PCM-FORMATTER: a powerful, low cost system for PCM telemetry decoding and quick look support

An IBM compatible PC board has been developed to simplify acquisition and execution of quick look on telemetry signals. The PCM-FORMATTER can synchronize and decommutate Non Return to Zero Level (NRZL) or Split Phase Level (SPL) streams in the range of 5 Kbits/sec to 128 Kbits/sec. Up to eight different functions can enhance the real time data preelaboration. Periodically the host PC can read the reconstructed format frames from two dual port memory buffers. An Application Software package helps the user in preparing his board, and allows a sensible reduction in the data handling code. This code, that is prepared by the user, works like a subroutine making the required elaboration on an entire format subframe at a time. The faster the execution is the higher the proportion of the analyzed data. The Hardware, based on a FPGA, can be adapted by Software in a different device to operate different tasks.