A low-energy particle analysis system with autonomous numbering and identification function

Abstract

This application provides a low-energy particle analysis system with autonomous numbering and identification capabilities, including a low-energy ion analyzer and a low-energy electron analyzer, both of which utilize the same FPGA control program. The FPGA design incorporates component grouping measurement to achieve multi-component detection within a unit measurement time. An instrument number interface is added to the interface for reading the instrument number interface level. A numbering identification and control module is added to identify the current instrument type and generate instrument identification parameters. This module is used to acquire different numbers of engineering parameters when the instrument type is either a low-energy ion analyzer or a low-energy electron analyzer. It also controls the reception of commands from the device corresponding to the current FPGA configuration and controls the output of data packets corresponding to the current FPGA configuration. This system programs the same FPGA executable code onto both the low-energy ion analyzer and the low-energy electron analyzer, achieving FPGA configuration adaptiveness.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the invention application with application number "202510267018.6", invention title "A Multi-component Charged Particle Detection System", and application date of March 7, 2025. Technical Field

[0002] This application belongs to the key technology field of space plasma detection, specifically involving a low-energy particle analysis system with autonomous numbering and identification function. Background Technology

[0003] Charged particle analyzers are a crucial component of space environment detectors. With the advancement of technology, deep space exploration places increasingly higher demands on detector performance, requiring charged particle analyzers to possess a large field of view and multi-component detection capabilities. A large field of view can be achieved through multiple detectors distributed across different locations on the satellite for synchronous detection; multi-component detection can be achieved through multiple detectors detecting different components separately, or through a single device detecting different components at different times. Large field of view / multi-component detection places extremely high demands on the FPGA design of the detector.

[0004] Low-energy ion analyzers and low-energy electron analyzers are important components of charged particle detectors, enabling the detection of different compositions, primarily targeting low-energy ions and low-energy electrons. The low-energy ion analyzer measures positively charged ions to distinguish between ions of different compositions, while the low-energy electron analyzer measures negatively charged electrons. Since the charges detected by these two analyzers have opposite polarities, the hardware circuitry must generate high voltages of opposite polarities. Therefore, the hardware circuitry for the low-energy ion and low-energy electron analyzers cannot be combined; two separate individual units must be designed to achieve the detection of low-energy ions / electrons. While the FPGA configuration items for the low-energy ion and low-energy electron analyzers have similar functions and performance, their external interfaces differ.

[0005] Current low-energy ion analyzers cannot distinguish the composition of ions in space. Furthermore, the FPGA configuration items for the low-energy ion analyzer and the low-energy electron analyzer are independent of each other, requiring separate FPGA configuration management, design, and testing personnel for each instrument. This results in poor consistency in the design and testing of the instrument's FPGA configuration items and incurs significant manpower and development costs. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this application is to overcome the shortcomings of existing low-energy ion analyzers and low-energy electron analyzers, which have limited detection capabilities and require excessive maintenance due to the independent development of FPGA configuration items for each device.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, this application proposes a low-energy particle analysis system with autonomous numbering and identification function, including a low-energy ion analyzer and a low-energy electron analyzer.

[0008] The low-energy ion analyzer and the low-energy electron analyzer have different instrument numbers in their communication protocols with external devices.

[0009] An instrument number interface is added to the FPGA interface of the low-energy ion analyzer and the low-energy electron analyzer to read the instrument number interface level.

[0010] A number identification and control module is added to the FPGA of the low-energy ion analyzer and the low-energy electron analyzer. This module is used to obtain the instrument number interface level from the instrument number interface, identify the current instrument type, and generate instrument identification parameters. It is also used to control the engineering parameter acquisition module to acquire different numbers of engineering parameters when the instrument type is a low-energy ion analyzer or a low-energy electron analyzer. Furthermore, it controls the data receiving, parsing, and response module to receive instructions from the device that matches the current FPGA configuration, records errors when receiving instructions from other instruments, and ignores the instructions. Finally, it controls the data packet sending module to output data packets that match the current FPGA configuration.

[0011] As an improvement to the above system, 16 engineering parameters are collected when the instrument type is a low-energy ion analyzer, and 12 engineering parameters are collected when the instrument type is a low-energy electron analyzer.

[0012] As an improvement to the above system, it also includes:

[0013] A timing control function is added to the scientific data acquisition module of the FPGA of the low-energy ion analyzer and the low-energy electron analyzer. The minimum detection time unit is divided into multiple component detection time units. The high voltage circuit output gate high voltage switch duration is controlled differently in different time units to realize the detection of different components.

[0014] As an improvement to the above system, it also includes:

[0015] The interfaces of the FPGA for the low-energy ion analyzer and the low-energy electron analyzer also include: crystal oscillator, SRAM interface, MRAM interface, multiplexer interface, AD conversion circuit interface, asynchronous serial RS422 interface, high-voltage power supply control interface, DA conversion interface, preamplifier interface, and time-of-flight measurement chip interface.

[0016] As an improvement to the above system, it also includes:

[0017] The FPGA modules of the low-energy ion analyzer and the low-energy electron analyzer also include: a scientific data acquisition module, a scientific data processing module, a working parameter table reading and writing module, a high-voltage power supply control module, a preamplifier threshold adjustment module, a preamplifier test signal output module, and a system timing and sequence control module.

[0018] Compared with existing technologies, the advantages of this application are:

[0019] 1. This invention innovatively incorporates a timing control function and combines it with the principle that the opening and closing duration of the gated high-voltage circuit can control the entry of ions of a specific component. The minimum detection time unit is divided into multiple component detection time units. Within different time units, the high-voltage circuit outputs different gated high-voltage switching durations to achieve the detection of different components.

[0020] 2. This invention adds instrument number identification and control functions. It employs a collaborative design of hardware interface circuits and FPGA configuration items, achieving FPGA configuration item self-adaptation. The FPGA configuration item reads the instrument number interface level to identify the current standalone device and controls the "receiving, parsing, and responding to injected commands," "engineering parameter acquisition," and "data packaging and transmission" functional modules to adaptively execute relevant functions according to the device where the current FPGA configuration item is located. This effectively avoids wasting human resources, reduces the development cost of FPGA configuration items, and improves the consistency of operation of FPGA configuration items across multiple devices. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 The diagram shows the interface block diagram of the low-energy ion analyzer, the low-energy electron analyzer, and the load management unit.

[0022] Figure 2 The diagram shows the FPGA external interface block diagram for a low-energy particle analysis system with autonomous numbering and identification function.

[0023] Figure 3 The diagram shows the functional diagram of an FPGA product used in a low-energy particle analysis system with autonomous numbering and identification capabilities.

[0024] Figure 4 The figure shows the component detection timing diagram of an FPGA used in a low-energy particle analysis system with autonomous numbering and identification capabilities. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The technical solution of this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0026] The low-energy particle analysis system with autonomous identification function provided in this application is based on improvements to existing low-energy ion analyzers and low-energy electron analyzers. A multi-device autonomous identification and execution function module is added to the FPGA, overcoming the problems of poor design consistency and high manpower consumption caused by the independent design of FPGA configuration items for multiple charged particle analyzers. In this application, the hardware circuits of the low-energy ion analyzer and the low-energy electron analyzer are each designed with an instrument ID interface. After the FPGA is powered on and reset, it actively reads the level of the instrument ID interface, identifies the current single unit and generates an instrument number, executes each functional module according to the FPGA requirements specification, and communicates according to the external communication protocol.

[0027] The low-energy ion analyzer and low-energy electron analyzer in the low-energy particle analysis system with independent numbering and identification function provided in this application use the improved FPGA of this application. In ion detection, the previously indistinguishable ion components are now distinguishable, including hydrogen ions (H+), helium ions (He++, He+), and oxygen ions (O++). At the same time, the low-energy ion analyzer and low-energy electron analyzer share the FPGA configuration items, as shown in Table 1. The number of FPGA designers has been reduced from 2 to 1, the number of ground inspection designers from 2 to 1, the number of single-machine testing personnel from 2 to 1, and the number of design / testing equipment sets from 2 to 1. The cost of third-party evaluation and outsourcing of FPGA configuration items has been reduced to half of the original cost. This not only reduces outsourcing expenses and design / testing equipment, but also saves a lot of manpower. In addition, the internal functions, performance, and interfaces of the two instruments are implemented with the same FPGA program, resulting in a high degree of consistency.

[0028] Table 1 Comparison of workload before and after using the FPGA improved in this application

[0029]

[0030] In this embodiment, the low-energy ion analyzer is responsible for detecting the composition, energy, direction, and flux of ions in the space environment; the low-energy electron analyzer is responsible for detecting the energy, direction, and flux of electrons in the space environment. The two instruments are functionally independent and each has an independent interface with the Payload Management Unit (PMU). The low-energy ion analyzer, low-energy electron analyzer, and payload management unit are all independent devices, each with its own FPGA.

[0031] like Figure 1 As shown, the interfaces between the load management unit and the low-energy ion analyzer and the low-energy electron analyzer all include: a power supply interface, an analog telemetry interface, and an asynchronous serial RS422 communication interface. The hardware interface circuit design is completely identical.

[0032] The load management unit (PMU) provides primary power to the low-energy ion analyzer and the low-energy electron analyzer via the power supply interface; it acquires analog telemetry inputs from both instruments via the analog telemetry interface; and it communicates with both devices via an asynchronous serial RS422 communication interface. To distinguish between the two instruments, the instrument identifiers (instrument numbers) in the RS422 communication protocols between the PMU and the two instruments are different, although the functions of the two instruments are completely identical. Table 2 shows the statistical differences between the low-energy ion analyzer and the low-energy electron analyzer.

[0033] Table 2. Statistical Table of Differences Between Low-Energy Ion Analyzer and Low-Energy Electron Analyzer

[0034]

[0035]

[0036] like Figure 2 As shown, the external interfaces of the FPGA configuration items for a low-energy particle analysis system with autonomous numbering and identification function include: crystal oscillator, SRAM interface, MRAM interface, multiplexer interface, AD conversion circuit interface, asynchronous serial RS422 interface, high-voltage power supply control interface, DA conversion interface, preamplifier interface, time-of-flight measurement chip interface, and instrument numbering interface. Among them, the instrument numbering interface is a newly added interface in this application, while the other interfaces are existing interfaces of the FPGA configuration items.

[0037] The FPGA configuration items for a low-energy particle analysis system with autonomous numbering and identification capabilities include 11 functional modules, as described in Table 3. The top-level dataflow modules for each function are as follows: Figure 3 As shown.

[0038] Table 3. Functional Description of 11 Functional Modules in FPGA Configuration Items

[0039]

[0040] Among them, the instrument number identification and control module is a new module added in this application, while the other modules are modules of the original FPGA configuration items.

[0041] The following are the FPGA configuration item power-on reset and initialization design, normal detection cycle operation design, and command receiving design for a low-energy particle analysis system with autonomous numbering and identification function:

[0042] 1) Power-on reset and initialization

[0043] When the FPGA for the low-energy particle analysis system with autonomous numbering and identification function starts working, the instrument is powered on and the program is loaded. After the program is loaded, the FPGA will reset each module for 2 seconds. The reset process is as follows: the reset signal goes low and each state machine and register is reset according to the FPGA program design.

[0044] In the FPGA configuration items for the low-energy particle analysis system with autonomous numbering and identification function, an instrument numbering identification and control module has been added. After the instrument is powered on and reset, this module actively reads the instrument number interface level, identifies the current instrument, and generates the "instrument identifier" parameter. The "acquisition parameters" are used to control the engineering parameter acquisition module to acquire 16 engineering parameters for the low-energy ion analyzer and 12 engineering parameters for the low-energy electron analyzer. The "instrument identifier" is used to control the data receiving, parsing, and response module to receive instructions that conform to the device of the current FPGA configuration item, record errors when receiving instructions from other instruments, and ignore the instructions. The "instrument number / packet information" is used to control the data packet sending module to output data packets that conform to the device of the current FPGA configuration item.

[0045] 2) Normal detection cycle operation

[0046] The FPGA used in the low-energy particle analysis system with autonomous numbering and identification capabilities has a 2-second duty cycle, initiated by a scientific data acquisition command sent by the PMU via RS422. Upon receiving the scientific data acquisition command from the PMU, the command receiving, parsing, and responding module starts a detection cycle and simultaneously controls the data packaging and sending module to transmit the scientific data and engineering parameters from the previous duty cycle. Within a detection cycle, the FPGA control parameter table read / write module sequentially reads data from the MRAM and updates internal instrument control parameters (timing control parameters, high-voltage parameters, data preprocessing parameters, and compression flags). The system timing and timing control module controls the instrument's operating sequence based on timing control parameters read from MRAM, enabling time-division detection of ions / electrons of different components. The high-voltage power supply control module controls the high-voltage circuit based on high-voltage parameters, outputting the high voltage required by the sensor. The preamplifier threshold adjustment module configures the DA output preamplifier threshold based on threshold parameters. The scientific data acquisition module preprocesses the acquired time-of-flight data by grouping it into azimuth, mass, energy channels, and pitch angles based on data preprocessing parameters, and then outputs the data to the scientific data processing module. The scientific data processing module performs logarithmic and lossless compression on the scientific data based on compression flags, and outputs the processed data to the data packaging and transmission module, which stores it in external SRAM. During each work cycle, the FPGA simultaneously controls the engineering parameter acquisition module to acquire analog engineering parameters based on the acquired parameter information, and caches the engineering parameters in the FPGA's internal RAM. When the FPGA receives the scientific data acquisition command again, it starts a new work cycle and packages the scientific data and engineering parameters cached in the previous work cycle according to the instrument number identification and control module and the data packetization protocol, and sends the data to the PMU via RS422. The FPGA's workflow follows the above process in a loop. When the FPGA receives the scientific data acquisition command from the PMU for the first time after powering on, it does not send data and only starts one work cycle.

[0047] like Figure 4As shown, in an FPGA used in a low-energy particle analysis system with autonomous numbering and identification capabilities, each detection cycle contains multiple minimum detection units. Each detection unit is configured with different pitch angle control high voltages and energy channel control high voltages to achieve pitch angle and energy channel scanning detection. In this invention, the minimum detection units are further divided into different component detection units. Combining this with the principle that the opening and closing duration of the gated high voltage circuit can control the entry of ions of a specific component, the detection of different components is achieved. Specific implementation: First, based on the principle that the opening and closing duration of the gated high voltage circuit can control the entry of ions of a specific component, simulation calculations are performed to obtain the time T1 required for ions of different components to pass through a fixed-length gated region and the time T2 required for a fixed-length free-flight region. These simulation-obtained time parameters (T1, T2) are then written into the MRAM as high voltage parameters and data preprocessing parameters. The scientific data acquisition module divides the minimum detection time unit into multiple component detection time units. Within each time unit, the high-voltage power supply control module controls the opening time of the gated high voltage according to the high-voltage parameters, which allows the target ions to enter the detection area. The scientific data acquisition module measures the ions of the target mass group according to the data preprocessing parameters in different component detection time units, and transmits the detection data in groups to the scientific data processing module, ultimately realizing multi-component detection.

[0048] 3) Command Reception

[0049] The scientific data acquisition command sent by the PMU is used to control the instrument to start a new working cycle. The working cycle of the instrument is 2 seconds. When the interval between scientific data acquisition commands is greater than 2 seconds, the FPGA starts a new working cycle according to the received scientific data acquisition command and sends data packets at the same time. When the interval between scientific data acquisition commands is less than 2 seconds, the FPGA ignores the scientific data acquisition commands received within 2 seconds.

[0050] The FPGA can receive and parse the injection data commands sent by the PMU at any time and respond within a specified time. A correct command results in a correct response, while an incorrect command results in an error response. Upon receiving the injection data test signal parameters from the PMU, the FPGA can control the test signal output. Upon receiving the injection data MRAM write parameters from the PMU, it can write instrument control parameters (timing control parameters, high voltage parameters, data preprocessing parameters, compression flags) into the MRAM. When the FPGA is first powered on, it should complete the MRAM parameter writing before the start of the scientific data acquisition cycle. Data in the MRAM is not lost upon power failure.

[0051] The instrument has an injection control mode and a working parameter table control mode. When operating in the working parameter table control mode, the high voltage circuit control and preamplifier threshold control of the instrument are both controlled by parameters in the MRAM. When the FPGA receives high voltage enable setting and threshold setting instructions, it only receives and does not execute them.

[0052] When the instrument operates in injection control mode, it can control the high voltage circuit to output a set high voltage by receiving injection data high voltage enable setting parameters sent by the PMU, and it can control the DA output preamplifier threshold voltage by receiving injection data threshold setting parameters sent by the PMU.

[0053] The time code command sent by the PMU is not responded to by the FPGA; it is only used to update the time information of the system's timekeeping and timing control modules.

[0054] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application and are not intended to limit it. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions to the technical solutions of this application do not depart from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of this application, and should all be covered within the scope of the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A low-energy particle analysis system with autonomous numbering and identification function, comprising a low-energy ion analyzer, a low-energy electron analyzer, and a payload management unit; Its features are, The load management unit provides primary power to the low-energy ion analyzer and the low-energy electron analyzer through the power supply interface; it acquires analog telemetry data from the low-energy ion analyzer and the low-energy electron analyzer through the analog telemetry interface; and it communicates with the low-energy ion analyzer and the low-energy electron analyzer via an asynchronous serial RS422 communication interface. The low-energy ion analyzer and the low-energy electron analyzer have different instrument numbers in their communication protocols compared to the load management unit; An instrument number interface is added to the FPGA interface of the low-energy ion analyzer and the low-energy electron analyzer to read the instrument number interface level. A number identification and control module is added to the FPGA of the low-energy ion analyzer and the low-energy electron analyzer. This module is used to obtain the instrument number interface level from the instrument number interface, identify the current instrument type, and generate instrument identification parameters; to control the engineering parameter acquisition module to acquire different numbers of engineering parameters when the instrument type is a low-energy ion analyzer or a low-energy electron analyzer; to control the data receiving, parsing, and response module to receive instructions from the device that matches the current FPGA configuration, record errors when receiving instructions from other instruments, and ignore the instructions; and to control the data packet sending module to output data packets that match the current FPGA configuration. A timing control function is added to the scientific data acquisition module of the FPGA of the low-energy ion analyzer and the low-energy electron analyzer. The minimum detection time unit is divided into multiple component detection time units. The high voltage circuit output gate high voltage switch duration is controlled to be different in different time units, that is, the target ion is allowed to enter the detection area. The scientific data acquisition module measures the ions of the target mass group according to the data preprocessing parameters in different component detection time units, and transmits the detection data in groups to the scientific data processing module to realize the detection of different components.

2. The low-energy particle analysis system with autonomous numbering and identification function according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the instrument type is a low-energy ion analyzer, 16 engineering parameters are collected; when the instrument type is a low-energy electron analyzer, 12 engineering parameters are collected.

3. The low-energy particle analysis system with autonomous numbering and identification function according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: The interfaces of the FPGA for the low-energy ion analyzer and the low-energy electron analyzer also include: crystal oscillator, SRAM interface, MRAM interface, multiplexer interface, AD conversion circuit interface, asynchronous serial RS422 interface, high-voltage power supply control interface, DA conversion interface, preamplifier interface, and time-of-flight measurement chip interface.

4. The low-energy particle analysis system with autonomous numbering and identification function according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: The FPGA modules of the low-energy ion analyzer and the low-energy electron analyzer also include: a scientific data acquisition module, a scientific data processing module, a working parameter table reading and writing module, a high-voltage power supply control module, a preamplifier threshold adjustment module, a preamplifier test signal output module, and a system timing and sequence control module.

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