ATLAS Level-1 Calorimeter Trigger
Hardware Progress Meeting - 23 February 1999

Minutes:

Present:	Norman Gee, Tony Gillman, Bob Hatley, Viraj Perera, Richard
Staley

1. ACTION list from previous (non-minuted) meeting (16-2-1999):
a) The person arranging CADENCE accounts from ID was away from RAL w/b 15th
February, so Richard was unable to make further progress towards improved
access
b) Sam and Magnus Engstrom have been studying the JEP system backplane and
believe that four signal layers will be sufficient to transfer data to the
JMM - to be discussed further with Magnus and Uli at the Birmingham meeting
c) No comments yet received by Viraj on the CCM draft specifications
d) No comments yet received by Richard on the CPM draft specifications
e) Richard has been informed by CERN that all cables must be halogen-free
and pass IEC 332-1 or 332-3 fire tests (Safety Instruction 23), with
certificates from an independent laboratory.
f) Viraj agrees that Kevin Hatton will carry out the DSS mother-board
layout, to increase the available effort in the Drawing Office
g) No progress on producing a new design/manufacturing schedule for the CPM
prototype
h) Bob has FAXed our link cable requirements to Raychem distributors
Rayfast - awaiting a reply

ACTION: Clarify situation regarding appropriate authorisation for external
use of RAL CADENCE system - Richard
ACTION: Discuss JEP backplane issues with Uli and Magnus at Birmingham
meeting - Norman/Tony
ACTION: Read CCM draft specifications - ALL
ACTION: Produce new CPM prototype schedule - Tony
ACTION: Discuss link cable requirements with Raychem technical experts - Bob

2. CMOS/GTL backplane tests:
Richard and Scott will start these tests this week, with the aim of having
some results to present at the Birmingham meeting.

ACTION: Complete preliminary backplane tests by 3-3-1999 - Richard/Scott

3. DSS system:
a) Motherboard design status -
Viraj reported that the three engineers working on this module are making
good progress, but James will need 10 days to make the necessary
post-review changes, followed by a further week for Kevin to complete the
schematics, after which layout can start.
b) G-link daughter-card design status -
Bob reported that all the schematics are almost complete. The target date
for submission to the Drawing Office is 3-3-1999.
c) LVDS daughter-card design status -
Richard has almost completed the schematics, and aims to submit them to the
Drawing Office also by 3-3-1999.
d) Serial link connectors/cables -
Richard reported that the decision has been made to use Berg Metral 2mm and
mini co-axial connectors. Cable type is still uncertain - Bob will try to
get information on Category 5 patch cables from Raychem (or other cable
experts).
e) Review status -
Tony reported that almost all issues relating to the three DSS-related
design specifications had been addressed at length with the designers, and
appropriate changes made. Fortunately, no traumatic discoveries had been
made, so it was hoped to conclude the exercise by the end of the week. As a
final check, each set of schematics would be looked over by at least one
other engineer before submission to the Drawing Office.

4. ROD prototype:
a) Design status -
Viraj reported that more simulation work is required to be done by James,
depending on the outcome of the review exercise, once he has finished the
higher-priority DSS work. At least another four weeks work is needed on
this design, as the schematics have not yet begun.
b) Review status -
Tony reported that discussions on the comments and questions of the
reviewers had already been started with Viraj, and it was hoped to complete
them by the end of the week. One set of comments had been particularly
revealing.

5. Serialising ASIC:
a) Review status -
Tony reported that the design specifications had been posted on the Web
since the previous week, but no comments had yet been received. The
original proposed dates have already slipped due to the pressure of the
other parallel reviews.

6. CCM prototype:
It was decided to order a further two TTCrx cards from CERN (four in
total). It was noted that the TTCrx chip costs exactly the same price as
the card.

7. System test software - plans and status:
Norman summarised the current situation. He had produced a draft plan which
proposed:
- a slight pause in thinking for the long-term
- concentration of the existing software effort on to the DSS system tests
- Kithsiri and Tara to develop the necessary diagnostics
- Bill Stokes and Scott to work on the DAQ
Kithsiri already has a diagnostic panel for the DSS module almost working.
Norman suggested drafting an Exploitation Plan (rather than Test Plan) to
define the scope of the various link tests.

ACTION: Prepare a Draft 0 Exploitation Plan - Norman

8. Trigger lab plans:
a) Birmingham -
Richard reported that there was a basement lab reserved for the level-1
trigger build-up at Birmingham. It was planned to provide chilled water for
water-cooled racks.
b) RAL -
Tony outlined the plans for an extended Lab 12, as part of an extensive
re-organisation of PPD labs. It was planned to add a chilled-water plant to
enable ATLAS racks from CERN to be installed for build-up and commissioning
of the trigger system.

ACTION: Investigate how to get ATLAS racks on loan from CERN  - Tony

9. Any other business:There was none.

* Next meeting - Tuesday 2nd March at 11.00 in CR2, RAL.

Tony Gillman