Modular Mining Systems 301582 Users Manual
Spread Spectrum
Radio System
User’s Manual
March 2001
3289 East Hemisphere Loop
Tucson, AZ 85706-5028 U.S.A.
520 746-9127 [tel]
520 889-5790 [fax]
http://www.mmsi.com
Note: This equipment has been tested and found to
comply with the limits for a Class A digital device,
pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are
designed to provide reasonable protection against
harmful interference when the equipment is operated in
a commercial environment. This equipment generates,
uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not
installed and used in accordance with the instruction
manual, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications. Operation of this equipment in a
residential areaia likely to cause harmful interference in
which case the user will be required to correct the
interference at his own expense.
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by
Modular Mining Systems could void the user’s authority
to operate this equipment.
Spread Spectrum
Radio System
User’s Manual
March 2001
3289 East Hemisphere Loop
Tucson, AZ 85706-5028 U.S.A.
520 746-9127 [tel]
520 889-5790 [fax]
http://www.mmsi.com
RESTRICTIVE COVENANT
AND
DISCLAIMER
Copyright © 2001 by Modular Mining Systems, Inc.
Tucson, Arizona, U.S.A.
All rights reserved.
Modular Mining Systems, Inc., makes no representation regarding the fitness, quality, design, condition,
capacity, suitability, or performance of the equipment or of the material or workmanship thereof and/or compliance
of the system with the requirements of any law or regulations, and disclaims all warranties, either express or implied,
including but not limited to any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose. Modular
Mining Systems, Inc., shall not be responsible forany loss or damage to property or injury or death to persons caused
by any defect or failure in the system hardware and/or software regardless of the form of action, whether in contract
or in tort, including negligence, strict liability, or otherwise.Modular Mining Systems, Inc., is not responsible for any
losses, financial or otherwise, that the customer, purchaser, or end user (hereafter, collectively, user) incurs nor shall
it be liable for any damages whatsoever (including, without limitation, damages for loss of business or investment
profits, business interruption, loss of business informationor the like) arising out of the use, interruptionin the use of,
or performance of the system hardware and/or software. User expressly agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
Modular Mining Systems, Inc., from and against all claims, damages, losses, and expenses, including but not limited
to: (i) any loss resulting from general or particular requirements of needs of user as defined in user’s originating
purchase order; (ii) any damages from loss of use, loss of data, loss of profits, or loss of business arising out of or in
connection with the performance of system hardware and/or software; (iii) any loss or damage to property or injury
or death to persons proximately resulting from system hardware and/or software, even if entirely due in whole or in
part to negligent acts or omissions of Modular Mining Systems, Inc.; and (iv) attorney’s fees and costs.
The information described in this document is furnished as proprietary information and may not be copied or sold
without the written permission of Modular Mining Systems, Inc.
Trademarks
(distinctive font) and the Modular logo are trademarks of Modular Mining Systems, Inc.
and are registered U.S. trademarks of Modular Mining Systems, Inc.
All other brand names and product names usedin this book are trademarks, registered trademarks, ortrade names of
their respective holders.
Contents
About This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
System Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Mobile Equipment System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Radio Module. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Hub. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Major Circuit Boards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Over and Undervoltage Protection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Connectors and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Mobile Equipment Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Repeater System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Hub. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Major Circuit Boards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Connectors and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Repeater System Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Base Station. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
System Installation and Checkout. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
User Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
A Acronyms
B Radio Module Specifications
General Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Functional Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
FCC Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Channel Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Power and Distance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Photographs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
DSSS Channels and Regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
EL Antenna Pattern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
AZ Antenna Pattern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
iii
March 2001
Spread Spectrum
Radio System
About This Manual This manual contains a description of the spread spectrum radio
(SSR) systemdesigned by Modular Mining Systems (MMS). Itsuse is
intended for MMS personnel and clients who may be responsible for
the system’s operation.Detailed installationand checkoutprocedures
are provided in a separate installation guide. Detailed user interface
information is also provided separately. The definitions of acronyms
used in this manual are given in Appendix A. The radio module
specifications are provided in Appendix B.
System Description The MMS-designed SSR system is based on direct sequence spread
spectrum (DSSS) technology, which provides a substantial
improvement in signal-to-noise performance over conventional
modulation techniques. Operating in the ISM 2.4- to 2.4835-GHz
frequencyband, thetransmitted signal isspread within thefrequency
domain by using an 11-bit Barker sequence chipping code to obtain a
transmission bandwidth of 22 MHz and data rates of 1 and 2 Mb/s.
The received signal is strengthened by a processing gain of 10.4 dB,
thereby increasing the signal’s resistance to interference.
The improved radio performance and increased bandwidth, as
compared witha 9600-b/s narrow-bandsystem, reduces congestionin
mines with large equipment fleets. Intensive graphic images, such as
updates for the Color Graphics Console (CGC) screen, and large
amounts of diagnostic data can be efficiently transmitted.
The SSR system comprises two major subsystems: the mobile
equipment system and the repeater system. The primary hardware
includes Hubs, radio modules, and mobile repeater stations. Rather
than oneor two conventional narrow-band repeaters,the SSR system
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2 Spread Spectrum Radio System User’s Manual
uses several small repeaters, as shown in the following simplified
diagram:
Base
Station
Ethernet
Redundant
Repeater
Figure 1 SSR System Configuration, Simplified
Each repeater extends the base station’s area of coverage and
communicates with the base station by way of other repeaters or
directly by way of a fiber optic cable.
Thebase stationuses redundantradios to ensure continued operation
in case a radio fails. Likewise, primary routing paths between
repeaters incorporate alternative routing paths in case a repeater
fails.The mine can optionally add repeaters to provide redundancy to
whatever extent is desired.
Initial installation is expedient in part because the ISM frequency
band is license free, and there are no delays associated with license
applications. Nor are there licensing fees. The system’s inherent
architecture makes adding repeaters to an installed system
practically effortless, and mobile repeaters are easily deployed to
cover new work areas as the mine’s topography changes.
March 2001
The mobile equipment system and the repeater system are described
in the following sections.
Spread Spectrum Radio System User’s Manual 3
Mobile Equipment System
Radio Module Tworadios areneeded permine vehicle ormachine so that360-degree
Each truck, shovel, dozer, drill, or other mine equipment in the
network requires the following major components:
• two 2.4-GHz radios
•a Hub
Although not integral to the SSR system, a CAN-based CGC and a
GPS antenna are also essential units of DISPATCH hardware
required on mine equipment.
coverage is obtained without having an antenna mounted above the
equipment. On a haul truck, the radios are typically mounted on the
front left and right deck or handrails.
Each radio module (Figure 2) consists of a molded plastic case
containing the radio electronics and antenna on the same circuit
board. An internal EMI shield protects the electronics.
Figure 2 Radio Module, External View
The overall dimensions of the unit are 22 by 16.5 by 34.3 centimeters
(8.7 by 6.5 by 13.5 inches) and it weighs only 1.6 kilograms
(3.5 pounds).
Each radio connects to the onboard Hub by way of a cable carrying
power and data signals. Thecable connects to a single 6-pin connector
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4 Spread Spectrum Radio System User’s Manual
on the back of the radio module. The signals are identified in the
following table:
Table 1 Radio Module External Connector
Pin Signal Description
A DATA OUT + LVDS driven from radio +
B DATA OUT − LVDS driven from radio −
C DATA IN − LVDS received from Hub −
D DATA IN + LVDS received from Hub +
E PWR IN
F PWR GND Power ground connected to Hub
*Acceptable input range is 8 to 38 volts.
24 V dc received from Hub
*
Shielded connections inside the radio encapsulate the LVDS lines so
that radiation is minimized.
Hub The Hub controls the high-speed LVDS links to the radios by way of
FPGAs inside the Hub and the radio modules. The Hub supplies
protected power to the radios as well as protected power to all other
DISPATCH hardware on the mine equipment, such as the CGC and
external GenericSerial Processor (GSP). This eliminates the needfor
an external power supply and reduces the amount of input protection
circuitry the non-Hub devices require.
CAN A [RESERVED] RADIO A
SLIP
RADIO B
March 2001
GPS ANTENNA
CAN A
Figure 3 Mobile Equipment Hub
POWER
DIGITAL I/OGSPETHERNET
Spread Spectrum Radio System User’s Manual 5
The Hub is installed inside the equipment’s cab usually mounted to
the wallor on an uprightbracket attached to the floor or rear dash. It
consistsof a ruggedcaseand base platemadeof castaluminum, which
hasbeen anodized andenameledto providemaximumprotection from
harsh environments. Its physical dimensions are approximately 35.4
by 26.2 by 9.4 centimeters(14 by10.3 by3.7 inches), and it weighs 4.3
kilograms (9.5 pounds).
Major Circuit Boards
The mobile equipment Hub houses the following major components:
• processor board
This board has an Intel SA1100 processor, DRAM, ROM, flash
memory, FPGA, Ethernet controller (10Base-T), CAN
controller, and other primary components. All transceivers and
isolation components are on the isolation interface board,
thereby making the processor board relatively stable. This
board is also small enough to allow full-size high-precision GPS
receivers to be mounted next to it inside the Hub cover.
• power board
This board distributes protected, isolated, and regulated power
to the system components. The input power source is nominally
12 or 24 V dc. The optional 12-V Hub has an operational range
of 10 to 19 volts; the optional 24-V Hub has an operational
range of 18 to 35 volts.
• connector board
This board provides the internal connections between the
power and isolation interface boards, and all connections to
external devices.
• isolation interface board
This board provides electrical protection and isolation to
signals coming from outside the Hub to the processor.
• location system (GPS) adapter board
This board provides the interface between the processor board
and the GPS receiver.
March 2001
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