Heating Chapter 4

Note: The W1 jumper position between 2 et 3 is reserved for the use of a linistor as thermal sensor,
instead of the LM35. This could be the case if the regulator board is used for another type of
instrument, and also with an older version of the status board.

Warning, the linistor is not standard mounted on the regulator board!

4.2.5 Regulation
The REF-01 IC provides with an accurate and stable 10 V reference voltage. This voltage is adapted before
being applied to a voltage driver amplifier (IC2C) so as to supply 375 mV at the output of the amplifier. The
regulation will be then be done around this reference voltage corresponding to 37.5 °C.

The difference between the reference (375 mV) and the measured signal (10 mV/°C) is amplified by the next
differential amplifier (IC2D) that have a big gain of about 6300 (4.7·106/750). This gain is also the constant
of proportionality of the P regulator.

The error signal (output of IC2D) is on one side applied to a dual threshold comparator (IC9C et IC9D), in
charge to generate a TEMPOK signal, when the temperature is between the limits fixed by resistors R21,
R26 and R28. The TEMPOK signal is not used with the ICS34B.

On another side the error signal (output of IC2D) is applied to the inverter amplifier IC2A (gain -1). This in-
verter is also used as an impedance adapter. The output of this amplifier is applied to one of the IC3A com-
parator input. On the other input of the IC3A arrives a serrated signal (from -10 V to +10 V) generated by
IC3C and IC3D amplifiers.

The upside is fixed by C13-R20, this about 1 second, and the downside is fixed by C13-R18, this is about 1
ms. The feedback (R16 and R19) makes the system to tip up when the ramp generator reaches +10 V or -10
V.

The IC3A comparator gets one of its two output states (+12 V = ON, or -12 V = OFF) according to the
difference between the error signal and the ramp level.

Note: The P regulator (IC2D) works in a high impedance environment (10 MΩ resistors). The measure-
ment of a signal on one of the inputs or output of the regulator must be avoided, because the meas-
uring instrument will most probably distort the measurement (and the regulation). The error signal
can be measured after the IC2A inverter, and the temperature measurement after the IC2B
amplifier. The +10V reference can be checked before or after the divider at the input of IC2C.

The regulation signal at the output of the IC3A amplifier can be observed on the "HEAT" LED installed be-
side the profile galvanometer (under the computer's keyboard support of the instrument).

The frequency of the heating cycle is practically 0.3 Hz, and the duty cycle (ON/OFF ratio) can vary from
10% up to 90% according to the regulation instructions. At 37.5°C it should be of 50%. The LED lights dur-
ing the ON sequence of the cycle. If the LED breaks (or remains permanently OFF), this means there is no
more heating at all.

Finally the regulation signal arrives on an opto-triac (MOC3041), himself driving the regulation triac of the
heating power circuit.

AA83346 Technical Description - ARL 3460 4-3