bc637PCIe Symmetricom GPS Synchronized PCI Express Time and Frequency Processor

The Microchip / Microsemi / Symmetricom bc637PCIe GPS Synchronized PCI Express Time and Frequency Processor provides unparalleled precise time and frequency functions to the host computer and peripheral systems. Precise time is acquired from the GPS satellite system or from time code signals. GPS synchronization provides 170 nanosecond RMS accurate time to UTC (USNO) enabling the bc637PCIe to precisely synchronize multiple computers to UTC. Integration into a custom application is easy and very efficient through the use of the full-featured Windows, Linux and Solaris SDKs/drivers manufactured standard with the module.

Extensive time code generation and translation are both supported. The translator reads and disciplines the internal oscillator to either the amplitude modulated (AM) and DC level shift (DCLS) formats of IRIG A, B, G, E, IEEE 1344, NASA 36, XR3 or 2137 time codes. The generator outputs either IRIG A, B, G, E, IEEE 1344, NASA 36, XR3 or 2137 in both AM and/or DCLS formats.

Central to the operation of the module is a disciplined 10 MHz oscillator that is either a TCXO or optional OCXO that provides the timing module's 100-nanosecond clock. Current time (days to 100 nanoseconds) can be accessed across the PCIe bus with no PCIe bus wait states, which allows for very high speed, low latency time requests. The 10 MHz oscillator drives the module's frequency and time code generator circuitry. If the input reference is lost, the module will continue to maintain time (flywheel) based on the 10 MHz oscillator's drift rate. The optional OCXO oscillator improves flywheel drift performance over the standard TCXO. If power is lost, a battery backed real time clock (RTC) maintains the time.

The module has a state-of-the-art DDS rate synthesizer with a range from 0.0000001 PPS to 100 MPPS. The module may also be programmed to generate an interrupt at a precise predetermined time based on a time compare (Strobe). Three Event Time Capture inputs provide a means of latching time of different external events.