IRIG 106-99  CHAPTER 6 - MAGNETIC TAPE RECORDER AND
REPRODUCER STANDARDS, Continued....

6.1 Introduction
6.2 Definitions
6.3 General Consideration for Longitudinal Recording
6.4 Recorded Tape Format
6.5 Head and Head Segment Mechanical Parameters
6.6 Head Polarity
6.7 Magnetic Tape and Reel Characteristics
6.8 Direct Record and Reproduce Systems
6.9 Timing, Predetection, and Tape Signature Recording
6.10 FM Record Systems
6.11 PCM Recording
6.12 Preamble Recording for Automatic or Manual Recorder Alignment
6.13 19-mm Digital Cassette Helical Scan Recording Standards
6.14 Multiplex/Demultiplex (MUX/DEMUX) Standard for Multiple Data
        Channel Recording on 19-MM Digital Cassette Helical Scan
        Recorder/Reproducer Systems

6.15 Submultiplex/Demultiplex Standards for Multiple Data Channels
        on a Primary Digital Multiplex/Demultiplex Channel

6.16 1/2 Inch Digital Cassette (S-VHS) Helical Scan Recording Standards
6.17 Multiplex/Demultiplex (MUX/DEMUX) Standards for Multiple Data
        Channel Recording on ˝ Inch Digital Cassette (S-VHS) Helical Scan
        Recorder/Reproducer Systems




CHAPTER 6

MAGNETIC TAPE RECORDER AND REPRODUCER STANDARDS
Continued....


6.14 Multiplex/Demultiplex (MUX/DEMUX) Standard for Multiple Data Channel Recording on 19-MM Digital Cassette Helical Scan Recorder/Reproducer Systems

For recording and reproducing multiple channels on 19-mm Digital Cassette Helical Scan Recorders, the ADARIO multiplex/demultiplex format is recommended. The ADARIO (Analog/Digital/ Adaptable/Recorder Input/Output) format was developed for the Department of Defense, Fort Meade, Maryland. The format is government-owned and may, therefore, be used in equipment provided for government activities. Some of the features of ADARIO are

  • requires less than 3 percent overhead to be added to user data;

  • accommodates multiple channel record/playback with each channel completely autonomous in sample rate and sample width;

  • stores all the necessary parameters for channel data reconstruction for either real-time playback, time-scaled playback, or computer processing;

  • preserves phase coherence between data channels;

  • provides channel source and timing information; and

  • accommodates 224 (over 16 million) blocks of data, each block having 2048 24-bit words (see figure 6-7).
The ADARIO format imposes minimum restrictions on the channel signals and aggregate data parameters. Specific implementations that use the ADARIO format may impose additional restrictions.

      ADARIO format, defined field restrictions:
Session Length - Unlimited
Sequence numbered - Blk. 224 (100 G Byte max.)
Master Clock - MC 219 *250 Hz (131 MHz max.)
Block Rate - BMD, MC/BMD (8 Blk./Sec min.)
   MC/2048 (64K Blk./Sec. max.)
Aggregate Rate - MC *24 (3145 Mbps max.)
Channel Quantity - Q, Ch#, 24 (16 channels max.)
Bits per Sample - FMT, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,10,12,14,16,
18,20,22,24 bits per sample
Input Clock Rate - MC, Rate 219 *250 Hz (131 MHz max.)
Input Bit Rate - 2035 *24 Block Rate (3125 Mbps max.)
Analog Bandwidth - MC/2.5 (52.4 MHz max.)
Analog Attenuation - Atten, 25 (-15 dB, +16 dB)
Analog Coupling - DCAC (dc or ac)
Time Correlation - 1/MC (7.6 ns max. Resolution)
- TD/MC 216 (65, 536*MC max. Range)
Channel Card Types - CHT, 26 (64 max.)


Channel input digital data can be in any format, serial or parallel, in any coding, and at any levels, TTL, ECL, that can be accommodated by the channel type card used. Channel input analog signals can contain any form of modulation, at any nominal level, with any dynamic within the limitations (see figure 6-8).


Figure 6-7.  ADARIO block format.


Figure 6-8.   ADARIO data format.
Click Here to View Figure 6-8



6.15 Submultiplex/Demultiplex Standards for Multiple Data Channels on a Primary Digital Multiplex/Demultiplex Channel
    6.15.1 Format Structure
    6.15.2 Implied Parameters and Limits
    6.15.3 Defined Parameters
    6.15.4 Aggregate Format on the Primary Data Channel
    6.15.5 Submux/Demux FILL Requirement

For combining multiple low to medium rate telemetry channels on a single primary digital channel such as the ADARIO input channel, the submultiplex (submux) format is recommended. The format was developed for test range applications where high quantity of channels must be collected in conjunction with high data rate primary channels. The submux format provides a standard for extending the ADARIO primary channel or any other primary digital channel for conveying data from up to 31 subchannels in digital aggregate data form. Each channel is totally autonomous and can be enabled/disabled at any time. Some of the features of the submux format are

  • accommodates analog, digital clocked and asynchronous, time and annotation text, and other application specific telemetry channels;

  • requires less than 0.3 percent of overhead per channel;

  • stores all necessary parameters for channel signal reconstruction in real or scaled time;

  • preserves phase coherence between all channels for all rates (dc to maximum) and all types of channels; and

  • accommodates variable and fixed rate primary channel of up to 256 Mbps.


6.15.1 Format Structure. General structure of the submux format is based on a constant block rate and variable block data length for each channel data block. The aggregate data stream is the sequential collection of each enabled channel data block with a three-word header. Each channel data block is the sequential collection of data samples or events within the block time period. A reserved channel (channel ID=31) provides frame synchronization and block timing and is always the first channel in the frame sequence. Individual channels can be enabled or disabled at any time within the rate limitations of the primary channel. Primary channel redundant parameter fields such as date, time, and annotation are placed in optional defined channel types, thereby, minimizing overhead caused by redundancy. All data and headers are bit packed into 16-bit words. All fields, unless specifically stated, are binary coded. Physical implementation of the format may have design restrictions as to types and quantities of channels and maximum allowable field limits.

6.15.2 Implied Parameters and Limits. Maximum aggregate rate (256 Mbps), block rate, first sample time delay measurement, and internal sample period are based on a 16-MHz clock rate divided by 2N, where N can be set from 0 to 7 defining the derived clock. Block rate is based on the derived clock divided by 20 160 which sets the limit on the total aggregate word count of all channels in a block period. The maximum block rate (793.65 blocks per second) in conjunction with the 16-bit bit count field, limits the maximum subchannel input rate to 52 Mbps. The 16-MHz clock limits the time delay resolution to 62.5 nanoseconds.

The maximum number of channels is limited by the 5-bit field and the reserved block sync channel to 31 channels numbered from 0 to 30. Channel ID of 31 is the reserved block sync channel that conveys timing information. To accommodate fixed rate primary channel, fill can be inserted after the last channel data block, prior to the next block sync channel (at the end of the frame ), and must consist of all binary ones (FFFF hex word value ).

Channel priority is fixed in channel number sequence with channel ID of 31 (block sync) first, followed by channel ID 0, if enabled, to channel ID 30, followed by fill (if required) to maintain fixed channel rate. Any channel can be one of eight channel types. Type 0 channels convey timing data in the 3-word header and have implied data length of 0. Type other than zero contains the bit count field that defines the length of valid data in the data block. The actual word length of the data block is the integer of ((Bit Count + 15)/16). Channel type also defines the content of the fields in the header.

6.15.3 Defined Parameters. Each channel data block has a 3-word (16-bit) header that contains the channel ID number, channel type, and other defined and undefined fields based on the channel type code. Undefined fields are reserved for future use and should be zero filled. Each channel header also contains up to 4 status bits that indicate the condition in the current data block or the condition of the last aggregate frame.

Channel ID 31 is a special form of channel type 0. The first two words are used for synchronization and are F8C7 BF1E hex value. The block rate clock (BRC) defines the main clock binary divider and is used for time scaled signal reconstruction. Each increment time period doubles. “Fill” indicates if the primary channel requires fill for fixed data rate.

Channel ID can be any unique number from 0 to 30 and designates the physical subchannel used for acquiring the data. Channel type defines the type of data this channel conveys and is currently defined for 0 to 5.

A type 0 “Time Tag” channel typically processes IRIG time code data and is used to time tag the frame. The Days Hours Minutes Seconds Fractional Seconds fields are the content of IRIG time code input or channel derived and in the same BCD form as the IRIG G time code.

Type nonzero headers contain FMT field that defines the format of the sample in bits per sample, 4-bit status field that indicates any errors or warnings pertaining to the current data block, bit count field that defines the length of valid data in the data block, and time delay field that (when external clock is used) indicates the delay from block time to the first sample in the BRC defined clock periods. When the internal clock is used, as indicated by type or most significant bit (MSB) of time delay, the sample period field defines the period of the internal sample clock in the BRC defined clock periods. The internal sample clock is always an integer divisor of the block period and the first sample is coincident with the block time. In type 1 blocks, this field is used for sequential block count.

When the internal clock is used with digital serial channel, the data and clock lines are sampled at the designated rate and result in eight data and eight clock samples per data block word. Otherwise, all incoming digital data are sampled at the incoming clock and results in a sample in the data block, with the first sample being left justified in the first word with “format” designated number of bits starting with the MSB of the sample. Samples are bit sequentially packed regardless of word boundaries. The last sample in the block period is fully packed into the current data block with the remaining portion of the word, if any, being left undefined.

6.15.4 Aggregate Format on the Primary Data Channel . Figures 6-9a and 6-9b show the defined types of channel data from which the aggregate is composed. The primary data will always consist of the “Frame Sync” block followed by one or more unique channel blocks, followed by fill if required. The frame sync block will be generated at block rate. Aggregate data may be clocked by the primary channel or by the submux at constant or burst rate depending on the primary channel characteristics. Data format field definitions appear in appendix G, Submux Data Format Field Definitions.

6.15.5 Submux/Demux FILL Requirement. The submux produces aggregate data at the user aggregate data rate. In other words, the rate and amount of data produced on the aggregate output is directly proportional to the user specified clock and data format bits and is averaged over the frame period. This variable aggregate data rate is acceptable to variable rate primary channels or buffered variable rate recorders.

Fixed rate primary channels and fixed rate recorders require data at some fixed rate. The fixed rate is usually set to be the maximum expected user aggregate rate. When the user aggregate rate is less than the maximum, then some sort of filler is necessary to maintain the constant output rate. The format-specified fill word provides this filler and is automatically generated when the primary channel or fixed rate recorder provides clocks after the last word of the last enabled channel is clocked out within the frame period. Fill is always terminated by the Frame of Block Sync channel, indicating the presence of the next frame data.

The quantity of fill words is totally dependent on the fixed primary channel rate and the average user aggregate rate within one frame period. Minimum is zero words when user rates are at the maximum and equal to the fixed rate (minus the overhead). When user rates are at the minimum, maximum amount of fill will be generated for maintaining constant output rate.


Figure 6-9a.  Submux Data Format
Click Here to View Figure 6-9a


Figure 6-9b.  Submux Data Format
Click Here to View Figure 6-9b



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