MX INSTRUMENTATION MULTIPLEXER SET

Abstract

The MX Instrumentation Multiplexer Set is used to acquire data during test flights of the MX Missile. The Multiplexer Set consists of a Multiplexer Programmer Controller Unit (MU), from 2 to 32 Remote Multiplexer Units (RU’s), and any number of Power Supply Verifier Units (PSV’S). The primary purpose of the MU is to operate as the programmable system controller, acquire local data inputs, and format this data along with data from the RU’s in a PCM Output. The RU’s interface to the MU via Instruction and Reply Data Buses providing remote data acquisition. The PSV’s provide an accurate stimulus voltage to the analog sources along with a control to offset the analog signal for test verification. Thirty-one of the possible 32 RU’s connect to the MU by two pairs of vehicle data buses, while the remaining RU is connected via the umbilical data bus. This ground resident RU is identical to the flight RU’s, but its functional requirement is quite different as it is primarily used to load and verify MU programs. Each of the vehicle data buses can be up to 130 feet in length with a 250 foot length allowed for the umbilical bus. An ideal terminated bus is not feasible in the MX application since the bus configuration changes as the missile stages. Staging will produce opens or shorts on the cable; to insure proper operation of all remaining RU’s on the bus, the interface isolation transformer incorporates both voltage and current windings to provide maximum secondary signal level with minimum reflection distortion. The data bus operates at 3.2 MHz using a Manchester II coded signal. The MU can sample 160 local differential analog channels that are programmable in gain, off-set, and to a maximum rate of 170,665 samples per second. A flexible grouping of 8 discrete inputs from the 96 discrete channels is programmable to a rate of 51,200 samples per second. The MU can also access data from four serial digital channels and provide outputs on eight command channels. During pre-flight the commands can be ground initiated, and following launch they can be time event programmed as well as being programmed repetitive in either mode. The PCM rate is 1.6 Mbps and the MU stores five in-flight selectable formats in a 4096 words by 16 bits CMOS RAM memory. Each RU can access 28 analog and 8 discrete channels, and the RU can control two command and six verification channels. The PSV does not interface to the data bus; it is controlled via a MU or RU command channel. The system can be externally synchronized or operated from an internal clock with a graceful transfer to eliminate data loss. Small size, light weight, low power and high reliability are primary characteristics of the system. Built-in monitors and fully automated computer controlled test equipment provide rapid and extreme parameter testing with a high degree of fault isolation.