RCP8 Connector Panel

Indicates that the panel properly communicates with the PCI card.

It blinks slowly when communication is absent and very rapidly during the brief times that the backpanel firmware are being updated with an rdaflash command.

It does not blink when the panel is used by RCP8 software.

J1 & J4 -AZ/EL Input:

TTL parallel angles

Includes 20 digital inputs or outputs.

In the default softplane.conf file, it is configured for input of 16-bit binary or 16-bit BCD angles. When antenna angle data are required, RCP8 reads the azimuth lines up to 10 times in a row (spaced by 0.5 µs) until 2 successive values compare as equal. This de-bouncing is done so that unsynchronized input data is latched in a valid state.

If after, 10 retries, the lines are never observed in a consistent state, the last observed state is used.

Sampling for elevation is identical.

If fewer than 16 bits are used for the binary angles, then the high order bits should be connected (LSB on pin 1). If a wiring error is made, you can correct it in the softplane.conf file (for example, LSB and MSB reversed).

The BCD format is as follows.

• Hundreds digit: Bits 12-15
• Tens digit: Bits 8-11
• Ones digit: Bits 4-7
• Tenths digit: Bits 0-3

For example, if the tenths digits are unused, bits 3-0 are left unconnected but the wiring of the other BCD digits remains unchanged.

The higher-order digits must be wired for the elevation axis, even if the elevation position is constrained to a limited angle. If this is not done, the negative angles are be read incorrectly. Input an elevation of -0.1° as 359.9°.

J2 & J5 - AZ/EL Output:

TTL parallel angles Angle: TTL output

20 digital inputs or outputs.

In the default softplane.conf file it is configured for output of a 16-bit TTL binary angle.

For information on detailed pin assignments, see I/O-62 connector panel pin properties.

This feature can output the parallel angles to a signal processor such as RVP.

J3 - Control:

16 lines can be used as differential RS422 or as single-ended TTL input or output.

In the default softplane.conf file, it is configured for standard status and control I/O.

Configuration can be made in groups of 4 with regard to RS422 or Single-ended, I/O sense and input termination of single-ended lines.

For more information on pin assignments, see Stabilizing the Antenna.

J6 - RELAY:

Control for external equipment

The default softplane.conf file makes no assignments to this connector.

Often, external equipment in the radar require relay control (for example, power on, radiate on, environmental systems, reset lines, slow polarization switch). This connector has connections for 3 internal relays that are on the connector panel itself.

The maximum current through the relay contacts is 0.5 A continuous. The switching load is 0.25 A and 100 V, with the additional constraint that the total power not exceed 4 VA.

If larger current and voltage loads are required, the connector panel relays can be used to switch external relays provided by the customer. Another alternative to power external relays is to use the additional 4, 12 V relay signals (up to 200 mA) that are also supported on this connector.

WARNING External relays must be equipped with proper diode protection against back-EMF or damage to the I/O-62 and or the connector panel might result.

J7 - BITE:

Configurable 20 lines of TTL I/O

Supports 20 lines of TTL each of which can be configured as either input or output.

The default softplane.conf file configures these as inputs. The inputs are multiplexed into the BITE message to the host computer and can be used internally by RCP8 in control logic equations.

J8 - SPARE:

Analog Inputs

The default softplane.conf file makes no assignments to this connector.

Ten differential analog inputs, up to ±20 V max multiplexed into a single A/D convertor sampling each at >1000 Hz.

This can be used to monitor environmental systems at the radar site. Results are put into the Q-BITE (quantitative BITE) message to the host computer.

RCP8 can also threshold the Q-BITE numerical values and use the logical results in control logic equations.

J9 - PED/STATUS:

RS422 I/O, D/A and A/D

14/7 additional I/O-62 digital lines, 2 each dedicated (non-multiplexed) A/D inputs (±70 V with pot adjust) and D/A outputs (±10 V).

For the digital lines, configuration can be made in groups of 4 with regard to RS422 and single-ended, I/O sense and input termination of single-ended lines. In the default softplane.conf file, this connector is configured for the differential AZ/EL tachometer inputs, AZ/EL drive outputs and several status variables.

J10, J11:

RS232C I/O

These are not used in the default softplane.conf file.

The 2 connectors can be used for serial angle input. The most common format is the RCV01 format (see Serial Data Format), although custom formats from antenna/pedestal manufacturers such as Orbit, Andrew and Scientific Atlanta can also be supported.

Note that J11 also has +12 V, -12 V and +5 V regulated power supply outputs for external equipment.

J12 - S-D:

AZ and EL synchro input

For systems that have AZ/EL synchro position sensors, RCP8 can accept direct synchro inputs. The nominal voltage and frequency are 90 V @ 60 Hz. S/D conversion is performed in the I/O-62.

J13, J16 - TP1 & TP2:

Programmable test point scope outputs

The default softplane.conf file makes no assignments to the test points and other BNC connectors.

RCP8 offers programmable test points. These are usually used to connect to an oscilloscope. You can then specify the output to the test points in the form of an analog voltage for display on the scope. This can be useful for example to observe the results of logic equations.

Technicians can leave the test points permanently connected to a rackmount oscilloscope and then select what is displayed. This saves time and reduces cabling errors when switching test cables.

J14, J15, J17, J18 - SPARE:

Spare BNC connections

The default softplane.conf file makes no assignments to the test points and other BNC connectors.