Is the NSI 2000 software capable of controlling a beam steering computer (BSC) during a scan?
Yes, with open-loop (output only) control. The standard NSI 2000 software does not support BSC handshaking, but it can be added as an option. The standard open-loop capability can be configured to output a bit pattern (typically up to 8-bits, TTL output – more bits may be provided with customization), which may be used by the BSC to control pre-defined beam states. The open-loop timing may be verified using the NSI 2000 inner-loop timing (ILT) display capability. The ILT display shows all beam running at the defined switching rate so that amplitude, phase and SNR may be verified at a fixed XY position in the high energy region of the antenna. If there is a timing or interface problem, the measured data will exhibit erratic behavior. Full handshaking with the BSC requires a custom interface and typically involves technical coordination between NSI and the customer to define the hardware and software interfaces. Contact the NSI sales department for a quotation.
