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4. Interfaces
The AT7911E provides an interface between three SpaceWire links according to the
SpaceWire standard ECSS-E-50-12A specification and a data processing node consist-
ing of a Central Processing Unit and a communication data memory.
The AT7911E consists of the following blocks (See Figure 1):
• Three bidirectional SpaceWire channels
• Communication Memory Interface (COMI)
• Host Control Interface (HOCI)
• Protocol Command Interface (PRCI)
• JTAG Test Interface
4.1 Three bidirectional SpaceWire channels,
Three bidirectional SpaceWire channels,
all comprising the DS-link SpaceWire cell,
receive and transmit sections (each including FIFOs) and a protocol processing unit
(PPU). Each channel allows full duplex communication up to 200 Mbit/s in each direc-
tion. With protocol command execution a higher level of communication is supported.
Link disconnect detection and parity check at character level are performed. A check-
sum generation for a check at packet level can be enabled.
The transmit rate is selectable between 1.25 and 200 Mbit/s. The startup transmit rate is
10 Mbit/s. For special applications the data transmit rate can be programmed to values
even below 10 Mbit/s; the lowest possible SpaceWire transmit rate is 1.25 Mbit/s (the
next values are 2.5 and 5 Mbit/s).
4.1.1 PPU Functional Description
Since the Protocol Processing Unit (PPU) determines a major part of the AT7911E func-
tionality, the principal blocks of the PPU and their function are described here. The PPU
unit functionality is provided for each SpaceWire channel of the AT7911E.
4.1.1.1 Protocol Execution Unit
This unit serves as the main controller of the PPU block. It receives the character from
the SpaceWire cell and interprets (in protocol mode) the four header data characters
received after an EOP control character. If the address field matches the link channel
address and the command field contains a valid command then forwarding of data into
the receive FIFO is enabled. If the command field contains a "simple control command"
then the execution request is forwarded to the command execution unit.
The protocol execution unit also enables forwarding of header data characters to the
acknowledge generator and provides an error signal in case of address mismatch,
wrong commands or disabled safety critical "simple control commands".
The protocol execution unit is disabled in "transparent" or “wormhole routing” operation
mode.
4.1.1.2 Receive, Transmit, Acknowledge
The transmit and receive FIFOs decouple the SpaceWire link related operations from
the AT7911E related operations in all modes and such allows to keep the speed of the
different units even when the source or sink of data is temporarily blocked.