B-Box RCP 3.0
Control platform
The ultimate prototyping controller for power electronics
The B-Box RCP is a rapid control prototyping system for power electronic applications. Thanks to the high flexibility of its software and hardware, it facilitates the experimental validation of power converters control techniques.
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Upgrade kit
The kit allows to transform an existing BoomBox (HW 2.0) into the very same hardware as the B-Box RCP 3.0. The upgrade procedure implies to replace the motherboard – with its hosted processing module – as well as the rear panel. Updating the hardware is easy and can be done directly by the end user, or at imperix (standard support request).
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your price | |
KIT COMPOSITION | |
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Upgrade kit
The kit allows to transform an existing BoomBox (HW 2.0) into the very same hardware as the B-Box RCP 3.0. The upgrade procedure implies to replace the motherboard – with its hosted processing module – as well as the rear panel. Updating the hardware is easy and can be done directly by the end user, or at imperix (standard support request).
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your price | |
KIT COMPOSITION | |
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The B-Box RCP is centered around a Xilinx Zynq 7030 SoC, with the fastest available speed grade. It features a dual-core ARM processor, clocked at 1 GHz.
Thanks to its Kintex-grade FPGA logic, the B-Box RCP offers 32 PWM blocks, with a time resolution of 4 ns. This guarantees a duty-cycle resolution of 2 % at 5 MHz.
Connectivity
Front view
Rear view
Main specifications
| System on chip | Zynq XC7Z030-3FBG676E | Digital outputs | 16x Electrical (3.3V/5.0V) |
| Processor | 2x ARM Cortex A9 1GHz 1GB DDR3 | Digital inputs | 16x Electrical (3.3V/5.0V) |
| FPGAs | Kintex 7 125K (user programmable) Artix 7 35T (auxiliary) | Fault inputs | 16x Electrical (3.3V) 1x Electrical interlock 1x Optical interlock |
| Analog inputs | 16x 16bits @ 500ksps Simultaneous sampling Programmable full-differential front-end | Incremental decoder inputs | 4x 3-pins (A,B,Z) (shared with GPI inputs) |
| PWM outputs | 16x Optical 32x Electrical (3.3V) | Communication | 1x CAN 1x Ethernet 1 Gbps 3x SFP+ 5Gbps (RealSync) |
| User High-speed I/Os | 36x Electrical (3.3V) |
| System on chip | Zynq XC7Z030-3FBG676E |
| Processor | 2x ARM Cortex A9 1GHz |
| 1GB DDR3 | |
| FPGAs | Kintex 7 125K (user programmable) Artix 7 35T (auxiliary) |
| Analog inputs | 16x 16bits @500ksps Simultaneous sampling Programmable full-differential front-end |
| PWM outputs | 16x Optical 32x Electrical (3.3V) |
| User High-speed I/Os | 36x Electrical (3.3V) |
| Digital outputs | 16x Electrical (3.3V/5.0V) |
| Digital inputs | 16x Electrical (3.3V/5.0V) |
| Fault inputs | 16x Electrical (3.3V) 1x Electrical interlock 1x Optical interlock |
| Encoder inputs | 4x 3-pins (A,B,Z) (shared with GPI inputs) |
| Communication | 1x CAN 1x Ethernet 1 Gbps 3x SFP+ 5Gbps (RealSync) |
Switch from simulation to experimentation in no time!
The B-Box RCP can be programmed in one click, directly from Simulink. Besides, everything can be accurately simulated first. This allows a truly simple switchover to experimental work.
Go early to the lab and work straight ahead with power!
With the hardware protections present in the B-Box RCP, engineers can start testing early, saving valuable time on computer simulations and/or real time simulations.
Generate high quality and impactful experimental results!
Thanks to the data logger embedded in the B-Box RCP, every signal can be observed, tuned and logged during run time. This allows generating high quality results in no time!
Features and BENEFITS
Integrated with Simulink and PLECS
The B-Box RCP can be programmed using C/C++ code, or widespread simulation software, such as Matlab Simulink or Plexim PLECS. Thanks to a fully automated code generation toolchain, just one single click is all it needs to fully program the device!
The blocksets also embed simulation models so that the system can be accurately simulated and tuned before code is generated.
Absolutely no expertise in FPGA-based development is needed to work with the B-Box RCP, as it operates readily with a highly flexible and highly configurable FPGA firmware.
Nevertheless, for the most advanced users who require to alter the FPGA code, the B-Box RCP allows doing so. Dedicated FPGA areas are provided, with straightforward integration within the existing DSP software kernel.
User-programmable FPGA
High processing power
The B-Box RCP uses a dual-core processor. One core is dedicated to the closed-loop control tasks (bare metal, dedicated kernel), the other one to the system supervision and monitoring (linux). Most low-level tasks are also shifted in FPGA.
This results in the full dedication of a fast floating-point processor to real time control, with tremendous performance, ranging up to 200 kHz control frequencies in closed loop operation.
When the number of I/Os provided by one B-Box RCP unit turns out to be insufficient, several units can be stacked together, up to a maximum of 64 units (1024 analog inputs and 2048 PWM outputs).
In stacked configurations, all units are naturally synchronized with an accuracy of ±2 ns (!) thanks to imperix’s RealSync technology. This allows to use all I/Os as if they simply belonged to the same controller hardware!
Stackable design
Hardware-level protection
In case of inappropriate operation, the B-Box instantly blocks its PWM signals, thanks to dedicated hardware protection circuits. This guarantees a high level of protection, entirely independently from both the DSP cores and the FPGA.
The B-Box is also self-protected against inappropriate conditions such as excessive computational burden or algorithmic errors.
Each B-Box RCP possesses 16 highly configurable analog input channels. This obviates the need to repeatedly develop signal conditioning interfaces for every project. Each input channel features:
- 3kΩ differential voltage input or 100Ω single-ended current-type input.
- Programmable safety thresholds.
- Programmable gain amplifier and low-pass filter
Highly flexible front-end
Features and BENEFITS
Integrated with Simulink and PLECS
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The blocksets also embed simulation models so that the system can be accurately simulated and tuned before code is generated.
User-programmable FPGA
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Nevertheless, for the most advanced users who require to alter the FPGA code, the B-Box RCP allows doing so. Dedicated FPGA areas are provided, with straightforward integration within the existing DSP software kernel.
High processing power
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The B-Box RCP uses a dual-core processor ; one core being dedicated to the execution of the closed-loop control tasks (bare metal, dedicated kernel), the other to the system supervision and monitoring (linux). Besides, most low-level tasks are shifted in FPGA.
This results in the full dedication of a fast floating-point processor core to real time control tasks, with best-in-class performance, ranging up to 200 kHz control frequencies.
Stackable design
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When the number of I/Os provided by one B-Box RCP unit turns out to be insufficient, several units can be stacked together and linked with 5 Gbps optical fibers, up to a maximum of 64 B-Boxes. This results in a maximum of 1024 analog inputs and 2048 PWM outputs.
In stacked configurations, all units are naturally synchronized with an accuracy of ±2 ns (!) thanks to imperix’s patent-pending RealSync technology. This allows to use all I/Os as if they simply belonged to the same controller hardware.
Hardware-level protection
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The BoomBox is also self-protected against inappropriate conditions such as excessive computational burden or critical algorithmic errors.
Highly flexible front-end
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Each B-Box possesses 16 highly configurable analog input channels. This obviates the need to repeatedly develop signal conditioning interfaces for each prototyping project. Each input channel features:
- 3kΩ full-differential voltage input or 100Ω single-ended current-type input.
- Programmable safety thresholds.
- Programmable gain amplifier and low-pass filter
device and operation
Have a look inside the B-Box RCP to learn more about its capabilities! Each unit features no less than 2 FPGAs, a dual-core processor and 19 microcontrollers, for state-of-the-art performance a a maximum ease of use!
B-Board PRO inside!
A high-performance embeddable controller at the heart of B-Box RCP
A high performance variant of imperix’s B-Board PRO controller is used as the main processing system inside the B-Box RCP.
This guarantees consistant behaviour and performance between both platforms, enabling users to switch seamlessly between them, with full bitfile compatibility.
High-END interconnect
Perfect synchronization!
Imperix’s patent-pending RealSync technology guarantees an unrivaled synchronization accuracy across multiple units, down to ±2.0 ns!
All this is achieved through advanced clock dissemination inside the optical fibers, enabling multiple B-Boxes to operate as if they were one single unit!
High-speed communication
The same 5 Gbps SFP+ links can be configured in tree-shaped network, achieving superior data bandwidth and lower latency over daisy-chain or ring topologies. This guarantees sub-microsecond data transfers in configurations with up to 8 controllers!
Tailor-made kernel
The B-Box RCP embeds an ultra-light operating system, specially tailored for hard real time, very low latency operation as in power electronics. This kernel simultaneously combines a high level of safety and a very low overhead.
More importantly, thanks to its fully FPGA-based peripherals, the B-Box RCP is built on a strong hardware abstraction layer. As such, any control code is guaranteed to keep working across future generations of hardware, facilitating system maintenance and upgrade.
A nice benefit of this approach is also that B-Box RCP and B-Board PRO are fully cross-compatible, although the underlying hardware differs. This allows users to switchover very easily from one controller to the other.
Comprehensive computer software
Comprehensive design suites
The B-Box RCP and B-Board PRO can be easily programmed using our software development kits (SDK). Either C++, Simulink or PLECS can be used to instantly program the device.
- Support for C++, Simulink or PLECS
- Code libraries / examples
- Free maintenance
Monitoring & control software
During operation, the BB Control Utility allows to observe, edit and log any variable present in memory. This allows for the rapid debugging and tuning of any converter control code.
- Real-time tuning of all variables
- 2 million points datalogging
- Free maintenance