Meinberg TCR510PCI User manual

TCR510PCI
Technical Information
Operating Instruction

Impressum
Meinberg Funkuhren GmbH & Co. KG
Auf der Landwehr 22
D-31812 Bad Pyrmont
Telefon: ++49 (0) 52 81 / 9309-0
Telefax: ++49 (0) 52 81 / 9309-30
Internet: http://www.meinberg.de
Email: [email protected]
March 08, 2006

Table of Contents
Impressum ............................................................................................ 2
Diskette with driver software ................................................................ 4
Introduction .......................................................................................... 5
Description of IRIG-Codes ................................................................... 5
IRIG-Standard format ........................................................................... 6
AFNOR-Standard format ..................................................................... 7
Features TCR510PCI ........................................................................... 8
Functional description ................................................................. 9
Pulse outputs ............................................................................. 10
Asynchronous serial port ........................................................... 10
Connectors and LEDs in the bracket ......................................... 10
Pin assignments of the D-Sub-connector ................................... 11
Putting into operation .......................................................................... 12
Installing the TCR510PCI in your Computer ............................ 12
Power supply............................................................................. 12
Input signals .............................................................................. 12
Input impedance ........................................................................ 13
Photocoupler input .................................................................... 14
Configuration of TCR510PCI ................................................... 14
Firmware Updates .............................................................................. 15
Replacing the Lithium Battery ............................................................ 15
Technical specification TCR510PCI .................................................. 16
CE Label ................................................................................... 17
Format of the Meinberg Standard Time String .......................... 18

4
Diskette with driver software

5
Introduction
The transmission of coded timing signals began to take on widespread importance in
the early 1950´s. Especially the US missile and space programs were the forces behind
the development of these time codes, which were used for the correlation of data. The
definition of time code formats was completely arbitrary and left to the individual ideas of
each design engineer. Hundreds of different time codes were formed, some of which
were standardized by the „Inter Range Instrumantation Group“ (IRIG) in the early 60´s.
Except these „IRIG Time Codes“ other formats, like NASA36, XR3 or 2137, are still
in use. The board TCR510PCI however only decodes IRIG-A, IRIG-B or AFNOR
NFS 87-500 formats. The AFNOR code is a variant of the IRIG-B format. Within this
code the complete date is transmitted instead of the ‘Control Functions’ of the IRIG-
telegram.
Description of IRIG-Codes
The specification of individual IRIG time code formats is defined in IRIG Standard 200-
98. They are described by an alphabetical character followed by a three-digit number
sequence. The following identification is taken from the IRIG Standard 200-98 (only the
codes relevant to TCR510PCI are listed):
character bit rate designation A 1000 pps
B 100 pps
1st digit form designation 0 DC Level Shift
width coded
1 sine wave carrier
amplitude modulated
2nd digit carrier resolution 0 no carrier (DC Level Shift)
1 100 Hz, 10 msec resolution
2 1 kHz, 1 msec resolution
3 10 kHz, 100 μsec resolution
3rd digit coded expressions 0 BCD, CF, SBS
1 BCD, CF
2 BCD
3 BCD, SBS
BCD: time of year, BCD-coded
CF: Control-Functions (user defined)
SBS: seconds of day since midnight (binary)

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IRIG-Standard format

7
AFNOR-Standard format

8
Features TCR510PCI
The board TCR510PCI was developed for computer systems with PCI-bus. It is
designed as an universal board and can be used in systems with either 3.3 V or 5 V PCI
slots therefore. The module supports clock speeds of 33 MHz and 66 MHz. TCR510PCI
serves to receive and decode modulated (AM) and unmodulated (DC Level Shift) IRIG
and AFNOR time codes. AM-codes are transmitted by modulating the amplitude of a
sine wave carrier, unmodulated codes by variation of the width of pulses.
Automatic gain control within the receive circuit for unmodulated codes allows
decoding of IRIG signals with a carrier amplitude of 600 mVpp to 8 Vpp. The input
stage is elecctically insulated and has an impedance of 50 Ω, it is accessible via the BNC-
connector in the bracket of TCR510PCI.
Unmodulated time codes must be connected to the D-Sub-plug of the module. An
onboard photocoupler insulates the internal receive circuit. In delivery state of
TCR510PCI the contacts of the D-Sub-plug are not connected to the photocoupler. Two
DIP-switches must be set to the ‘ON’ position for making this connection.
The board TCR510PCI provides a configurable serial interface (RS-232), a pulse per
second (PPS) with TTL or RS-232 level and a pulse per minute (PPM) with TTL level.
Like the photocoupler, these signals are only connected to the D-Sub-plug after setting
DIP-switches into the ‘ON’ position.
Software running on the computer can read out information regarding date, time and
status of the IRIG receiver. Access to the board is made via writing to/reading from I/O
ports. It is possible but not necessary to let the board generate periodic hardware
interrupts on the computer bus.
Driver software supplied with the board is keeping the computer’s system time
synchronous to the board time. If the diskette delivered with TCR510PCI doesn’t
include a driver for the used operating system, it can be downloaded free of charge at:
http://www.meinberg.de/german/sw/
Manuals for the drivers are available at this site also.
The microprocessor system of TCR510PCI is equiped with a Bootstrap-Loader and a
Flash-EPROM. These features enable updating of the onboard software via the serial
RS-232 interface COM0 by using the Meinberg program ‘Flash509’.

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Functional description
After the received IRIG code has passed a consistency check, the software clock
and the battery backed realtime clock of TCR510PCI are synchronized to the external
time reference. If an error in the IRIG telegram is detected, the system clock of the
board switches to holdover mode. Drifting of the internal time base and the generated
pulses (PPS/PPM) is limited to 1μsec/sec by regulating the onboard quartz of
TCR510PCI. IRIG code includes day of year information only. The complete date is
kept in the battery backed realtime clock and the software clock therefore. The
received day of year is compared to this complete date once per minute. If the board
detects a difference between received and stored date information, TCR510PCI
switches to holdover mode but still synchronizes the internal time base to the
received IRIG code.
Date and time kept in the realtime clock can be set by sending a Meinberg Standard
Time Telegram to the serial interface COM0 or via the PCI bus.
The internal system clock is always set to the received IRIG time,
which might have a local offset to UTC. Only if TCR510PCI is
configured with this offset, Meinberg driver software is able to set
the system time of the computer correctly. The serial interface
COM0 can send the Standard Meinberg Timestring with UTC or local
(IRIG) time.
IRIG telegrams don’t include announcers for the change of time
zone (daylight saving on/off) or for the insertion of a leap second.
Hence the clock will switch into freewheeling mode in case of such
event, and resynchronize afterwards.
The board TCR510PCI decodes the following formats:
A133: 1000pps, amplitude modulated sine wave signal, 10 kHz carrier frequency
BCD time of year, SBS time of day
A132: 1000pps, amplitude modulated sine wave signal, 10 kHz carrier frequency
BCD time of year
A003: 1000pps, DC Level Shift pulse width coded, no carrier
BCD time of year, SBS time of day
A002: 1000pps, DC Level Shift pulse width coded, no carrier
BCD time of year
B123: 100pps, amplitude modulated sine wave signal, 1 kHz carrier frequency
BCD time of year, SBS time of day
B122: 100pps, amplitude modulated sine wave signal, 1 kHz carrier frequency
BCD time of year
B003: 100pps,DC Level Shift pulse width coded, no carrier
BCD time of year, SBS time of day
B002: 100pps, DC Level Shift pulse width coded, no carrier
BCD time of year
AFNOR NFS 87-500:100pps, amplitude modulated sine wave signal, 1 kHz carrier frequency
BCD time of year, complete date, SBS time of day

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Pulse outputs
The module TCR510PCI generates pulses at change of second (PPS) and change of
minute (PPM). The PPS signal is available with TTL (0/+5V) or RS-232 (-3..12V/
+3..12V) level, the PPM signal with TTL level only. If required, DIP-switches can be set
up to direct the pulses to a corresponding pin of the D-Sub-connector in the bracket.
Asynchronous serial port
TCR510PCI provides an asynchronous serial interface (RS-232) called COM0. The
serial port sends a Standard Meinberg Time string either once per second, once per
minute or on request with ASCII ‘?’ only. The format of this telegram is described in the
‘Technical Specifications’. The transmission speed and the framing can be set via the
PCI bus by using the shipped monitor software. Furthermore, the serial interface COM0
is used for a potential firmware update.
Connectors and LEDs in the bracket
The bracket of the board includes the BNC-
connector for the amplitude modulated time co-
des, three LEDs, a key for activating the Boots-
trap-Loader and a 9 pin D-Sub-plug.
The LEDs signal the status of the IRIG recei-
ver. The upper, red LED is switched on whene-
ver the internal timing of TCR510PCI is in hol-
dover mode. This state arises after power up and
if an error in the IRIG telegram is detected. This
LED changes state only at change of minute.The
central, green LED is switched on if the IRIG
receiver detects a correct telegram at its input. If
the below, green LED (Lock) is switched on, the
internal timing of TCR510PCI is synchronized
to the received IRIG code by a PLL (Phase
Locked Loop).
Pressing the hidden key BSL is required for
activating the Bootstrap-Loader before updating
the firmware.
IRIG AM
Holdover mode
Code
Lock
BSL key
RxD
TxD
GND

11
The 9 pin D-Sub-connector is wired to the board’s serial port. Pin assignment can
be seen from the figure above. This port can not be used as serial port for the
computer. Instead, the clock uses the port to send out Meinberg's standard time string
in order to control an external display or some other external device. The string is
sent out once per second, once per minute or if requested by an incoming ASCII ‘?’.
It is also possible to change the board’s board time by sending such a string towards
the clock. Transmission speed, framing and mode of operation can be modified using
the monitor software. The string format is described in the section ‘Technical
Specifications’ at the end of this manual.
Pin assignments of the D-Sub-connector
Only the signals of the serial interface are connected to the D-Sub-plug directly. If
another signal shall be connected to a pin of the plug, a DIP-switch must be set to the
‘ON’ position.
Whenever an additional signal is connected to the rear panel,
special care must be taken to the configuration of the cable used
with the connector. If pins with TTL level and RS-232 levels are
connected to each other, the circuits on the board may be dama-
ged.
Only one of the switches 5 or 4 may be put in the ‘ON’ position to connect the
pulse per second with TTL level or with RS-232 level to pin 8 of the plug. The table
below shows the pin assignments for the connector and the DIP-switch assigned to
each of the signals:
Pin Signal SWITCH
1+5V 3
2 RxD in (RS-232) -
3 TxD out (RS-232) -
4 PPM out (TTL) 6
5GND -
6+PWMin 1
7-PWMin 2
8 PPS out (TTL/RS232) 5/4
9 (reserved) 8
Those signals which do not have DIP-switch assigned are always available at the
connector. All DIP-switches not assigned are reserved and should remain in the ‘OFF’
position.

12
Putting into operation
To achieve correct operation of the board, the following points must be observed.
Installing the TCR510PCI in your Computer
Every PCI board is a plug&play board. After power-up, the computer's BIOS assigns
resources like I/O ports and interrupt lines to the board, the user does not need to take
care of the assignments. The programs shipped with the board retrieve the settings from
the BIOS.
The computer has to be turned off and its case must be opened. The board can be
installed in any PCI slot not used yet. The rear plane must be removed before the board
can be plugged in carefully. The computer´s case should be closed again before
restarting the computer.
Power supply
All power supplies needed by TCR510PCI are delivered by the PCI bus.
Input signals
Amplitude modulated IRIG-A/B or AFNOR codes must be connected to the BNC-jack
in the bracket of TCR510PCI. A shielded or a twisted pair cable should be used.
Pulse width modulated (DC Level Shift) signals are applied by using the D-Sub-plug.
Two DIP-switches must be set to the ‘ON’ position for connecting the contacts of the D-
Sub with the onboard photocoupler.
The IRIG code used must be configured with the monitor software.
The board TCR510PCI can’t be used to decode amplitude modu-
lated and DC Level Shift signals simultaneously. Depending on the
selected code, only the signal at the BNC-jack or the D-Sub con-
nector is decoded.

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Input impedance
The IRIG-specification doesn’t define values for the output impedance of generators
or the input impedance of receivers. This fact led to incompatibility of some modu-
les, because the manufacturers could choose the impedances freely. For example: if
the output impedance of the generator is high and the input impedance of the receiver
low, the signal level at the receiver input might be too low for correct decoding.
Therefore the board TCR510PCI contains a jumper to select the impedance (50 Ω,
600 Ωor 5 kΩ) of the input for modulated codes (BNC) to comply with the
requirements of several systems.
Meinberg IRIG-generators have an output impedance of 50 ΩΩ
ΩΩ
Ω, to build a matched
transmission system when using a coaxial cable. If such a generator is used to synchroni-
ze TCR510PCI, the input impedance has to be set to 50 Ωaccordingly (default on
delivery).
In addition to the telegram, the AFNOR-code defines the input/output impedances
also. If TCR510PCI is synchronized by this code, an input impedance of 600 ΩΩ
ΩΩ
Ω must be
set.
The setting „5 kΩ“ may be necessary if the generator has a high output impedance (see
specifications of manufacturer). The driver software shows a bar chart for evaluation of
the signal level at the receiver input.
The following detail of the placeplan of TCR510PCI shows the possible jumper
setting with the related input impedance:

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Photocoupler input
Pulse width modulated (DC Level Shift) codes are insulated by an onboard photo-
coupler. The connection scheme is shown below:
The internal series resistance allows direct connection of input signals with a
maximum high level of +12 V (TTL or RS-422 for example). If signals with a higher
amplitude are used, an additional external series resistance must be applied for not
exceeding the limit of the forward current of the input diode (50 mA). The forward
current should not be limited to a value of less than 10 mA to ensure save switching
of the photocoupler.
Configuration of TCR510PCI
The selection of the IRIG code, configuration of the serial interface and a possible
offset of the received IRIG time to UTC must be set up by the monitor software via
the PCI bus. In contrast to AFNOR NFS 87-500 the IRIG telegram containes only the
day of year (1...366) instead of a complete date. To ensure correct function of
TCR510PCI, the date stored in the realtime clock of the board must be set when using
IRIG codes therefore. This setting can be done by a terminal software also.
If the time zone of the received IRIG code is not UTC, the local
offset to UTC must be configured to ensure correct function of the
driver software. If the local time zone is MEZ for example, the
board must be set to a local offset of ‘+60min’ (MEZ = UTC + 1 h).
The serial interface COM0 can be configured to send a time telegram with reference
to UTC or to the received local IRIG time.

15
Firmware Updates
Whenever the on-board software must be upgraded or modified, the new firmware
can be downloaded to the internal flash memory via the board's serial port COM0.
There is no need to open the computer case and insert a new EPROM.
If the button behind a hole in the rear slot cover is pressed for approximately 2
seconds, a bootstrap loader is activated and waits for instructions from the serial port
COM0. A loader program shipped together with the file containing the image of the new
firmware sends the new firmware from one of the computer's serial interfaces to the serial
port COM0. The bootstrap loader does not depend on the contents of the flash memory,
so if the update procedure is interrupted, it can easily be repeated.
The contents of the program memory will not be modified until the loader program has
sent the command to erase the flash memory. So if the button has been pressed
accidentally, the system will be ready to operate again after the computer has been turned
off an the on again.
Replacing the Lithium Battery
The life time of the lithium battery on the board is at least 10 years. If the need arises
to replace the battery, the following should be noted:
ATTENTION!
Danger of explosion in case of inadequate replacement
of the lithium battery. Only identical batteries or batte-
ries recommended by the manufacturer must be used for
replacement. The waste battery must be disposed as
proposed by the manufacturer of the battery.

16
Technical specification TCR510PCI
RECEIVER INPUT:AM-input (BNC-connector):
insulated by a transformer
impedance settable 50 Ω, 600 Ω, 5 kΩ
input signal: 600 mVpp to 8 Vpp (Mark)
other ranges on request
DC Level Shift input (D-Sub-connector):
insulated by photocoupler
internal series resistance: 220 Ω
maximum forward current: 50 mA
diode vorward voltage: 1.0 V...1.3 V
DECODING: decoding of the following telegrams possible:
IRIG-A133/A132/A003/A002
IRIG-B123/B122/B003/B002
AFNOR NFS 87-500
ACCURACY OF TIME BASE: +/-5 μsec compared to IRIG reference marker
REQUIRED ACCURACY OF
TIME CODE SOURCE: +/- 100ppm
HOLDOVER MODE: automatic switching to crystal time base
accuracy approximately 1E-6 if decoder has been
synchronous for more than 1h
BACKUP-BATTERY: if the power supply fails, an onboard realtime
clock keeps time and date information
important system parameters are stored in the
RAM of the system
lifetime of the Lithium battery at least 10 years
RELIABILITY OF
OPERATION: microprocessor supervisory circuit provides watch
dog timer, power supply monitoring and backup-
battery switchover
software watchdog monitors correct program flow
and generates a reset in case of error detection
INITIALIZATION: software and realtime clock can be set by a serial
Meinberg Standard Telegram via COM0 or the
PCI bus

17
OUTPUTS: pulse per second (PPS):
TTL- and RS-232 level
positive pulse, pulse duration 200 msec
pulse per minute (PPM):
TTL level
positive pulse, pulse duration 200 msec
SERIAL PORT: configurable RS-232 interface
baudrates: 300 Bd...38400 Bd
framing: 7E2, 8N1, 8N2, 8E1
mode of operation: string per second
string per minute
string on request
time telegram: Meinberg Standard
Telegram
SYSTEM BUS
INTERFACE: 32 Bit, 33 MHz or 66 MHz PCI Bus
compatible with PCI and PCI-X specifications
DATA FORMAT: binary, byte serial
POWER REQUIREMENTS: +5V, @ 140 mA
+12V, @ 15 mA
-12V, @ 15mA
BOARD DIMENSIONS: short, universal board
for 3.3V or 5V PCI slot
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE: 0 ... 70°C
HUMIDITY: max. 85 %
CE Label

18
Format of the Meinberg Standard Time String
The Meinberg Standard Time String is a sequence of 32 ASCII characters starting
with the STX (start-of-text) character and ending with the ETX (end-of-text) charac-
ter. The format is:
<STX>D:dd.mm.yy;T:w;U:hh.mm.ss;uvxy<ETX>
The letters printed in italics are replaced by ASCII numbers whereas the other characters
are part of the time string. The groups of characters as defined below:
<STX> Start-Of-Text (ASCII code 02h)
dd.mm.yy the current date:
dd day of month (01..31)
mm month (01..12)
yy year of the century (00..99)
wthe day of the week (1..7, 1 = Monday)
hh.mm.ss the current time:
hh hours (00..23)
mm minutes (00..59)
ss seconds (00..59, or 60 while leap second)
uv clock status characters:
u: ‘#’ clock has not synchronized after reset
‘ ‘ (space, 20h) clock has synchronized after reset
v: different for DCF77 or GPS receivers:
‘*’ DCF77 clock currently runs on XTAL
GPS receiver has not checked its position
‘ ‘ (space, 20h) DCF77 clock is sync'd with transmitter
GPS receiver has determined its position
xtime zone indicator:
‘U’ UTC Universal Time Coordinated, formerly GMT
‘ ‘ (space, 20h) local IRIG time
y‘ ‘ (space, 20h)
<ETX> End-Of-Text (ASCII code 03h)

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