BULLETIN BOARD
- R2
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BULLETIN BOARD
- R2
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Upgrading from a GR33 to a GR33A Graphic Recorder offers improved
hardware and software with the following capabilities:
| 1) | Support of new transient digitizer module (variable sampling rate from 35 msec to 50 µsec, up to 512 Kbyte memory, 1,2, 4 or 8 channels digitized, fully programmable). |
| 2) | The initialization of configuration parameters has been modified to allow the basic operation of the recorder in the absence of NVM. This feature eliminates recorder failures as a result of NVM failures. |
| 3) | Hardware modifications have provided memory expansion up to the following limits: |
| EPROM = 40 KB.
RAM = 8 KB. NVM = 8 KB. - The total number of set-up tables is now 4 instead of 3. - Tradeoffs for storage of some parameters in NVM have been eliminated. - The following parameters, which used to have single-storage in NVM, have now multiple storage: |
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| 4) | Facility to allow initialization of NVM from the control panel. |
| 5) | When modifying the zero position of a channel, it is no longer necessary to "assign" the channel to its new pair of boundaries manually; this is now done automatically at the time when the positions are stored. |
| 6) | The implied status of the "offset" feature (enabled), is no longer part of the parameter table. |
| 7) | When an AIM error message is printed on the chart, the code number associated with it is also printed. |
| 8) | Improved setpoint condition handling when dealing with the occurrence of simultaneous alarms. |
| 9) | The menu entry for the time marker has been modified, in order to display the status and time interval simultaneously. |
| 10) | The message "NVM-PROG.ERR" is displayed if an attempt to write one byte into the X2864 EEPROM has not succeeded within 15 msec. |
| 11) | Support of new linearization algorithms. |
| 12) | Real-time data transmission via Serial Port B (J3 on rear panel (on the GR33, this port is not supported)). |
| 13) | New command for selection of sampling rate. |
| 14) | Command added to update 2nd line in video buffer without printing on the chart. Command added for alternate linearization types. |
| 15) | Increased number of grids to 22.. Implementation of "exact" metric grid. |
| 16) | Facility for chart annotation with AIM's temperature. |
| 17) | System clock running at 5 MHz instead of 4 MHz. |
| 18) | Maximum chart speed increased from 6.00 mm/sec (0.250 in/sec) to 8.00 mm/sec (0.320 in/sec). |
| 19) | Facilities to keep track of the "up-time" of the system. This feature could be used for maintenance scheduling of the recorder. |
| 20) | Support of a hardware real-time clock and calendar (it is no longer necessary to start the clock after power-up). The print interval of the time/date is programmable. |
| 21) | Enhancements to command set in the area of setting/starting the real-time clock. |
| 22) | Test routines to verify correct loading of bit-map RAMs (RMS4470 Printhead Driver PC Assembly). |
| 23) | Facilities to check EPROM's checksum during self-testing. |
| 24) | Facilities to calculate and store NVM's checksum after storage of any parameter. Checksum is verified during self-testing. |
| 25) | The system remains in the set-up table entry after loading a new configuration from NVM. |
| 26) | Improvements to the facility to control chart on/off status via Event #5, so that an option allows to automatically print header messages on the chart, in response to a signal to turn the chart off. |
| 27) | Facility to allow factory pre-setting of recorder's accumulated operating time ("up time"). |
| 28) | Parameter table reorganization groups together all features that require AIM. |
| 29) | Support of new printhead driver board with 10 strobing transistors (substantially reduces "ghosting" effect of the printhead). It maintains compatibility with older 9-strobe version of the printhead board. The software automatically detects which type of board is installed and uses appropriate timing and bit map (RMS4470 Printhead Driver PC Assembly). |
| 30) | A newly developed printhead interface circuit (RMS4470) provides better protection to the thermal printhead (RMS3076). The circuit protects the printhead from being overdriven and possibly being damaged if one of the strobing transistors becomes shorted. |
| 31) | Printhead temperature measurement and strobe power compensation: The purpose of measuring the thermal printhead (RMS3076) temperature, is to maintain a constant trace image, or intensity, over the entire chart speed range, combined with the ambient and printhead temperature. This is accomplished by controlling the pulse width of the element strobes from the Mosfets Q1-Q10 from a combination of the head temperature and the chart speed setting. As a result of the above design, the printhead life is greatly extended (RMS4470 Printhead Driver PC Assembly. |
| 32) | Support of ARINC Interface Module. |
| 33) | Reorganization of the "data source" property of recorder channels. This became more important since support for ARINC traces was incorporated. |
| 34) | Implementation of new (host) command which instructs the recorder to store the set of working parameters into the set-up table in NVM which is currently selected. |
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