Primagraphics unveils phased-array interface

Primagraphics of Cambridge, Mass., is introducing the Virgo-A 6U VME printed circuit card to accept signals from a phased-array radar antenna. Company officials say the card is the first commercial off-the-shelf interface for such radar systems. The Virgo-A, which takes 4-bit parallel radar data and serial azimuth data, can accept data at clock speeds as fast as 5 MHz via an RS422A differential input. It uses azimuth angle as an address into an intermediate memory to store radar information from any direction. Primagraphics engineers designed the card with in-circuit programmable logic devices that enable users to customize the device to accept a wide variety of radar data formats without hardware modification. - J.K.