Meinberg TCR509 - Manual (Page 5)

5
Introduction
In the early 1950's the use of coded timing signals for correlation of data began to take
on widespread importance. Especially the U.S space and missile programs were the
forces behind the development of new time codes. 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 Instrumantetion Group" (IRIG) in the early 60´s.
Exept these IRIG-Timecodes other formats like NASA36, XR3, 2137 or AFNOR-
NFS87500 are still in use. However TCR509 confines to the decoding of IRIG-Codes
A133 and B123. A decoding of AFNOR-NFS87500 is available on special request.
Detailed information about IRIG- and other time codes can be found in the "Hand-
book of Time Code Formats", by Datum Inc., 1363 South State College Boulevard,
Anaheim, California 92806-5790.
General
The board TCR509 was designed for the reception of the IRIG code formats A132/
A133 and B122/B123, as well as the translation of these received IRIG codes into a
serial telegram and a pulse telegram as transmitted by the german time code station
DCF77. An automatic gain control allows the reception of signals within an amplitude
range from 600mV to 8V (peak to peak). The potential free receiver input is terminated
in 50Ohms. TCR509 provides two configurable serial ports (RS232, 1xRS485 on
request), a PPS-Signal at TTL-Level, as well as four TTL and four potential free 20mA
outputs which can be configured to issue either a PPS-Signal or a DCF77 telegram. A
LED-Display indicating time, date and synchronization state is available on request.