DH11 asynchronous serial line interface

The DH11 asynchronous serial line interface is a UNIBUS device which supports up to 16 asynchronous serial lines; as a UNIBUS device, it was usable on the PDP-11 and VAX computers. Although it first appeared very early on in the lifetime of the PDP-11, it was extremely powerful and flexible.

The parameters for each line:

• separate input and output baud rates (50 to 9600)
• character length (5-8 bits)
• stop bits (1, 1-1/2 and 2)
• parity (odd, even, none)

could be set dynamically (unlike, for example. the DJ11, which set parameters for groups of lines using jumpers). Output used DMA (with each line having its own buffer pointer and count); on input a 64-character FIFO buffer made over-runs unlikely.

In the initial version, modular 'line conditioning' units allowed support of either 20mA or EIA RS-232 serial lines.

A 'break' condition on the line (i.e. continuous assertion) could also be generated and detected.

Initial implementation

The original implementation took an entire double system unit, containing multiple cards (see list below).

It came in 'earlier' and 'later' versions: in the 'early' versions the line conditioning units (to adapt from TTL to either EIA, 20mA, etc) were installed in a separate rack-mounted dual-height backplane (which required its own independent power supply); in the 'later' units line conditioning was performed by boards mounted in the main backplane, and a rack-mounted passive distribution panel provided connectors for individual lines.

For the 'early' versions, the available line conditioning units included the DM11-DA (20mA line conditioning) and the DM11-DA (EIA, no modem conrol). Each supported four lines; thus, line conditioning could be mixed in groups of four. For modem control, a single DM11-BB per DH11 was required, which in turn connected to four DM11-DC's.

The 'later' versions only supported EIA-type line conditioning (with or without model control).

Versions

The 'early' versions of the DH11 were:

• DH11-AA - Basic unit (110VAC), requires DM11's in addition
• DH11-AB - Telegraph line version (see below)
• DH11-AC - Basic unit (220VAC), requires DM11's in addition

The 'later' versions were:

• DH11-AD - EIA level conversion, modem control, H317-B passive distribution panel
• DH11-AE - EIA level conversion, no modem control, H317-B passive distribution panel

For the telegraph line option, the line conditioning backplane and its power supply were omitted, and up to two DH11's were connected to a DC08CS Telegraph Converter Panel.

Boards

The 'basic' DH11 included the following boards:

• M7277 - Transmit scanner and NPR
• M7278 - Registers and byte count
• M7279 - FIFO buffer
• M7280 - Multiple UARTs
• M7288 - Line parameters control
• M7289 - Receiver scanner
• M4540 - Crystal clock
• M796 - Unibus master control
• M7821 (2) - Interrupt control