VME-NEW-IO
Use cases of existing VME-NIMIO32 board
Specs of the existing board:
- full documentation is here: VME-NIMIO32
- 6U VME single width
- VME A32/D32, firmware implements A24/D32 single word and A24/BLT32 block transfers. There is no VME drivers on the A-lines so cannot do MBLT64, 2eVME, 2eSST.
- Altera Cyclone1 FPGA, 6k LE, 180 i/o pins, 100-200 MHz clock speeds.
- 16 NIM inputs (convertable to TTL), LEMO connectors
- 16 ECL/LVDS inputs, LeCroy 4616 compatible ECL ribbon cable connector
- 16 NIM outputs, LEMO connectors
- 32 LEDs (one for each LEMO connector)
Main uses of the IO32 board have been:
- trigger latch, trigger timestamp and busy logic daq synchronization (LXe, IRIS, M11 test beams, DRAGON, ALPHA, EMMA, TRINAT, TREK, PTF, S1249 muonium production test, etc)
- scalers (16 ch, up to 200 MHz, deadtimeless) (most users)
- timestamp counter (4 ch, 100 MHz) (TRINAT, etc)
- 40MHz V1190 and 20MHz VF48 clock generator and trigger synchronization (LXe, IRIS, TREK, S1249, etc)
- V792 ADC gate and delay generator (M11 test beams, DRAGON, TRINAT, S1249, etc)
- custom trigger logic (M11 test beams, DRAGON, ALPHA, TRINAT, S1249)
- clock and trigger synchronization between 2 VME crates (DRAGON), 2 IO32 modules (TRINAT), separate DAQs (M11 beam tests)
- in addition there is a 1ns-time-bin delay-line TDC (never used)
Number of I/Os used:
- T2K/M11 beam tests - 8 NIM in, 8 NIM out
- S1249 muonium production test (M15) - 4 NIM in, 8 NIM out, (FIXME: ECL scalers?)
- ALPHA2 Si detector DAQ (CERN) - 16 NIM in, 16 NIM out
- DRAGON - 4 NIM in, 8 NIM out
- TRINAT TTL - (FIXME: 4 TTL in?)
- TRINAT - 8 NIM in, 8 NIM out
- TRINAT 2014 - 10 NIM in, 16 NIM out
- IRIS - ???
- TITAN EC (orchid) - 8 TTL in
- TREK, IRIS - 4 NIM in, 4 NIM out (trigger, busy, 40 MHz V1190 clock, 20 MHz VF48 clock)
- BNMR/BNQR - ?
- PTF - ?
Note: existing IO32 has significant delay from LEMO connector to FPGA logic (NIM-to-LVTTL converter, FPGA input pin,etc) and from FPGA logic to NIM output pin (FPGA output pin delay, LVTTL-to-NIM converter, etc). If using ECL inputs, add delay in NIM-to-ECL converter and in the ECL ribbon cable. FIXME: what is this delay?
Conclusion: for most common cases, 8 NIM in, 8 NIM out is sufficient.
Business case for new IO32 module
The existing IO32 module is very successful. Out of all 3+10+5=18 modules built, all are in use (including the 3 rev0 modules), none have failed. This module is easy to program and easy to use.
The main problem with existing modules is the small size of the Cyclone 1 FPGA - only 6000 logic elements. This limits the generic firmware can only 16 (out of 32 possible) scaler channels, only 4 timestamp channels, only 1 or 2 (out of 5) experiment-specific functions (custom trigger logic) and no space for a high resolution TDC, no space for a high capacity timestamp or time-sliced scaler (like the Struck/SIS3820).
Secondary problem is lack of high-speed data interface - the existing VME interface is limited to single-word or 32-bit block transfers (no drivers on the A-lines to permit 2eVME or 2eSST transfers).
If this module had a bigger FPGA and a high capacity data interface, it could be used to implement a 32-channel non-deadtime scaler or timestamp counter or a delay line or wavelet medium resolution TDC (1 ns time bin or better).
We have existing experiments that could use the timestamp and wavelet/delay line TDC functions right away - as low precision and medium precision TDCs - 5-10 ns and 200-1000 ps time bins - respectively - and possibly release some high precision V1190 TDC module.
Wish list for the new IO module
- VME form factor for power and cooling
- possible standalone use (external power connector)
- high speed data interface, i.e. GigE ethernet
- VME slave interface at least A16/D16 for integrating into existing VME DAQ systems as trigger latch, trigger timestamp and busy logic modules.
- VME master interface A32/D32 with 2eVME/2eSST capability (drivers for all A and D lines + drivers for BERR and RETRY) for use as light-weight replacement for V7750/V7805/V7865 VME processors.
- 8 NIM input, 8 NIM output, LEMO connectors, switchable to TTL (like the PPG32).
- multicoloured LEDs for each LEMO input and output
- 16 ECL/LVDS LeCroy 4616 compatible ribbon cable interface (like the IO32)
- reduced time delay from LEMO connector to FPGA logic and back (compared to IO32 and PPG32)
- a few channels of medium speed DAC (like the PPG32)
- a few channels of medium speed ADC (60-100 MHz, 10-12 bits)
- industry standard daughter board connector (HSMC, FMC)
Note: implementing all wish-list items at once will run into limitations of FPGA pins and front panel connector space. It is certainly acceptable to produce several variations of the board - single-width minimum configuration and double-width maximum configuration.
Budget of FPGA I/O pins
- 8 LEMO in, 16 ECL in, 8 LEMO out: 24 lvds in, 8 lvds out = 32 lvds pairs = 64
- LEDs: 3 inout = 3
- VME slave interface:
- D32 - 32 in/out + 1 OEn out - 33 inout
- A24/A32 VME-NIMIO32 style - A[23..1],LWORD - 24 in
- control in - AM[5..0], AS, DS0, DS1, WR - 10 in
- control in/out - DTACK, BERR, RETRY - 3 inout
- control interrupts - 2 in, 2 out
- total control signals - 17
- VME slave interface (A16/D16): 16 A + 16 D + 1 OE + 10 control + 1 DTACK + 4 intr = 48
- VME slave interface (A24/D32): 24 A + 32 D + 1 OE + 10 control + 3 D/B/R + 4 intr = 74
- VME slave interface with MBLT64/2eSST/2eVME capability: 32 A (inout) + 32 D + 2 OE + 10 control + 3 D/B/R + 4 intr = 83
- VME note1: MBLT64/2eVME/2eSST do not require A[31..24] connected
- VME note2: MBLT64/2eVME/2eSST do not require that slave drives the address lines (obviously 64-bit path is reduced to 32-bit path)
- VME note3: 2eSST requires RETRY signal located on the P2 connector.
- VME full master interface: same as above = 83
- HSMC connector: 120 pins(?) (bank1: 40, bank2: 40, bank3: 40)
- FMC connector: 246 pins (68 LPC + 160 HPC)
- LPC - 160 pins - 68 used def/34 lvds pairs + 1 stp + clocks + jtag + i2c
- HPC - 400 pins - 160 user def/80 lvds pairs + 10 stp + clocks
Available pins using CriticalLink Cyclone5 MitySOM http://www.criticallink.com/wp-content/uploads/MitySOM-5CSx-Datasheet.pdf
- 133 FPGA pins (68 Bank4A + 32 Bank3B + 6 Bank8A + 1 Bank5A + 26 Bank3A/5A = 133)
- 44 CPU pins
- $500 https://www.arrow.com/en/products/5csx-h6-4ya-rc/critical-link
Available pins using bare Cyclone5 SOM FPGA
- 288 FPGA pins
- 188 CPU pins
- subtract pins required to connect RAM, boot flash, network, etc
Available pins Arria5GX FPGA (GRIF16)
- 544 FPGA pins
Proposal of minimum configuration board
This design is meant to: a) provide maximum similarity to the existing IO32 board in it's programming and it's use b) provides the least production cost
Features:
- VME 6U single width form factor
- 8 NIM/TTL inputs, 8 NIM/TTL, with corresponding LEDs (existing IO32 board, halved)
- 16 ECL/LVDS LeCroy 4616 compatible ribbon cable interface (like the IO32)
- GigE network interface
- HSMC/FMC site
Board connectors layout:
top front <---> back ----------------------------------------------------------------- | block of LEDs (VME access, power, etc) | RJ45 GigE |/----- || space for || FMC/HSMC || daughter || board |\----- | same 6,7 | same 4,5 | same 2,3, nim/ttl switches | dual lemo nim/ttl output 0,1 | same 6,7 | same 4,5 | same 2,3, nim/ttl switches |................| ECL/LVDS | dual lemo nim/ttl input 0,1 |................| inputs ----------------------------------------------------------------- bottom front <---> back
It is easy to see how the front panel is very crowded. To save some space one can consider replacing dual-lemo connectors with higher-density connectors, but beware of additional costs (most experiments use LEMO cables, so adapters will have to be built/purchased) and board use difficulties (adapter cables of assorted lengths will have to be in stock ready to use at moment's notice - "the beam is on and we need one more signal connected right now at midnight on Sunday").
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