BBG-8000 VME Serial Protocol Converter

The BBG-8000 is a multiprocessor based, 6U VMEbus format serial protocol converter. It will operate in a VMEbus backplane or stand alone mode.

It is designed to operate with an eight channel RS-232 serial multiplexor. It provides interfacing to four channels of RS-232, one channel of synchronous MIL-STD-188-114, two channels of RS-422, and one channel of 16 bit discretes.  The four channels of RS-232 conversion support hardware handshaking signals RTS, CTS, DCD, and DTR as well as full duplex signals TXD and RXD. The BBG-8000 VME Protocol Converter is a multiprocessor based, 6U VMEbus format serial protocol converter. Designed to operate with an eight channel serial RS-232 multiplexer providing eight channels of serial data interfacing. Four channels provide RS-232 signals, one channel provides RS-232 asynchronous to MIL-STD-188/114 synchronous conversion, two channels provide RS-232 to RS-422 conversion, and one channel provides a parallel to RS-232 conversion. The BBG-8000 operates in a standard VMEbus backplane or in a standalone configuration. Two onboard microcontrollers perform the processing of all signals to provide conversion to user requested outputs.

The asynchronous RS-232 to synchronous MIL-STD-188-114 supports hardware handshaking signals RTS and CTS as well as simplex signals TXD and RXD, and clock signals TXCLK and RXCLK. The TXD and RXD signals have 32 KBit FIFO memory buffers controlled by the respective TXCLK and RXCLK allowing synchronous baud rates of several megabits per second. The two channels of RS-422 conversion supports hardware handshaking signals RTS, CTS, DCD, and DTR as well as full duplex signals TXD and RXD.

The 12 bit discrete parallel to RS-232 conversion supports TTL level input signals and is factory programmable for user required serial data streams. Serial baud rates are switch selectable for 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, and 19,200 bits per second.
During power up or reset, the onboard microcontrollers read the configuration switches, configure the interfaces, and provide all signals and control necessary to process the desired interface and output the converted information.