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I. GENERAI- I\ [Link]
I.I SCOPT-

('gllttul \l,rtlcl PNC-lG is a micro-contrtrllcr [rast',1. cc,rttottlicltl. stand

Para Ngclear
alone. portable llnirr: \)Pr'r.utct1 instrument for Nuclear ('otttltlttr rrIirliclttiorl It is a
versatile instnrment clc:ilri..l t() cater counting application rt-tlttirtlttctlts

Irara Nuclcar Cguritcr \ildcl PNC-IG uses GM tube as Itticiciii ratiiitliott dctcctor.
Require'd high voltagc rc(]irired tbr GM detector is generated in \4odcl llN('-l(l I'lrc load
resister lbr GM tubc an.l rhc tiont end electronics for pulsc proccssing arc hotrscd in
PNC-lG. Single coaxiul e ,rhlc uith BNC connector connects the (iN{ tttbc to l'}NC-lG.

Para Nuclear Counlcr N,lodel PNC-IG can store 1000 counts clata in a tton-r'olatile
memory. 'l-hese readings can be downloaded to PC via RS-212 interl-ace or printed on
printer via parallel intcrlhcc

Para Nuclear Counlcr \'lodel PNC-IG is ideally suited lbr Nuclcar Irxpcrintents
carried out in Universitl and colleges. It is also useful fbr racliatiitn ct'runting tirr Ilealth
Physics applications in rirdioisotope laboratories, nuclear reactors. Ituclear po\\cr plants,
nuclear medicine centers ctc.

1.2 DESCRIPTION
Model PNC-lG has lirllorving functional blocks

a) Detector - GN1 -fLrhc

b) High Voltage Suppll' & Pulse Processing Circuit
c) Nlicrocontroller with RTC and Memory
d) LCD Menu Display'& Keypad
e) Printer Output
f) PC Interface

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t.2.1 l)r- [].("1 ( )lt

I)anr Nuclctrr t,itiittcr Mo{"1 PNC-I/l can hc e()uplc(l [() lut\ stlttttlarcl. halogen
qucnchc(l. lutti (;\l r,rl,.' riith operating voltage less thrtrt lo()(i\ \rrrr)litllr. \'lotlcl PNC-
lG is sLrpplictl r"tl': \ jlr(j(i\\ GM tube type LND 7l? tlloLlttlt..l itl 1-1'11tler e trittcd "\lunlinum
hogsing. l'hc nt,rr r;iil operoting voltage for the tubc is -(-{0 rolts. lhc (iNI detcctor is
coppccted by a e ,,.rrrrrl uirhlc with BNC connector mtluntcd ()tt thc tl'trrlt llitncl.

IIV Supply Menrory l)rinter

(0 to 1500V) RTC & lrc
(I2C logic) lntc'rfirce

GIvl Tube
{ l)etector
i
t Pulse
Processing
Kcl board &
L,C]I)

! Circuit I)isplal'
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! Fig. I I.'UNCTIONAL BLOCK DIAGRAM OF PNC-IG
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! 1.2.2 H.\. sl l't'l \ & PTTLSE SHAPING ('lR(',1 Il'
i lhc llr!'ir r,,ir;rtc (0 to +1500 Volts) necessar\ lo ()nclalc (i\1 ltrhe is generated in
t Nlodcl PN('-l{, lhe voltage is continuously adiustubie tt, ' l-i()0 rolts using helipot with
! graduatcd rlriri rrr,,untcd on the front panel. Adjusted tIV is displalcd on the l,CD.

t 'l'he Il \ .[Link]) is a dc to dc converter using cpo\\ trioltlecl lcrritc lrattsfttrmer. l{igh

I roltagc'olrlput uI l() 1-1500 Volts is filtered through l0() K()'0 0l l\licrofirrad RC filter
iirr nrirtitnLrtt, i iirl'llc content.
I Currenr arrrplitler and ferrite core are the center [Link] ol-tlesign of II. V. Supply
! [.'errite corc rnrr]stirrmer is designed to work with oscillator attd to pro\ide continuously
13 yariable high rolrege fiom 0 to + 1500 Volts at approximatell'0.1 ntA load current.

ro tligh Voltagc is connected to the GM Tube through a load resistor.

'l'he detector
-["]'i- pLrlses.
! output pulses [Link] to incident radiation are then shaped to generate These

t T"fL pulses are t'ed as input to the Timer/Counter of the Micro controller.

I
t Warning
{ Fatal High Voltages are exposed when the front panel of the instrument is
opened. Su itch off power and wait for 30 seconds trefore touching inside
! components.
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t 1.2.-1 \t t( lr( )-cONTROLLER
]1 \1,,,:tt I'\C-lG uses Atmel makc ti brt nrrer(]e()nlr()ller trpe tt9C55. Real Time
. ('l.1ck .r (r 1i1,,I1 Counter and 64KB EEPRON1 irrc atldititinal l-(' logic devices interfaced

t t0 thc ttrtr tr,t otltrollef.

\ 1.2.t t.( l) ]IhNU DISPLAY & KEY PAI)

I 'l hc tr. ihrrracters x 2 line large displav u'ith uidt- ricuing itnglc l.C'D display helps
t user t() r'()ntnrunicate with Model PNC-IG and sct the pitranrctcrs b)'using keypad. LCD

! backlir ri ill urrlonratically tum ON when PNC-lG is opcrated ott the mains supply.

ro Papcl crnbedded 4 keys are used for setting up varit,us parameters and controlling the
acquisirit,n. dlrta recall and other operations. All the .l ke1's carry different significance
rt during thc operation. Displayed Character on LCD. just above each key shows the
! function pl'rhat key. For example > symbol indicates that pressing of this key will advance
the cursor l() next position of the displayed number'
!
i I.2.5 PRINI-ER OUTPUT

T N{eclcl PNC-lG generates formatted output fbr printing on centronics parallel printer.
Pinter pert 35 pin D male connector on the rear panel is lbr connecting it to any standard
Il centronics parallel printer to produce hard copy of result of an experiment.
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! 1.2.6 PL' IN'tERFACE
t Model PNC-lG generates formatted serial output lbr data transfer to PC on COM or
\l Serial Porr. CIOM port 9 pin D male connector on the rear panel is for connecting it to PC
for transf'erring the data to PC. Support software for data transfer to PC in Windows
{ environment. is provided with Model PNC-1G.
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t 2. SPECIFICATIONS

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I! ttr{ iltoNICS
(}I'I I{ \ I'ING MODES
All soliii :tuir. \lii-ro-(

Preset'['inrer
[Link] r based design

i
! t,Iil.\1._ l' I'IMER 9999 Secs *

! \l \nt[.tt oF RUNS Settable bcttecn I to l0(X)

I NI}-\I I)ISPLAY Counts : 99999c)

! Time
Runs : 1000
:991)9

\o Paralysis Time: 250. 3-50. 550 microseconds & 'OFF'

t Hv STIPPLY Adjustable to 1500V by setting the helipot
1 with graduated dial

! I)A'I",\ S1'ORAGE Store and recall tacilit.v-. lbr data up to 1000 readings
i
\a TIST-Ii INTERFACE 4 keys ke1'pad u'ith 16x2 lines [Link] lor displaying
Key function
{
I)r\.l'A 'tRANSFER For PC : RS-232 COM Port
! For Printer : Centronics Parallel Port
T PO\\/[,]R lvlains Operated 240V (t l0 V) ,,\C, 50Hz
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r. GENERAL
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Mechanical
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f)imensions 2C0Lx208Dx90llmm
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rl Weight Approximately 2 kg

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t *** Optional HH:MM:SS format is supplied on specitic request.
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I 1. INDICATOPS/ COI.i-t'R0LS / CONNECTORS
!
I l'ront Panel
T
i Ind icators

I \Il:\I] DISPLAY l6 r I I incs I argr' (.haracler I-Cf) Display

t
! ('ontrols

t { KEYS PAD lor I\,1ulti lunction Operation

rl Helipot with graduated dial to set HV
IIV ADJ UST
1
! (lonnectors

1 I)},-tECTOR BN'C' Female connector for GM Tube

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! Rear Panel
!
TD ('ontrols
\a ONiOFF SWITCH Instn:ment ON/OFF switch
ro
ra Connectors

{ MAINS Mains cable receptacle with built-in fuse holder

t RS-232 CONNCTOR 9 pin D type PC Interface connector

t
? PRINTER OUTPUT 25 Pin D type Printer interf,ace connector

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t 5 OPER ^TION
I 5.I OPERATING PR(X [-I)t RT-
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t Following proceclurc shotrl..l hc [Link] tirr trouble lree operation of PNC-IG.

I 1. Connect Mains cahlc to tlrc nrains cable respectable mounted on rearpanel of the
I 2.
instrument.
Connect the GN,I l)ercclor cable ilNt Connector to BNC female connector on the
I front panel.
t 3. Tum the instrumenr ON hr setting ON/OFF switch to ON position. This will tLrrn
ON the LCD Menu displal.
ra 4. Adjust HV supply to the ralue specified lbr the GM tube used. For GM tube
rt 5.
model LND 712. the operating voltage is 550 Volts.
Press any key and fbllou, the operating instructions as prompted by LCD Menu.
T 6. Refer the details on Set LJp. Modes of operation, Data Recall and Transfer

b 7 .
described in OPERAl-lONAt- DETAILS.
At the end of the experiment. set [{igh Voltage to 0 volts by turning the HV
1 8.
Adiust dial completelv cottnter clockwise to 0.00 setting.
Srvitch the instrumenl OIrli by setting the ON/OFF switch to OFF position.
!
t 5.2 OPERATIONAL DETAILS
t 5.2.I DEFAULT PARAMETERS
TD
b Modei PNC-IG is a versatile instrument, including the HV supply and front end
electronics required by the GM Detector. For each of these configurations, it is necessary
r|) to set certain parameters such as Preset Time. Number of Runs (repetitions). These
ro parameters values will be loaded when the particular mode of operation is activated.

rc Model PNC-IG has following default values for these parameters. These default
ra values can be loaded if required.

\, DEFAULT PARAMETER VALUES

T PRESET TIMER
*o
q' TIME : lsecond(0001)
Number of RUNS : l0 (0010)
ID
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T 5.2.2 BASI(- KF.\ F I \("1 IO\S

t Follorr',:^g table shori: thc llasic Kcrs Svmbol and their function. These key symbols are
I used for displal rrrg llre ke r :

T mbol I Functions
! -l
i SKIP Kt.\ lirr ehancinp. Ooeratins Mode or to next Mode

t llA('K Kl-\ to so back rvithout

EN'f t.R KF-\ to conllrm the
makins an

t IN(:Rt-\IF-\'l' Kl,-\' to increment the disi t under cursor

SHII.'l K[-\ tu r]lo\e the cursor to next di
I
t Apart fronr these Ilasic Ke1 flnctions. there are many other key symbols used for
l} displaying the opiions.
'i'hese
ke1 symbols are indicated while describing iire parlicular

t parameter/operation.

! 5.2.3 SET PARA]\TETERS

I In this mode, user can set the parameters such as Preset Time, Number of Runs etc.
! Counts per Run are storcd automatically in the memory and can be retrieved in RECALL

T MODE.

rl While the Menu is indicating

lD
Para Electronics
t NUCLEAR COUNTER
! After few seconds
q|)
{ GM Counter
{ Model PNC-1G
ra After fely seconds
ra
rl Set Time / Runs?
TUD S Default
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rl After felv seconds
Tr
rD HV = 0050 Volts
Press Any Key ...
Ir After pressing any key
ril
.!, HV Read Mode
rl ES
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t l'ttt'tt .\trt lr ttt. ( ()unlt r \lo,lt'l P.\'C- lG - 12 -

I Press ) F. Ke r \,lirrsr llY Lrsing llelipot dial on the front panel

\
i HV = 0052 Volts
t Press Any Key ...

! Press anr ker to proered

I Set Time / Runs?

I TUD S Default
i Press:- ) T' lirr Set'[Link]/ U tirr RUns?
i ln this setLrp Lrser can sct ['imc and ltuns
ra
T Key: - Set Prcset Iinte.
t U Key: - Set Number of Runs

1 D Key: - Set Default Parameters

S Key: - Go to llack
!
1 If T Kev is pressed. lirllor,ving menlr will appear on LCD

\a Counting Time
t +> E B 0000Sec
t Counting Titne can bc set between I to 9999 Seconds.
t
! If U Key is plessed. follorving menu r,vill appear on LCD

rt No. Of Runs q010

ra
Number of Runs can be set between 1 to 1000.
{
r. Note:
lll
Menu indicates blinking underlinetl digit that can be modified. To increment this
rt digit, presr + Key, to shift cursor to next digit press > Key E Key to accept the set
? parameter and B Key to exit from this Mode.

\r If Counting Time or Number of Runs is set to 0000, PNC-IG witrl load Counting
t Time as I Second and Number of Runs as l.

Ir Press ) D Key: Default parameters will be loaded.

tl PNC-|G will prompt on display Load deJauli parameters.

t PresetTime
Number of
:-lSecond
Runs : - 10
!
!
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5.2..1 Rt,N \lOt)l_

S Kcr u ill brrng up luenu as below

Start Counter?

Press ')'ker to start counter. Following message will appear on the LCD for few
scconds hcli'rc lre lrtAl ctrunting starts.
(** Note : 'Parabtsis
Paralysis Time Time' option is
U ES 250uS if it
provided onbt is
ordered)

During counter initialization, paralysis time can be set by the user just before counting
starts.

While counting. Counting'fime, Number of Runs and counts as shown on LCD display.
All these three values of the current run are stored in EEPROM. The maximum storage
is upto 1000 Runs.

Counts Run Number

Abort
+ I
Stop Key Elapsed Time

A Key :- Abort key will terminate the current Run and halt counting immediately. The
data of the current Run is ignored by PNC-IG

A Run can be halted / stopped by pressing ll key. However, the stopping will occur only
when current Run is completed. On halt, instrument will prornpt user
whether to continue or to start fresh./new run.

C Key :- To continue run from where the run was stopped

> Key :- To starl run from fresh
S Key :- To change Mode

When preset numbers of Runs are completed the menu will change to

000099 0010
 l)ttrtt \tttlt'ur ('rttottt'r,Vodel PNC- 1G l1

> Ker:- Ir) Starl run tiorr fiesh.

S Kcy - l'o hanuc'I\lode.
e

\\hcn rhc nrn is halred before preset number of runs are completed, it is possible to
ru\tarl lie sh run or conlinue from the next run where the stop as occurred

000099 0010

> Kc) - I.t.,:tarl run liorn lresh.

C Key .- To continue lrom where stopped.
S Ke1':- ['o change Mode.

** llole ; 'Due lo overheating of electronic components, counter / timer may

[Link]; in that case please Turn OFF the instrument for few seconds and then
restart it. Set HV as suggested, wait for a minule till High voltage stabilizes and start
counting erperimenl.
 Itrrtt \tttltLtr ('t)unler Model PNC- 1G 15

5.2.5 }TT-( ALL DATA MODE

ln this rttode. the Counts Data (as stored in Timer Run) can be retrieved and
Preset
lranslc'rred to l-C'D or COM Port or Printer Port. It also allows user to select the data
rar')gc \\hich rvill be transfened to the set device.

l'ress ) S Ke1 to get this mode. Menu will indicate

Recall Data?
ES
Press E: - 'fo recall Counts Data
Press S: - To go back to earlier menu

Pressing of E key will prompt the selection of Data Range which can be Entire or Partial'

Data From / To
FT EB Entire

F Key: - To select data "From Run" (beginning of data range)

T Key: - 'fo select data "To Run" lend of data range)
E Key: - To select Entire data range (all the Runs)
B Ke1': - Back to Recall Data

It is necessary to enter valid range of data. PNC-1G will not accept invalid range.

Next selection is for the Device where the data is to be transferred, i.e. either on LCD
display or on Printer or on COM port for transfer to PC.

Data ON LCD
L P B lrinter

L Key: - To view data on LCD disPlaY.

P Key: - To transfer data on any standard Printer.
B Keyi - To go back to earlier lnenu
oReceive data' button to receive all
Run pNC-lG data transfer pro$am on PC. Click on
ilata from the instrument to PC. User can not receive data when instrument is counting.