Fast Synchronous Beam Property Modulation Using a Large Distributed Microprocessor System

One of the design objectives of the new CPS controls system is to permit changing the setting conditions from one machine cycle to the next in order to serve different users with different beam properties. Cycles may be as short as 650 ms and for the PS Booster (PSB) about 1000 parameters may have to be refreshed each cycle. This task is handled by 20 microprocessor-based Auxiliary CAMAC Crate Controllers (ACC). This layout offers three major possibilities: (i) fast and reliable parameter refreshment in each cycle; (ii) the microprocessors constitute a distributed database, which allows autonomous execution of complicated tasks triggered by simple commands from the process computer; (iii) the microprocessors allow complete decoupling between the severe process real-time constraints and human interaction: asynchronous operator commands are executed in a precise synchronous way with the process.