3 TCR180PEX Features
3 TCR180PEX Features
The board TCR180PEX has been designed as a "low profile" board for computers with PCI Express interface.
Data transfer to the computer is done via a single PCI Express lane (x1 board). The TCR180PEX card decodes
and generates modulated (AM) and unmodulated (DC Level Shift, DCLS) IRIG-A/B/G, AFNOR NF S87-500,
IEEE C37.118, or IEEE 1344 time codes. AM codes are transmitted by modulating the amplitude of a sine wave
carrier, unmodulated codes by variation of the width of pulses.
The TCR180PEX is equipped with a high quality oscillator which is disciplined as log as an input signal
is available, and provides accurate time in holdover mode if the input signal is disconnected.
Receiver:
Automatic gain control within the receive circuit for unmodulated codes allows decoding of IRIG-A/B/G, AFNOR
NF S87-500, IEEE C37.118 or IEEE 1344 signals with a carrier amplitude of 600 mVpp to 8 Vpp. The input
stage is electrically insulated and has an impedance of either 50 Ω, 600 Ωor 5 kΩ, selectable by a jumper.
Modulated input signals can be supplied via BNC connector in the TCR180PEX’s bracket.
Unmodulated (DC Level Shift, DCLS) time codes have to supplied via the card’s 9 pin D-Sub connector. The
receive circuit is insulated by an onboard photocoupler which can be driven by TTL or RS-422 signals for
example. When the card is shipped the contacts of the D-Sub connector are not wired to the photocoupler. Two
DIP switches have to be set to the ‘ON’ position to make the inputs available via the connector.
Generator:
The time code output of the TCR180PEX can generate time codes in IRIG-A/B/G, AFNOR NF S87-500, IEEE
C37.118, or IEEE 1344 format. The output signal is available as modulated (3 Vpp / 1 Vpp into 50 Ω) and
unmodulated (DC Level Shift, DCLS) signal (TTL into 50 Ωand RS-422). A jumper on the board allows selection
of active-high or active-low DCLS output.
Format and UTC offset of the incoming and outgoing time codes can be configured independently, so the
TCR180PEX is well-suited for time code conversion.
Optionally the TCR180PEX can be delivered with optical inputs/outputs. The card provides two configurable
serial interfaces (RS-232) COM. COM0 is available via the Sub-D connector, COM1 is accessible via an extra
ribbon cable connector on the board. Three programmable pulse outputs are available via the D-Sub connector
by setting appropriate DIP switches to the ‘ON’ position.
The extra ribbon cable connector on the board also provides two TTL inputs (CAP0 and CAP1) that can
be used to time stamp external, asynchronous trigger slopes. The captured time stamps can be retrieved via the
PCI-bus, or can be emitted as ASCII string via one of the serial interfaces.
TCR180PEX provides a synthesizer which can generate output frequencies from 1/8 Hz up to 10 MHz with
TTL level into 50 Ωas a sine wave signal.
TCR180PEX Date: 12th August 2020 5
