Two fast VME transient recorder systems with 12 bits and multiple differential inputs

This article describes two on-site developed, VME transient recorder system s, with 12 bit resolution, eight (four) differential input channels, sampli ng frequency up to 1.25 (20) MSPS and 512 (250 or 1000) kWords of memory pe r channel. Autonomous operation is guaranteed by standard static random acc ess memory, under the control of a programmable logic array device for addr ess generation. This device also manages the external trigger signal and pr ovides the control signals for the analog-to-digital converter in articulat ion with a programmable timing element that determines the acquisition rate . Software drivers have been developed for the OS-9 operating system. Tests to quantify the channel crosstalk, the common mode noise rejection, and th e spectral characterization are presented. (C) 1999 American Institute of P hysics. [S0034-6748(99)65301-1].