settling Band Feature
17.0
18.8
20.6
22.4
24.2
26.0
27.8
29.6
Temperature ˚C
100.0
80.0
60.0
40.0
20.0
following graph shows the Touch ‘n Go advantage in action.
The chart shows the dramatic difference Touch ‘n Go made in a real
Sigma customer test. The red line shows how the controller immediately
changed direction to the next set-point as soon as it reached
the current set-point. The conditioning cycle was reduced from 8.8
to 3.3 minutes.
0.0
–20.0
0.8
2.6
4.4
6.2
8.0
Time - minutes
9.8
11.6
13.4
15.2
17.0
18.8
Using Standard Control
20.6
22.4
24.2
26.0
27.8
29.6
For 50 cycles of this test, Touch ‘n Go would save 4 hours and 35
minutes.
For 3000 cycles, a test running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week...
---“Normal” test time = 2 weeks, 4 days, and 8 hours
---Touch ‘n Go test time = 0 weeks, 6 days, and 21 hours
www.SigmaSystems.com

T-Drive tm - Thermal Overdrive feature built-in to every C4 controller
T-Drive is thermal overdrive that slashes test times
T-Drive is a C4 controller feature that can provide dramatic
improvements in thermal test and conditioning times for high
mass and thermally latent DUTs. While the concept of thermal
overdriving is as old as food baking, until now controlling thermal
overdrive to provide useful benefits has proven largely illusive.
T-Drive makes thermal overdriving easy, very safe, and efficient.
While T-Drive will be of significant use to a variety of users,
those with relatively high performance temperature chambers
who are testing/conditioning high mass or thermally latent loads
will see the most substantial benefits. The long soak times often
associated with such tests/conditioning can often be cut to half, or
even less.
The chart below shows a typical DUT temperature curve from
a normal “ramp and soak” profile that would be used to bring a
load to the set-point test temperature. A long soak at the set-point
is typically required to allow the DUT to become substantially
thermally homogeneous at the set-point temperature.
T-Drive is stress controlled ramping at maximum speed
There are times when you want the fastest possible test, but need to
use slower ramps to control the thermal stress applied to your DUT.
Rather than guessing at a ramp rate that will protect your DUT, you
can let T-Drive maximize the ramp speed while preventing excessive
thermal stress (shock).
Simply set the allowable stress your DUT can tolerate, and T-Drive
will apply the maximum acceleration to your test without exceeding
the stress limits you set. You can even set different allowable stress
levels at different temperatures and let T-Drive proportion the allowable
stress at the points in between. With T-Drive you can have
thermal overdriving and stress management at the same time.
Test data show that, with T-Drive, total test time can be substantially
reduced while thermal stress is actually managed better than with
traditional methods of time based ramping. The combined result is
substantially improved test times and reduced thermal stress.
The chart below shows an example of thermal overdrive and thermal
stress management simultaneously applied by T-Drive to an accelerated
test profile.
Temperature °C
Temperature °C
T-Drive can accelerate the test by providing a carefully controlled
thermal overdrive condition that will speed heat transfer and
reduce test time while still maintaining a controlled approach to
the set-point. T-Drive allows you to set finite temperature limits
so that T-Drive will use all the thermal overdrive your chamber
or platform can deliver without ever over heating or over cooling
your DUT. Below is a chart showing the same DUT temperature
curve with T-Drive thermal overdrive in action with DUT temperature
limits clearly respected.
Want the latest firmware and features for
your C4 controller for free?
The current version of C4 firmware, with all advanced features
included, is always available for download from our web site for
free. The download includes a PC based loader program for loading
the firmware into the C4.
Temperature °C
If you would simply like us to send you the new firmware, just call
us with a controller serial number and your credit card information
and we will send you a new EEPROM with the latest firmware, prepaid
by FedEx or equivalent, for $50 (in USA - higher elsewhere).
Want C4 features for your older
Sigma CC-3 controller?
For less than ¹⁄₃ of the price of a new C4, you can convert your older
Sigma CC-3 controller to a CC-3.5 with all the C4 firmware features.
Ask your Sigma representative or sales engineer for a CC-3.5
Conversion brochure, or get it from www.SigmaSystems.com. Only
Sigma continues to protect your investment even decades after you
buy.
www.SigmaSystems.com