MRC-1 & MRCC

Remote Controller(Data sheet V2.3_01)

mesytec MRC-1 and MRCC are the central controlling module for all remote controllable
mesytec devices. The 1/12 NIM MRC-1 module provides a serial (RS-232 / USB) data input
and two event bus branches for up to 16 remote controlled devices each, resulting inmax. 32 devices per controller. MRCC has the same capabilities,
but is a handy standalone module.

Features:• Easy connection to any computer type via RS-232 or USB• Script memory for standalone operation• Up to 32 devices on two event bus branches• Up to 35 m of bus length• Optional: I/O for MRC-1 at the rear side with:• 2 digital outputs (TTL), 2 digital inputs (TTL),• 2 12 bit ADC inputs, 2 12 bit DAC outputs

mesytec GmbH & Co. KG
Wernher-von-Braun-Str. 1, D-85640 Putzbrunn, Germany
phone: +49 - 89 / 456007-30 fax: +49 - 89 / 456007-39
info@mesytec.com - www.mesytec.com

MRC-1

Remote Controller

Connection to PC

Connection to the Eventbus

MRC-1 can be connected to the control PC by astandard RS-232 interface or USB.
MRCC is a bus powered USB device.

Physical connection

M RC -1m a x 35m

50O hm

At the USB port, MRC-1 / MRCC behave like avirtual serial device. Current virtual com port
drivers for various operating systems can be foundat the USB chip manufactureres site:
http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm

While the maximum total bus length is about
35 m, only short branches should be used toconnect the modules. The coaxial bus must beterminated at the distant end with a 50 Ω terminator. The type of coaxial cable is not critical, thinlines with LEMO connectors and "T"-pieces(to connect modules) work as well as standard
RG58 BNC cable.

sh o rtDefault communication parameters are:• Baudrate: 9.600 bd,• Data format: 8N1.
(8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit).
Baud rates can be set to 19.2, 38.4, 57.6 and115.2 kBd by command.

The eventbus is a linear coaxial line which connects the devices with the MRC-1 / MRCC.

Also direct access drivers for own softwaredevelopments are available there.
For easiest communication, a standard terminal
program is used (like hyperterm that comes with
Windows OS or any other terminal program onLinux/UNIX OS).
As soon as the connection is established, a simple<return> in the terminal program should produce
a <MRC-1>” prompt.
After connecting the eventbus, the connected
peripherals can be controlled.
Baudrate settings

Default baudrate is 9.6 kBd.
Baudrates can be changed using the“BD” command:
BD9BD19
BD38
BD57
BD115

Address setup

Each peripheral device has an address selector
switch that allows to select one out of16 addresses. Addresses on the bus have to be
unique to avoid collisions.
During transmission, the TX and RX LEDs show
bus activity. In case of bad bus termination or if
two devices on the bus have the same address, thecollision LED lights up during bus transmission.

sets Baudrate to 9.6 kBd
sets Baudrate to 19.2 kBd
sets Baudrate to 38.4 kBd
sets Baudrate to 57.6 kBd
sets Baudrate to 115.2 kBd

Changed baudrate can be saved using the “BS”
command. If saved, MRC-1 / MRCC will also at
power up start again with this baudrate as
new default.

mesytec GmbH & Co. KG
Wernher-von-Braun-Str.1, D-85640 Putzbrunn, Germany
phone: +49 – 89 / 456007-30 fax: +49 – 89 / 456007-39
info@mesytec.com – www.mesytec.de2/4

MRC-1

Remote Controller

Controlling peripheral devices
Direct memory

Script memory

MRC-1 / MRCC regard peripheral devices as flat
memory pages (with up to 256 memory cells) thatcan be written or read remotely.

For easy use of the MRC-1 / MRCC, a script
feature is implemented. When script recording isactivated, the commands are recorded in a nonvolatile memory.

The command list below explains generalcommands, each device manual showas a detailed
memory map as well as some examples for rc.
Each memory cell represents one parameter of theperipheral device. Writeable parameters can beread back to check presets. Some devices also
provide measured parameters to be read back(e.g. the HV supply MHV-4, where the voltage
preset can be written to and read back from one
address and the measured voltage at the output isprovded at an other (read only) address.
Mirror memory

For some modules it may be a good advice tohave parameters preset and checked before
setting them into effect (for example theHV-supply, where a typo can lead to an erroneous
high voltage and possibly causes damage).
For this purpose, an additional mirror memory isprovided in these devices. Mirror memory
provides all the writeable parameters at the same
addresses like direct memory, but changes only
take effect when mirror memory is copied todirect memory. This allows checking values
before copying them to direct memory.

With hardware reset or on power up the MRC-1 /MRCC transmits the recorded script commands tothe buses. This feature enables standalone
operation of the MRC-1 (no PC needed), MRCC(only USB power needed) once a setup for theperipherals is defined and recorded.

I/O option (MRC-1 only)

As an additional option, the MRC-1 can beequipped with an I/O module.
It provides two 12 bit DAC outputs, two 12 bit
ADC inputs, two TTL outputs and two TTL inputs
for universal use. Analog signals can be createdby DAC to set up external parameters which canbe controlled by voltage. With digital outputs,
trigger sources or other experiment parameters
can be set at experiment start. The ADCs could
be used for measurement of ambient parameterslike temperature, airpressure, vacuum, voltages,…

Command execution

A command to a device is transmitted within
400 us (after completed RS-232 transmission).
When a SE (set) command is transmitted, thecontents of the written address is read backautomatically and the value is displayed forconfirmation. So the command answer can beused for a prompt transmission check.
Additionally, a read command (RE) is available
for explicit readout of a parameter value.

mesytec GmbH & Co. KG
Wernher-von-Braun-Str. 1, D-85640 Putzbrunn, Germany
phone: +49 - 89 / 456007-30 fax: +49 - 89 / 456007-39
info@mesytec.com - www.mesytec.com

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MRC-1

Remote Controller

Command Set MRC-1 / MRCC

Parameter commands

GeneralDirect memory

cmd=
command mnemonicbus=
bus number [0…1]dev=
device number [0…15]
par=parameter number [0…255]val=
16 bit value [0…65535](all commands closed by <ret>)

SE bus dev par val
Set parameter par in device @ bus to given value

Command and values must each be separated by a<space>.
Scan command

SC busscan bus for connected devices, returns for eachaddress on bus the ID code of a connected device
and the rc status on / off.
Device commands

RE bus dev par
Read parameter par from device @ bus
Mirror memory

SM bus dev par val
set mirror parameter to given value
RM bus dev parread given mirror cell from device
Extended command(for some special devices → see individual
data sheets)
CMD cmd bus dev par val
Send complete cmd set to device @ bus

ON bus dev
Switch rc on for given device.
All rc parameters will take effect.

Script commands

OFF bus dev
Switch rc off for given device.
Parameters will return to panel settings.
RST bus dev
Reset connected device – set all rc parameters tozero.

R1
switch script recording on
R0switch script recording off
CLclear script file

CP bus dev
Copy mirror memory of device @ bus to active
memory. Mirror parameters will take effectimmediately.

PS
Perform script: send stored script to bus

ExamplesScriptingLI
list script file

R1 <ret>Bus scanSC 0 <ret>performs a bus scan on bus 0. Detected devices
will be presented with their addresses.

switches script recording on

SE 1 4 3 25 <ret> set parameter...

further cmds

R0 <ret>switches script recording offParameter set

LI <ret>List recorded script

SE 0 1 4 128 <ret>
Sets parameter 4 of device 1 on bus 0 to thevalue 128.

PS <ret>Perform recorded script(will also be performed on
reset or power up)mesytec GmbH & Co. KG
Wernher-von-Braun-Str. 1, D-85640 Putzbrunn, Germany
phone: +49 - 89 / 456007-30 fax: +49 - 89 / 456007-39
info@mesytec.com - www.mesytec.com

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