This multifunction card contains a watchdog timer, two RS422/485 serial communications ports, and an internal temperature monitor and computer voltage monitor. This is a full-length card that installs in "long" expansion slots of IBM PC/XT/AT and compatible computers. The following paragraphs describe functions provided.
Watchdog
It's a fact of life that computers can fail. If a computer fails it can cause catastrophic damage. There are two methods to reduce risk of computer failure; (a) redundancy and (b) a watchdog circuit. Neither method offers 100% assurance but both of these methods reduce risk or consequences of failure. Redundancy, a duplication of computer circuitry, is very expensive. On the other hand, ACCES' Watchdog card offers excellent protection from temporary malfunctions at very low cost.
The watchdog timer provides means for automatic computer reset in case of processor failure, faulty programs, electrical noise, and some component failures. The circuit works as follows: A countdown timer is periodically loaded by the application program. The application program must communicate with the watchdog circuit at prescribed intervals. If this communication ("prompt") is missed, the Watchdog counter is not updated, reaches zero, and provides an output that can be used to reset the computer. If the failure was temporary, proper operation is resumed. If, however, the failure is persistent, the Watchdog will continuously reset the computer. The more frequently the computer is prompted (and shorter Watchdog time selected), the less time a faulty computer has to cause damage.
Implementation of this watchdog procedure can be accomplished by your application program, by AUTOEXEC.BAT, or by other appropriate software.
A type 8254 counter/timer chip is used in the Watchdog circuit. The clock source for this chip is 225 HZ derived from a crystal oscillator on the card and is independent of the computer clock. The watchdog time-out is software programmable from 5 mSec to 291 seconds.
The address for the Watchdog circuit is completely independent of the Serial Communication ports addresses. It is DIP switch selectable anywhere within the I/O address range 000 to 3FF hex.
Counter/Timer
A type 8254 counter/timer chip is used in the Watchdog circuit. The 8254 counter/timer chip contains three 16-bit counters and the clock source is a crystal oscillator on the card that is independent of the computer clock. Counter/Timers 1 and 2 are used by the Watchdog circuit. If timeout periods of 25 milliseconds or greater are desired, then counter/timer 2 is the only one used and placement of a jumper applies 225 Hz pulses to that counter. If timeout periods of less than 25 milliseconds are desired, then you can place a jumper that connects the output of counter/timer 1 to counter/timer 2 and a DIP switch permits selection of crystal-controlled clock frequencies of 3.6 KHz or greater. The watchdog time-out is programmable from 5msec to 291 seconds. Counter/timer 0 is available for general purpose use. If not required for the Watchdog time-out period, counter/timer 1 is also available.
Status Register
An ambient-temperature sensing circuit and a voltage monitor circuit are included on the card. Outputs of these circuits as well as watchdog and relay-state functions are provided by a read-only Status Register. If any of the items monitored exceeds preset limits, data are loaded into the Status Register and an Interrupt can be generated.
Temperature Monitor
The temperature monitor circuit compares the output of an LM334 temperature sensor with a preset DC voltage level. The output of the comparator circuit can be read at bit 0 of the Status Register. A "1" in that bit position indicates that temperature is 60oC or less and a "0" at that bit position indicates that the temperature is above 60oC.
There is hysteresis in the sensor. The trip point from "1" to "0" is approximately 50°C while the change from "0" to "1" occurs at about 46°C.
Voltage Monitor
The four computer power supplies ( 5V, -5V, 12V, and -12V) are monitored. Three data bits in the Status Register provide information. If those voltages are within tolerance, the state of those three data bits so signifies. If one or more is more than 7% outside of their nominal values, then two or more of those three bits indicate that condition plus also indicates whether the out-of-tolerance voltage(s) is high or low.
Watchdog Counter/Timer Output State
Two bits of the Status Register indicate the state of the counter/timer output and provide a readback of the relays respectively. This is useful at computer initialization because the watchdog function can be tested without actually changing the state of the relays.
Serial Interfaces
The Serial Interface functions of the WDG-2S card, COM-A and COM-B, can be used for either RS422 communications or RS485 communications. (The RS485 specification allows multiple transmitters and receivers to communicate over a two-wire "party line" bus.) Opto-isolators are incorporated on the card to provide isolation from common mode voltage that is present on the Tx, Rx, RTS, and CTS communications lines.
Type 16550 buffered UART's are used as the Asynchronous Communication Element (ACE). Use of the same ACE as used in IBM original equipment makes the cards 100% compatible with existing programs when the base address is set as either COM-1 or COM-2. However, use of the Serial Interface is not restricted to COM-1 or COM-2 only. Different addresses can be selected anywhere within the I/O address range 100-3FF hex.
An on-board crystal oscillator permits precise software selection of baud rate from 50 to 56K.
The output transceiver used, type 75176, is capable of driving extremely long communication lines at high baud rates. It can drive 60 mA on balanced lines and can receive input signals as low as 200 mV amplitude superimposed on common mode noise of maximum -7V/ 12V. In case of communication conflict, the transceivers feature thermal shutdown.
The communication lines are loaded at the receiver and biased at the transmitter. Also, an on-board DC-DC converter provides isolated power to the transceiver and opto-isolators are provided in the serial I/O lines.
Two LED indicators are provided in each serial Interface circuit. These LED's blink when there is activity on the transmitting and receiving lines and are useful for problem diagnosis.
In addition to dual, differential Transmit and Receive lines, single-ended, buffered RTS and CTS lines are provided on the I/O connector. The RTS line can be used to control the Transmitter and Receiver. The CTS line can be used to check for proper installation of the communication cable. To check for proper cable connection, introduce 5VDC to the CTS line on the cable side of the connector. Then read the CTS bit by software. Signal ground and 5 VDC are available at the I/O connector.
Full duplex, half duplex, or simplex configuration can be selected by jumper options.
