Dual Redundant MIL-STD-1553 Remote Terminal Demonstrator Board Using HI-6110 Message Processor IC

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Mission Viejo, CA (October 11, 2007) – Holt Integrated Circuits, a world leader in data bus IC’s for the avionics and military industries, today announced a complete dual redundant MIL-STD-1553 Remote Terminal (RT) demonstrator board using the HI-6110 message processor IC.  The HI-6110RTC demonstrator board interfaces directly with a host or subsystem and automatically responds to legal, valid MIL-STD-1553 commands from the Bus Controller.

The key component in the RT demonstrator is the Holt HI-6110 MIL-STD-1553 Message Processor.  This monolithic CMOS device includes dual analog 1553 bus transceivers, dual Manchester decoders for receive messages, a Manchester encoder for transmit messages and 1553-protocol logic that transmits and receives data while detecting the full range of potential error conditions.  In addition to the HI-6110, the board includes a 16-bit ARM7 microcontroller, a dual-port asynchronous static RAM with tri-state host data bus and a flash memory for self-initialization data and microcontroller program storage.  The primary interface to the external host is through the shared RAM, with additional control and status functions handled using discrete input and output pins.

Message buffering occurs in the dual port static RAM and the memory management scheme is fully programmable.  The user can choose between three different buffering modes, namely, indexed (single buffering), double buffering (also known as ping-pong buffering) and two circular buffering modes.  Complete messages can be stored, comprising a message information word, a 16-bit Time Tag word, and all data words associated with the message.  The user may choose an appropriate buffering mode according to the application requirements.   Additional flexibility is provided by allowing different buffering modes for transmit and receive commands to the same subaddress.

Internal illegalization capability is provided by allowing any subset of subaddress, command T/R bit, broadcast vs. non-broadcast and word count (or mode code) to be illegalized, resulting in a total of 4,096 possible combinations.  Automatic self-initialization can also be enabled by interfacing with on-board flash memory.  Once the shared RAM has been initialized during initial terminal set up, host interaction is only needed to load data for transmit commands. 

“The HI-6110RTC Remote Terminal Demonstrator Board illustrates how Holt’s monolithic CMOS message processor, HI-6110, can be used to design a complete remote terminal application, requiring minimal external host overhead,” said Anthony Murray, Director of Business Development at Holt.

In addition to this complete remote terminal demonstration board, the individual MIL-STD-1553 message processing capability of HI-6110 has been validated using previously announced evaluation boards and software (Holt Integrated Circuits - News).   A summary of the evaluation kits available from Holt are illustrated below.

Holt Part # Internal CPU RT/Host Shared Memory Auto Initialization Programmable Interrupts Message Buffering
 HI-6110RTA  Z8F6422, 8-bit MCU  No  No  No  No
 HI-6110RTB  AT91FR40162S, 16-bit ARM7  No  No  No  No
 HI-6110RTC  AT91R4008, 16-bit ARM7  64K Dual port SRAM  Yes  Yes  Yes

An application note explaining detailed operation of the HI-6110RTC is available on request. In addition, readers interested in learning more about Holt’s range of demonstration boards or any of Holt’s MIL‑STD‑1553 products should contact Holt at (949) 859-8800, by e-mail at info@holtic.com, or by visiting the Holt Web site at www.holtic.com.

About Holt Integrated Circuits

Located in Mission Viejo, CA, Holt Integrated Circuits is a major supplier of ICs for avionics and military data bus and display applications.  The company’s products are specified by more than 250 manufacturers worldwide and are employed in flight control, navigation, engine management, communications, safety equipment, and in-flight entertainment systems worldwide.

Holt’s range of ICs supporting the ARINC 429 standard is the widest in the industry, and its display drivers offer high-voltage operation as well as innovative design features to enhance ease of use and testability.  Holt’s transceivers for MIL-STD-1553 applications are recognized as the industry’s smallest and have the lowest power consumption.  In addition, Holt also offers MIL-STD-1553 Manchester encoder/decoders and interface transformers.  Select products are available to DSCC SMD specifications.

Holt Integrated Circuits also offers product compliant to the European Union "RoHS Directive 002/95/EC" and is an ISO 9001:2000 registered supplier.