1 overview – Bio-Rad PowerPac™ Universal Power Supply User Manual

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Section 1
Introduction

With the PowerPac data transfer software (DTS) and PowerPac remote software,

the PowerPac Universal power supply and PowerPac HV power supply are capable
of transmitting methods to and from a personal digital assistant (PDA), and
transmitting run data to a personal computer (PC) or PDA through the infrared (IR)
port located on the front of the power supply (Figure 1). The purpose of this
instruction manual is to provide information regarding the installation of the software
and guidelines for transferring run data and methods through the IR port.

Fig. 1. Front view of the PowerPac Universal and PowerPac HV power supplies.

1.1 Overview

PDAs and many laptop PCs have Infrared Data Association (IrDA) transceivers

built into them. Desktop PCs without built in transceivers can use an add-on IrDA
adaptor, usually connected to a serial or USB port, to communicate.

IrDA is a trade association that defines and promotes standards dealing with

two-way wireless communications using infrared emitters and detectors. The IrDA
standard is applied in consumer and commercial products such as PDAs, mobile
phones, and cameras. Many devices use IR emitters and detectors but do not
conform to the IrDA standard. Use of these non-IrDA remotes in the vicinity of IrDA
products can interfere with communications. PDAs have IrDA transceivers built in
to them and PCs can use an add-on adaptor, usually connected either to a serial
port or to a USB port, to communicate.

When an IrDA device is transmitting, it emits light from an infrared light emitting

diode (IrLED) through a lens. This lens shapes the light into a cone whose center
extends perpendicular to the lens covering the IR port on the front panel of the
PowerPac Universal and the PowerPac HV power supplies (Figure 1). The
half-angle of this cone is 15°. The recommended distance from the IR port on the
power supply to the communication device is a minimum of 15 cm to a maximum
of 1 m. At 15 cm, the cone's diameter is 8 cm, and at 1 m, the cones diameter is
about 53 cm. For reliable communications, the communicating device should be within
this zone (Figure 2).

setup

stop/home

abc

def

jkl

ghi

mno

tuv

pqrs

EDIT

wxyz

Front Panel

IR Port