ORWAYMODEL AURORA 141 MHz, 12 BIT TRANSIENT RECORDERincludes FASTCAMAC Level 1 Operation•INDEPENDENT ADC PER CHANNEL•SIX CHANNELS PER MODULE•128K WORDS OF MEMORY PER CHANNEL , 512K OPTIONAL•SINGLE WIDTH CAMAC MODULE•MULTIPLE MODES INCLUDING BURST AND PRE/POST TRIGGERING•DIGITIZING RATE - 1 MHz DOWN TO DC ( SINGLE PULSE MODE )•FASTCAMAC READS - DATA TRANSFERS OF 7.5 MEGABYTES/SEC

AURORA
TRANSIENTRECORDERMODEL14NLREDLSRUN
CLOCK OUTCLOCKThe Aurora 14 Transient Recorder is fully self contained analog waveform digitizer capable ofsimultaneous sampling of data on six separate channels all at rates up to 1 MHz. Housed in a single
width CAMAC module, each channel contains a separate differential amplifier, sample/hold, 12 bit
Analog to Digital Converter, and up to 512K word memory. With a separate A to D converter perchannel, no analog multiplexer is required, resulting in excellent reduction of crosstalk between channels.
Overloading of one channel has a negligible effect on other channels.

STARTSTOPThe self contained nature of the Aurora 14 make it a fine independent building block for large
multichannel transient recorder systems. Systems can be easily expanded or rearranged at a minimum
expense. Servicing of large systems is also improved by the independent nature of this self containedtransient recorder.

ANALOG IN
1

CAMAC commands for the Aurora 14 have been selected so the module can be operated assoftware compatible with the Aurora 12 100 KHz Transient Recorder. In addition the Aurora 14 contains
a variety of modes including pretrigger/post-trigger, multiple cycles and burst which greatly enhance theversatility of the module. Provision has been made for a clock output which can be used to operate otherAurora 14 recorders as slaves so multiple modules track a master recorder.

23The Aurora 14 is provided with a variety of front panel controls and CAMAC commands tocontrol its operation. Signals to be digitized are applied to front panel 2 pin LEMO connectors. Strap
selections provide range selections for 0 to +2.5, to +5 ,to +10,+/-2.5 ,+/- 5 or +/-10 volts. The basic
digitizing rate can selected by CAMAC command to further divide the internal 1 MHz crystal oscillator
or external clock. External clock rates cover the range of 1 MHz down to DC (single pulse) providing
great versatility of operation. Digitizing (termed START) can be initiated by either a CAMAC commandor by a front panel start input. Once started, analog data will be captured simultaneously by the sample
and hold at each channel, digitized by the ADCs and stored in memory. Recording will proceed in amanner based on the digitizing mode selected by a CAMAC write into the module Status Register.
Recording will generally continue until stopped (termed STOP) by a front panel stop input, a CAMAC
stop command, memory full (termed OVERFLOW) or post-trigger counter (termed PTS).
The feature of FASTCAMAC operation has been added to the Aurora 14. The module responds
to the FASTCAMAC F5 command providing Level 1 reads with data transfers every 400 nanoseconds.
Transfer rates for long blocks at 7.5 megabytes per second can be achieved in the 24 bit format.

JORWAY CORPORATION 623 New York Ave., Huntington, N.Y. 11743

Tel:631-351-1203

Fax:631-351-1208

456DIGITIZING MODES. (Modes are selected by writing bits 9-11 in the Status Register. The memory address
should be set to zero and the digitizing mode selected before recording commences)
Mode 0: Pre/Post Trigger and Aurora 12 Mode.
This mode starts digitizing on START and will digitize until OVERFLOW or STOP occurs if the PTS
counter is set to zero. With the PTS counter at zero this mode is identical to the Aurora 12. If the PTS counter isset to a non zero value, digitizing will continue for the duration of the PTS value or until OVERFLOW if it occurssooner.
Mode 1: Cyclic Buffer
A START will initiate digitizing. Digitizing will continue without stopping at OVERFLOW until a STOP
is received. At STOP, digitize will continue for the duration of the PTS counter for non zero values. When overall
recording is finished, the memory address counter can be read to determine where to align the address with thedata recorded.
Mode 2: Multiple START-STOP
This mode allows multiple START-STOP digitizing sequences to be applied to the Aurora 14. After each
STOP, digitizing will continue for the duration of the non zero PTS counter value. Unlike the Cyclic Buffer mode
all digitizing will stop when OVERFLOW occurs. If the duration of the START-STOP period is not constant, it
may be helpful to record a timing gate on one analog channel to frame the multiple sequences stored in memory.
Mode 3: Burst Mode ,Multiple START'sUpon receipt of a START, digitizing will commence and last for the duration of the PTS counter. Eachsuccessive START received will duplicate recording for the same PTS duration. Digitizing will terminate at STOPor OVERFLOW.
Mode 4: Master/Slave ModeIn this mode, one Aurora 14 is selected as a master in a mode from 0 to 3. Additional Aurora 14's are
selected for Mode 4 (Slave operation). The clock output of the master is connected to the clock input of the slave
modules. When the master is commanded to digitize, the same internal strobe which triggers the Hold-ADC
Convert-Store process is delivered as a clock to the Slave modules to duplicate this process.
Alternatively, a module in Mode 4 will accept an external gated clock to trigger the digitize process. For
example Transient Recorder Clock modules can be used to provide change in clock frequency during digitizing.
Care must be exercised in control of the clock as the modules clock synchronizing circuits have been disabled.
Start and Stop inputs on the Slave modules should be left open.
SPECIFICATIONSANALOG INPUTS
Differential:
Input Range:

ADC
Resolution:
Accuracy:
Aperture Delay:
Aperture Jitter:
Sampling Rate:

POWER+6V, 1240ma; -6V, 325ma+24V, 100ma; +24V, 75ma

MEMORY128K x 12 bit per channel
512K Optional (Option 1)

2 Pin LEMO (Type RAO302)±5V (factory set)or ±2.5V,±10V
0 to 2.5,5V,10V; plug selectable
Input Impedance:
100K Ohm
Analog Bandwidth:
750 KHz
CMRR, Common Mode Rejection Ratio: 70 dB
Crosstalk:
60 dB

12 Bits-No Missing Codes
0.1% of full scale
15 nsec
40 psec.
DC(Single Pulse) to 1 MHz

FRONT PANEL 1 pin LEMO CONNECTORSINPUTS Start, Stop, Clock In -- LEMO Type RA0250
Input Impedance: 2 bridged inputs for daisy chaining
10K Impedance
Logic Levels:
TTL, positive transition is activeedge.
OUTPUTSTATUS AURORA 14 FORMAT, 19 bit word:
Read @ F(1)A(4)Write @F(17)A(4) to Bits 1-4, 9-15
Bits Function
1-3 Clock Speed

Value0123456Selection
1 MHz500 KHz
250 KHz
100 KHz
50 KHz25 KHz
10 KHz0/1Ext./Int.

5-7 Channel selectfor Read012345Channel 12345680/1 12/24 Bit Format

Clock Out : TTL levels.

FRONT PANEL INDICATORS
N Light:

On for approx. 30ms or duration ofdataway N.
RUN Light: On during digitizing (digitize mode isselected and a start has been received)
ED Light:
On when module LAM is enabled.
LS Light:
On when module LAM source is set.
LR Light:
LAM Request, On when dataway L is set(LAM source is set and LAM is enabled)

4Int./Ext. Clock

DATA FORMAT
Waveform Data: 12 bits per word offset binary.
12 Bit Format, R1 LSB or
24 Bit Format, with bits R1-R12for channel 1,3,5 and bits R13-24 forchannels 2, 4, 6.
Module ID:

19 bit word, Bits 1 thru 8, decimal 14(Model #)9 thru 19, Option & Rev #'s

POST TRIGGER SAMPLE REGISTER (PTS): 8 Bit Register
used to select the number of 1K samples for post trigger
operation. In Mode 3 value in register selects number of 1K
samples which will be made following a START signal. When512K memory is used samples are in 2K increments.
ADDRESS COUNTER: 19 bit Counter which addresses
module memory. MSB 18 and 19 are used only with 512K
memory.
STATUS AURORA 12 FORMAT, 8 bit word: F(0)A(0)
Bits
1-6

Function
Value
Analog Range(fixed at 1)
17

Fixed Bit

18Int./Ext. Clock01

12/24 Bit Format

9-11 Mode01234

Aurora 12, PTS
Cyclic Buffer
Multiple Start-Stop
Burst
Master/Slave

12Clock Output
Control01Continuos
Gated (Mode 4)131415In Polarity - StopIn Polarity - Start
In Polarity - Clock0-pos. 1-neg.
0-pos. 1-neg.
0-pos. 1-neg.

16 Memory Size

01128 K
512 K

RUN STATUS REGISTER, [3 Bit Word : Read F(1)A(0)]1 Run
1 Digitizing in progress
2 Address overflow
1 Overflow has occurred
3 Mode CMD (Command) 0 CMD or Read Modeor DAQ (Acquisition)
1 DAQ Digitizing enabled.

Selection
Analog Rangeof +/- 5 V

AURORA 14 ADC RANGE, [18 Bit Word: Read F(1)A(5)]Ext. ClockInt. Clock

CH1 CH2 CH3 CH4 CH5 CH6Bit 14710 13 16
Bit 25811 14 17
Bit 36912 15 18

Range
1=5V,0=2.5V
1=Range x2, 0= x1
1=Bipolar,0=Unipolar

CAMAC COMMANDS(# indicates commands which can not be performed in (DAQ) Data Acquisition Mode)(* indicates compatible Aurora 12 commands, Commands F(0)A(0), F(9)A(0), F(17)A(0+1) not recommended forAurora 14 software as they are duplicated and expanded by other commands.)#*F(0)A(0): Read Aurora 12 format status word.
F(1)A(0): Read Run Status Word.

#*F(17)A(0): Select Int. Clock, Data = any value.
#*F(17)A(1): Select Ext. Clock, Data = any value.

# F(1)A(2): Read Memory Address Register.

# F(17)A(2): Write Memory Address Register.

# F(1)A(3): Read PTS,( Post Trigger Sample) Reg.

# F(17)A(3): Write PTS Register.

# F(1)A(4): Read Status Reg.(Aurora 14 Format).

# F(17)A(4): Write Status Register Bits 1-4, andBits 9-15 (Aurora 14 Format).

F(1)A(5): Read ADC Range Register.
#*F(2)A(0): Read Waveform data of selected channel
and increment RAM address if inCommand Mode.

# F(20)A(0): Write data into RAM for test, 24 bitformat, autoincrement address.
*F(24)A(0): Clear ED FF to disable LAM mask.

# F(5)A(0): FASTCAMAC Read, same as F(2)A(0)except data is applied to dataway andRAM address incremented for each S1*F(24)A(1): Select (CMD) Command (Read) Mode.

#*F(6)A(0): Read module ID.

*F(25)A(1): Stop digitizing.

*F(8)A(0): Test LAM; Q=1 if request present.

*F(26)A(0): Set ED FF to enable LAM mask.

*F(9)A(0): Aurora 12 Reset. Clear ADC, allregisters, over flow and LAM flag.
Sets PTS value at zero,clock at internaland 1 MHz. Selects channel for read atzero and 12 bit format. Enables (DAQ)
mode for digitizing..

*F(26)A(1): Select (DAQ) Mode for digitize.

F(9)A(1): Master Reset. Same as F(9)A(0) except
module is set for CMD mode.
F(9)A(2): Selective Reset. Clear ADC, clear
memory address register, LAM andoverflow flag. Maintains PTS value
and enables module for digitize (DAQMode). Other Status Register bits are
not affected.
# F(9)A(3): Clear Memory Address Register.
*F(10)A(0): Clear LAM source FF.
#*F(16)A(0-5): Write sub address of channel to beread out, clear LAM, A(0)=Ch.1,A(1)=Ch.2 etc. Effective only inread mode. Data = any value.
# F(16)A(6):Write channel to be read on writelines W1 - W3, and 12/24 Bit data
format on W4 (1 = 24 Bit select)

JORWAY CORPORATION•*F(25)A(0): Start digitizing.

*F(27)A(0): Test LAM source FF; Q=1 if set.
*(Z) S2: Clear all registers and flags in a manner
identical to F(9)A(1). Disables LAM Maskand clears LAM.
X:

Generated for all above commands.

Q:

For F(8) and F(27), Q response depends
on LAM. In Command Mode all othercommands respond with Q = 1 except forF(2) where Q=0 will occur on the lastF(2 ) read+1 (signifying last word inmemory encountered on previous read).
However in mode 1 and F(2), Q=1 will
occur for all addresses enabling reads towrap around to zero at the maximum
address. In DAQ Mode, commands
marked with # can not be executed andwill respond with Q =0. All othercommands will be executed and will
respond with Q = 1.

PACKAGE SIZE

Website: www.jorway.com

CAMAC-Single Width Module.
DSA14_R5 0201

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