FASTBUS standard for development of the 4th generation fastresponse electronic equipment

Design features are considered of a new FASTBUS electronic equipment developed for use as structural-logical and constructional base for multi-channel fast-response nuclear-physical measurement system of the fourth generation. A description is given of procedure of the data exchange between modules, ways of addressing (geographical, logical, broadcast transaction), acknowledgement of grant, controlling and informative registers, purpose of data-control buses and auxiliary logic, segment interconnect arrangement, organizat:on of interruptions and controlblock data transmission, arrangement of processor interfaces, snoop modules and diagnostics modules. A comparison between the FASTBUS standard and CAMAC system widely used nowadays shows that in the CAMAC standard the crate trunk and branch utilize quite different exchange logic, whereas in the FASTBUS standard it is unique. The CAMAC system cycle is strictly timed. The FASTBUS standard is not restricted for the module fast response, as it operates in the request-response mode. A conclusion is drawn to the effect that the FASTBUS standard advantages are most fully realized in on-line processing of large volumes of initial data