ICALEPCS2011 - List of Authors (Todd, B.)

Paper

Title

Page

Dependable Design Flow for Protection Systems using Programmable Logic Devices

706

M. Kwiatkowski, B. Todd
CERN, Geneva, Switzerland

Programmable Logic Devices (PLD) such as Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) are becoming more prevalent in protection and safety-related electronic systems. When employing such programmable logic devices, extra care and attention needs to be taken. It is important to be confident that the final synthesis result, used to generate the bit-stream to program the device, meets the design requirements. This paper will describe how to maximize confidence using techniques such as Formal Methods, exhaustive Hardware Description Language (HDL) code simulation and hardware testing. An example will be given for one of the critical function of the Safe Machine Parameters (SMP) system, one of the key systems for the protection of the Large Hadrons Collider (LHC) at CERN. The design flow will be presented where the implementation phase is just one small element of the whole process. Techniques and tools presented can be applied for any PLD based system implementation and verification.

Slides WEMMU010 [1.093 MB]

Poster WEMMU010 [0.829 MB]

WEPMU012

First Experiences of Beam Presence Detection Based on Dedicated Beam Position Monitors

1081

A. Jalal, S. Gabourin, M. Gasior, B. Todd
CERN, Geneva, Switzerland

High intensity particle beam injection into the LHC is only permitted when a low intensity pilot beam is already circulating in the LHC. This requirement addresses some of the risks associated with high intensity injection, and is enforced by a so-called Beam Presence Flag (BPF) system which is part of the interlock chain between the LHC and its injector complex. For the 2010 LHC run, the detection of the presence of this pilot beam was implemented using the LHC Fast Beam Current Transformer (FBCT) system. However, the primary function of the FBCTs, that is reliable measurement of beam currents, did not allow the BPF system to satisfy all quality requirements of the LHC Machine Protection System (MPS). Safety requirements associated with high intensity injections triggered the development of a dedicated system, based on Beam Position Monitors (BPM). This system was meant to work first in parallel with the FBCT BPF system and eventually replace it. At the end of 2010 and in 2011, this new BPF implementation based on BPMs was designed, built, tested and deployed. This paper reviews both the FBCT and BPM implementation of the BPF system, outlining the changes during the transition period. The paper briefly describes the testing methods, focuses on the results obtained from the tests performed during the end of 2010 LHC run and shows the changes made for the BPM BPF system deployment in LHC in 2011.

Paper	Title	Page
WEMMU010	Dependable Design Flow for Protection Systems using Programmable Logic Devices	706
	M. Kwiatkowski, B. Todd CERN, Geneva, Switzerland
	Programmable Logic Devices (PLD) such as Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) are becoming more prevalent in protection and safety-related electronic systems. When employing such programmable logic devices, extra care and attention needs to be taken. It is important to be confident that the final synthesis result, used to generate the bit-stream to program the device, meets the design requirements. This paper will describe how to maximize confidence using techniques such as Formal Methods, exhaustive Hardware Description Language (HDL) code simulation and hardware testing. An example will be given for one of the critical function of the Safe Machine Parameters (SMP) system, one of the key systems for the protection of the Large Hadrons Collider (LHC) at CERN. The design flow will be presented where the implementation phase is just one small element of the whole process. Techniques and tools presented can be applied for any PLD based system implementation and verification.
	Slides WEMMU010 [1.093 MB]
	Poster WEMMU010 [0.829 MB]

WEPMU012	First Experiences of Beam Presence Detection Based on Dedicated Beam Position Monitors	1081
	A. Jalal, S. Gabourin, M. Gasior, B. Todd CERN, Geneva, Switzerland
	High intensity particle beam injection into the LHC is only permitted when a low intensity pilot beam is already circulating in the LHC. This requirement addresses some of the risks associated with high intensity injection, and is enforced by a so-called Beam Presence Flag (BPF) system which is part of the interlock chain between the LHC and its injector complex. For the 2010 LHC run, the detection of the presence of this pilot beam was implemented using the LHC Fast Beam Current Transformer (FBCT) system. However, the primary function of the FBCTs, that is reliable measurement of beam currents, did not allow the BPF system to satisfy all quality requirements of the LHC Machine Protection System (MPS). Safety requirements associated with high intensity injections triggered the development of a dedicated system, based on Beam Position Monitors (BPM). This system was meant to work first in parallel with the FBCT BPF system and eventually replace it. At the end of 2010 and in 2011, this new BPF implementation based on BPMs was designed, built, tested and deployed. This paper reviews both the FBCT and BPM implementation of the BPF system, outlining the changes during the transition period. The paper briefly describes the testing methods, focuses on the results obtained from the tests performed during the end of 2010 LHC run and shows the changes made for the BPM BPF system deployment in LHC in 2011.