ADS Environmental Services FlowShark QR 775002 A4 - Manual (Page 20)

System Overview 2-7
Digital Signal Processor
The Digital Signal Processor (DSP) board (ADS p/n 5000-0514)
contains the central processing unit (CPU). As the source of all
monitor activity, the processor board is responsible for all of the
monitor's high-level functions, including the following:
 Scanning the sensor interface boards and the rain gauge input
to retrieve and store data
 Maintaining the monitor time and date
 Performing power management
 Providing each board with the parameters required to carry out
the associated operations
 Outputting a discrete signal pulse to a sampler
 Transmitting the stored and current data to the user's PC via the
Communications board
 Initiating event notification through alarms
 Requests readings from Analog I/O board and provides
information for analog outputs.
The board allocates portions of memory to firmware (permanently
stored software) and data storage. A seven-segment (SS) light-
emitting diode (LED) located on the processor board indicates the
current monitor communication and operational activity. The board
also includes the monitor clock, random access memory (RAM),
and Flash. The monitor uses RAM while taking readings and
processing the flow data. The RAM then downloads the data to
Flash, or non-volatile memory, which also stores the monitor
firmware and configuration information. Flash ensures the monitor
maintains the data during battery pack replacement or a power
failure.