IntroducingtheCAMACinterface.-IAC.pptVIP

Introducing the CAMAC interface. The original concept of CAMAC The CAMAC (Computer Automated Measurement and Control), standard IEEE 583-1975 was defined by the European StandardsOn Nuclear Electronics (ESONE) Committee of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) Ispra to permit any number of incompatible laboratory instruments to be interfaced with computers. The committee suggests the important features are:- A modular system with functional plug-in units that mount in a standard crate.  Designed to exploit the highest packing density possible with solid state devices??? Plug-in modules connect to data highway (Dataway) that is part of the crate and carries data, control signals and power. Can connect to on-line computer although the use of a computer is optional. Crates can be connected together by either parallel or serial highways.  CAMAC in astronomy a brief history  Typical applications for CAMAC in the nuclear industry were pulse height discriminators and rate meters. The HEGRA cosmic ray observatory on La Palma used CAMAC modules in this application.InstrumentsRGO and other astronomical observatories such as AAO and NOT use CAMAC as a convenient means to interface instruments, telescopes and detectors to control computers.Several early RGO La Palma and AAO instruments were controlled through CAMAC using Perkin Elmer computers such as Peoples Photometer and QUBES, but by the late 80s RGO had shifted to an in house control systems programmed in FORTH designated as the MMS and 4MS instrument controllers. Since ~mid 90s new WHT instruments have been controlled by EPICS, these have some similarities to CAMAC but use an in crate processor.TelescopesCAMAC was retained for telescope control and has continued after the change over from Perkin Elmer TCS (INT and JKT) and MicroVax TCS (WHT) to Alpha workstations. CAMAC usage in ING Telescope Systems  External Parallel input absolute encoders, switch closures (limit