الوصف
The GE DS3800HMPA is a specialized 8-Bit 2MHz 8080 Processor Card used in the GE Speedtronic Mark IV series of turbine control systems. It’s a legacy component, no longer in production, and is primarily found on the surplus and refurbished markets for the maintenance and repair of older systems.
Function and Purpose
The primary purpose of the DS3800HMPA is to serve as the central processing unit (CPU) for a module within the Mark IV system. While the Mark IV system as a whole used more powerful microprocessors, this card provided dedicated processing power for a specific function or sub-system, demonstrating the distributed control architecture of the system. Its key roles include:
- Computation: The board is built around an Intel 8080A microprocessor, an early 8-bit chip, and its associated support circuitry. It performs real-time calculations and executes the control logic for a specific part of the turbine system.
- Control: It manages the operation of connected hardware, such as I/O cards, and communicates with the main system processors.
- Data Processing: It processes data from sensors and other inputs, and sends control commands to actuators and other output devices.
- Diagnostics: The board includes diagnostic features and status indicators to provide a quick visual status of its health and activity.
Technical and Design Features
The DS3800HMPA is a robust, industrial-grade circuit board designed to operate in a demanding environment.
- Legacy Part: The “DS3800” prefix indicates that it belongs to the legacy Mark IV series. This system was GE’s first microprocessor-based gas turbine control system, introduced in the 1980s.
- Microprocessor: The core of the board is an 8080A microprocessor, a historical and influential chip that paved the way for more modern processors.
- Memory: It contains memory chips for both firmware (EPROM) and working memory (RAM) to support the processor’s operations.
- Connectors: The board features connectors to interface with the backplane of the Mark IV control rack, allowing it to communicate with other cards in the system.
- Jumpers: It is equipped with jumpers that allow technicians to configure its operational settings to match the specific requirements of a given application.
Applications and Importance
The DS3800HMPA is a fundamental component of the GE Mark IV system. Its importance lies in its ability to provide a dedicated processing unit for a specific function, offloading work from the main controllers and enhancing the system’s overall reliability and speed. Without this board, the system would be unable to perform critical control and processing tasks, rendering it inoperable.