CHAPTER 5
INFORMATION TRANSFER
SYSTEMS
Shipboard tactical data systems need to be
interconnected with each other and with equipment in
other shipboard subsystems. This interconnection is
accomplished through switchboards. Presently the
Data System Technicians (DS) are responsible for and
maintain two major types of switchboards: digital
switchboards and analog switchboards.
The Electronics Technician (ET) rating is
responsible for and maintains many systems that supply
information to these switchboards. For this reason, it’s
important that the ET become familiar with and have a
basic understanding of what these switchboards are and
how they work.
SWITCHBOARDS
Digital switchboards primarily interconnect digital
devices.
These types of interfaces include
computer-to-computer interfaces and computer-to-
peripheral devices and other serial or parallel digital
interfaces.
Analog switchboards provide the interconnection
for analog devices and signals including control and
status signals, synchro signals, and linear signals. In
addition, analog switchboards provide supply and return
voltages and reference voltages for analog signal
exchanges. Most current shipboard combat direction
systems use a combination of analog and digital
switchboards to completely interface one system with
another as well with other shipboard subsystems.
DIGITAL SWITCHBOARDS
The two basic types of shipboard digital switch-
boards are manual switchboards and remotely-
controlled switchboards.
Manual Switchboards
Manual switchboards (fig. 5-1) are made up of
variable configurations of three-position or
five-position switches. Each individual switch must be
manually positioned for the interconnection required
by the current system configuration. At least two
manual switches, one for input and one for output, are
required for each I/O device or computer charnel to
allow for the complete range of system configuration
requirements (fig. 5-2). Manual switchboards are for
the most part being replaced by remotely-controlled
switchboards.
Remotely-Controlled Switchboards
Remotely-controlled switchboards (fig. 5-3) allow
for configuration changes to be controlled from one or
two remote computer switching control panels (CSCPs)
(fig. 5-4). The actual switch configuration and data
routing take place in the CDS digital fire control
switchboard (DFCS). This greatly reduces the time
required for configuration changes in the event of
equipment casualties.
As examples of DFCS and CSCP, we are using the
Mk 70 Mod ( ) DFCS and the Mk 328 Mod ( ) CSCP.
The Mod numbers of the DFCS and CSCP will vary with
the ship class on which they are installed. For training
purposes we refer to the Mk 70 as the DFCS and the Mk
328 as the CSCP.
DIGITAL FIRE CONTROL
SWITCHBOARD (DFCS)
The digital fire control switchboard (DFCS) (fig.
5-3) provides data routing, power monitoring, action
cutout (ACO) switching, and digital switching. The
switchboard uses remotely-operated switches and other
assemblies to perform these functions. The switches
route digital signals through the switchboard during
normal operation. The digital signals consist of groups
of parallel bits that form digital words. The digital
words are transmitted between computers, associated
peripheral equipment, and digital equipment in other
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