Sumary of CAMAC: Status and Outlook

Is everyone going to use CAMAC? Probably not. Does CAMAC represent all the latest thinking in data handling? Again the answer is no. However, one must remember that the time from conception to delivery of a computer makes it partially obsolete before it is ever used. This is the price of progress. A similar gestation time was inevitable for CAMAC. If we were to begin today, CAMAC would be different, but at this point in time we are glad we don't have to start over again. CAMAC has proved its worth in many experimental research situations. Also CAMAC is dynamic; as new technology beccmes available it will obviously be incorporated into the system. Now is the time to take it to the industrial market place. The predominant use of CAMAC should be in industrial data-acquisition and control environments.     

A Smart Crate Controller for Fast CAMAC Data Acquisition

A smart CAMAC Crate Controller has been designed for use in Fermilab experiment E-705. Its distinctive feature is a hardwired list processor performing block transfers by executing lists of pre-stored CAMAC instructions. Data collected from the crate are sent to an external port: controllers organized in serial or parallel channels, transmit their data to buffer memories. Processing of interactive CAMAC operations, downloading of CAMAC instruction lists and supervision are provided by a Motorola 6809 micro-processor linked to the controller via the STD bus and to a host computer via an RS-232 serial interface.     

Modular software for MAST multi-technology data acquisition system

The MAST (Mega-Amp Spherical Tokamak) data acquisition system is being radically upgraded. New hardware with completely different control interface and logic has been installed on all system levels from front-end devices to plant control. MAST plant control has been moved from VMS to a Windows-based OPC system. Old CAMAC and VME units are being replaced by cPCI and PXI units. A number of CAMAC crates have been upgraded with new Ethernet controllers supporting useful front-end devices.The upgrade is being performed without disturbing operations; the data acquisition units are being replaced gradually. Such an upgrade is possible due to the structure of the MAST data acquisition system which is build as a set of autonomous units, each one controlled by a computer. Modern computers are capable of controlling several units, and this has been the major opportunity and challenge because it radically changes the unit control logic. As a result practically all system components had to be redesigned.The new unit software is a step in system evolution towards greater flexibility and universality. Each unit can now manage multiple data files, possibly with different formats, and many units can be hosted on the same computer. This feature is provided by a message proxy server. Each unit is controlled independently and transparently, exactly like a stand-alone unit. A message interface has been modified for consistent handling of new functions. The unit software supports event-triggered and real-time data acquisition at the system level. New software has been developed for a number of new hardware devices, and the device modules for all usable old devices have been rewritten to operate with the new control interface.The new software allows units to be upgraded even during operations. The system structure and logic provide easy extension. The system as a whole or system design elements could also be used on other fusion facilities.     

Summary of CAMAC: Status and Outlook

Is everyone going to use CAMAC? Probably not. Does CAMAC represent the latest thinking in data handling? Again the answer is no. However, one must remember that the time from conception to delivery of a computer makes it partially obsolete before it is ever used. This is the price of progress. A similar gestation time is inevitable for CAMAC. If we were to begin today, CAMAC would be different, but at this point in time we cannot start over. CAMAC is the only system with any chance of wide-spread acceptance in the near future. We intend to take advantage of its opportunities right away.     

CAMAC Systems at LAMPF

The use of CAMAC has been proposed in the experimental area of one of the nation's newest particle accelerators. This paper will describe briefly the computer-based data system to be implemented and how CAMAC might solve the interface problem.     

Some Characteristics of Interfaces between CAMAC and Small Computers

The typical CAMAC system is operated in conjunction with a small computer. In the usual case, the computer acts as a repository for data generated by CAMAC, and also controls and directs the CAMAC operations. This paper discusses some of the aspects of the hardware interface, and also some of the interaction between the computer and the CAMAC system.     

A VAX Based Data Acquisition Computer System at the Nuclear Structure Research Laboratory

The Nuclear Structure Research Laboratory at the University of Rochester is developing a VAX-11/750 computer system for use in a data acquisition and analysis system. The system consists of the VAX which is networked to two LSI-11/23's which are in turn connected to CAMAC branch drivers. The CAMAC branch drivers operate both parallel and 5 MHz byte-serial highways. The network is a high speed DMA interface and is identical to the system implemented at the W.K. Kellogg Radiation Laboratory[l]. The data acquisition system has been designed to allow the user to select standard program modules as building blocks to construct a system to suit the particular needs of the experiment. The division of the realtime analysis between the VAX and the LSI-11s is flexible. The LSI-11s are equipped with small array processors tlo permit high speed analysis on the satellite processors.     

CAMAC服务器

本文介绍使用ＶＣＣ２１１７ＣＡＭＡＣ机箱控制器建立的ＣＡＭＡＣ服务器，客户机使用ＶＭＥ实时工作站，具有符合ＩＥＥＥ标准的ＣＡＭＡＣ子程序库，客户－服务器之间通信采用机箱间电缆总线ＶＩＣｂｕｓ。     

Operational Characteristics of the Camac Dataway

The basic purpose of CAMAC is to provide a standardized method for transferring data and control information between instrurrentation modules and a digital controller. CAMAC encompasses both a hardware standard for housing the modular components of a system and an electrical and logical standard for the control "language" used to effect the information transfer. The CAMAC specification contains the formally stated rules for hoth of these aspects of CAMAC. This paper concentrates on the control language and describes some of its features and uses in a less formal way than in the specification, and therefore may be useful as an introduction to the subject. Other papers in this series consider other aspects of CAMAC, including its place in the context of instrumentation systems, hardware aspects, signal standards, the Branch Highway, and coupling to computers and control systems. Here, the scope is limited to the process of information interchange within the CAMAC crate. This is a revised version of a paper previously publishled. Since the first version was published, a revised version of the CAMAC specification has been issued. This present paper is based only on the revised specification. Information on the differences between the original and revised CAMAC specifications is available.     

Some Characteristics of Interfaces between CAMAC and Small Computers

The typical CAMAC system has a small computer attached to it. In the usual case, the computer acts as a repository for data generated by CAMAC, and also controls and directs the CAMAC operations. This paper discusses some of the aspects of the hardware interface, and also some of the interaction between the computer and the CAMAC system.     

激光诱导原子电离实验中的多定标数据获取系统

简要介绍了一套应用于激光诱导原子电离实验中的多定标数据获取系统,获取系统分为前端CAMAC自动获取与通过网络连接的后台数据存储两部分,其特点是用户更改数据读出表文件而可以任意添加CAMAC前端中的定标器个数,也可以增加用于能量测量的ADC等实现多参数在线获取,获得的数据按照列表型ASCⅡ格式存放在微机硬盘中.     

北京正负电子对撞机输运线磁铁电源样机控制系统

在北京正负电子对撞机重大改造工程（BEPCⅡ）中，为能有效地利用现有的CAMAC设备，研究提出采用VME模块作为CAMAC串行驱动器（SerialDriver），与CAMAC机箱连成串行通道系统，通过CAMAC机箱控制器对CAMACI/O功能插件进行控制操作，实现对输运线磁铁电源的远程控制。文章描述与实现这一方案相关的CAMACI/O驱动程序和应用软件的开发与调试。该样机系统的研制成功解决了BEPCⅡ控制系统研发中的关键技术。     

智能VME—CAMAC分支驱动器

在高能物理实验数据获取系统中使用VME改造原有CAMAC系统可以在花钱不多的前提下显著提高数据获取速度,减少系统死时间。本文介绍了VME-CAMAC混合系统的关键设备之一,带有MC68000微处理器的智能CAMAC分支驱动器的硬件和软件。     

基于TKO－CAMAC的羊八井EAS阵列数据采集系统

本义介绍一个基于ＴＫＯ－ＣＡＭＡＣ数据采集系统，该系统采集坐落在西藏羊八井的广延空气簇射阵列数据，它是由ＴＫＯ－ＡＭＡＣ系列插件和ＰＣ－３８６微机组成。除此以外，它还包括一个激光标定检测系统及由原子钟和ＧＰＳ（全球定位系统）组成的定时系统。     

Computer Controlled CAMAC Systems at Argonne

Several computer controlled CAMAC systems are presently being developed at Argonne for data acquisition in low-energy nuclear physics. This paper discusses four of these. The systems are designed around 8K, 16-bit, Lockheed MAC-16 computers. A typical system includes two CAMAC crates and a complement of 15 modules. The crate controller in each crate serves as interface between the computer I/O bus and the CAMAC dataway. Up to 14 individual crates can be addressed in addition to a Teletype and other peripheral devices. The CAMAC modules being developed include Crate Controller, Dual ADC Controller, ADC Coincidence Unit, Dual Stabilizer, Quad Pre-Scaler, Clock, Display Controller, Readout Selector, Magnetic Tape Controller and Disk Controller. Most units are built in double-width modules using computer controlled wire-wrap construction.     

Some Aspects of CAMAC Software

Since most CAMAC systems include computers, the generation and maintenance of computer programs may represent a substantial fraction of the effort involved in assembling a CAMAC system. The effort involved can be reduced if standard software can be used, but the generality of the hardware and the variety of computers and interfaces make the production of efficient, general software difficult. Some of the problems and some general approaches to them are discussed below. The NIM Software Working Group has been working on a set of FORTRAN subroutines for use with CAMAC systems. Though the effort is incomplete, it has reached a stage where its implementation is feasible and will prove useful. The working group has therefore concluded that it should be published in this tutorial issue to make it available to prospective users.     

The TRIUMF Time Projection Chamber Data Acquisition System

The Time Projection Chamber (TPC) at TRIUMF was developed for the search for muon-electron conversion, a lepton number violating process. This paper describes the data acquisition system in use for the last two years. Basic components of the system are a multi-crate CAMAC acquisition system, external memory, PDP 11/40 and VAX 11/780 coupled through DECNET. A discussion of the various software packages for data-taking and on-line track reconstruction follows.     

计算机核能谱数据获取系统中的数据通讯系统

本文介绍一个高速数据通讯系统。它是在基于计算机的多用户核谱数据获取和处理系统的基础上提出的,解决远地实验室如何利用该计算机系统作为数据获取和处理的工具。每组通讯线的速度允许到1MB/s,信息格式接近于CAMAC串行线规范规定的格式。     

A VME/VMX - CAMAC Interface and Crate Controller

A VME/VMX bus interface has been designed and built to interface a VME-based data acquisition system to CAMAC. The interface communicates via a differential bus with a companion unit that functions as a CAMAC crate controller. The interface maps both VMiE and VMX address cycles into appropriate CAMAC cycles. Special diagnostic features have been incorporated in the design to allow quick fault detection and location.