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Gillham code
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gillham code is a digital code using an eleven-wire interface that is used to transmit uncorrected barometric altitude Gillham code
between an encoding altimeter or analog air data computer and a transponder. It is a modified form of a Gray code
[1]
and is sometimes referred to as a "Gray code" in avionics literature.

The code was named in memory of the late Ronald Lionel Gillham, the UK's representative to the IATA committee
developing the specification for the second generation of Air Traffic Control System, known in the UK as "Plan Ahead",
who died suddenly in March 1968. Mr Gillham was said to have had the idea of using a modified Gray code while at a
[citation needed]
family dinner.

The Gillham code's only application is in the transmission of height information from an altitude encoder to an
[citation needed]
secondary surveillance radar (SSR) transponder as used in aircraft.
A Cessna ARC RT-359A transponder (the
Altitude encoder beige box) in the instrument panel of an
American Aviation AA-1 Yankee light
An altitude encoder takes the form of a small metal box containing a pressure sensor and signal conditioning aircraft. The transponder gets its altitude
[2][3]
electronics. The pressure sensor is often heated, which requires a warm-up time during which height information information from an encoding altimeter
is either unavailable or inaccurate. Older style units can have a warm-up time of up to 10 minutes; more modern units mounted behind the instrument panel
warm up in less than 2 minutes. Some of the very latest encoders incorporate unheated 'instant on' type sensors.
that communicates via the Gillham code.
During the warm-up of older style units the height information may gradually increase until it settles at its final value.
This is not normally a problem as the power would typically be applied before the aircraft enters the runway and so it
[4]
would be transmitting correct height information soon after take-off.

A common configuration is for the transponder to supply power to the encoder only in the altitude reporting (mode C) setting.
This could be problematic if mode C is selected in flight as the warm-up time would start from that point. Height information
may not then be transmitted to the SSR station for up to 10 minutes. The purpose of the encoder supply switching via the
transponder is to reduce power consumption. Typically an encoder will require about 5 W whilst the heater is engaged. The
heater cycles on and off during operation and is controlled by the conditioning circuitry. The duty cycle varies according to the
[citation needed]
ambient temperature conditions.

Light aircraft electrical systems are typically 12 V or 28 V. To allow seamless integration with either, the encoder uses a number A typical altitude encoder, the
of open-collector (open-drain) transistors to interface to the transponder. The height information is represented as 11 binary ACK Technologies A-30. Note
[5] the 15-way D-type connector
digits in a parallel form using 11 separate lines designated D2 D4 A1 A2 A4 B1 B2 B4 C1 C2 C4. The Gillham code contains a
D1 bit but this is unused in practical applications. to send the Gillham code to
the transponder and the port
Different classes of altitude encoder do not use all of the available bits. All use the A, B and C bits; increasing altitude limits on the top of the case that
require more of the D bits. Up to and including 30700 ft does not require any of the D bits. This is suitable for most light connects to the aircraft's
general aviation aircraft. Up to and including 62700 ft requires D4. Up to and including 126700 ft requires D4 and D2. Note static pressure system.
[1]
that D1 is never used.

The datum used by altitude encoders is −1200 ft although many will not output anything lower than −1000 ft. Negative flight levels are included in the code to
[citation needed]
permit altitude measurement at low levels when the ambient pressure is high.

Note that the altitude code output by a standard altitude encoder is a pressure altitude. That is to say, it is always with respect to a pressure datum of
1013.2 mBar (hectopascals) or 29.92 inHg. It does not indicate the height above sea level (altitude) or the ground (height). Pressure altitudes are referred to
as flight levels and are expressed to the nearest 100 ft. For clarity here is a sample of the Gillham code from 0 ft to 1000 ft; note that 1000 ft is equivalent to a
flight level of 10.

ALTITUDE D1 D2 D4 A1 A2 A4 B1 B2 B4 C1 C2 C4
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0
100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0
200 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0
300 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0
400 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0
500 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0
600 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1
700 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
800 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1
900 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1
1000 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0

Decoding
The Gillham code is an unusual mix of codes. It is a parallel binary code that uses a Gray code to ensure that there are not multiple bit changes between
adjacent altitudes. The bit pattern is split into those bits used to indicate the number of 500 ft increments and those used to indicate the number of 100 ft
[citation needed]
increments. The split is as follows.

Bits D1–B4 use a standard Gray code to store the number of 500 ft increments.[5]

Bits C1–C4 use a non-linear reflected Gray code to store the number of 100 ft increments +1. The values when converted to decimal follow this repeating
[citation needed]
pattern: 1 2 3 4 7 7 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 7 ....

The C bits must be converted from Gray to standard binary, the 7 changed to a 5 and the reflected order changed when the 500 ft increment is
[citation needed]
even.

The number resulting from combining the above gives the flight level above the minimum datum (−1200 ft). This offset must be removed to give a corrected
[citation needed]
altitude value.

The Gillham code can be decoded using various methods. Standard techniques use hardware [6] or software solutions. The latter often uses a lookup table but
[7]
an algorithmic approach can be taken.

References
1. ^ a b List of altitudes and Gillham codes (http://www.airsport-corp.com/modecascii.txt)
2. ^ Ameriking AK-350 Altitude Encoder (http://www.ameri-king.com/altitude_encoder.html)
3. ^ ACK A-30 Altitude Encoder (http://www.ackavionics.com/products.htm)

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