Gillham code: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Binary code}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=MayAugust 20192024|cs1-dates=y}}

{{Use list-defined references|date=January 2022}}

{{Infobox code

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{{anchor|Gillham}}The code is named after Ronald Lionel Gillham, a signals officer at Air Navigational Services, [[Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation]], who had been appointed a civil member of the [[Most Excellent Order of the British Empire]] (MBE)<!-- unclear if this was related to his involvement with this code, or for some other achievements --> in the Queen's [[1955 Birthday Honours]].<ref name="LG_1955-06-03"/> He was the UK's representative to the [[International Air Transport Association]] (IATA) committee developing the specification for the second generation of air traffic control system, known in the UK as "Plan Ahead", and is said to have had the idea of using a modified Gray code.<ref group="nb" name="NB_Anecdote"/> The final code variant was developed in late 1961<ref name="Ashley_1961"/> for the ICAO Communications Division meeting (VII COM) held in January/February 1962,<ref name="IEEE_1983"/> and described in a 1962 [[FAA]] report.<ref name="FAA_1962"/><ref name="FAA_1962_T6"/><ref name="FI_1964"/> The exact timeframe and circumstances of the term ''Gillham code'' being coined are unclear, but by 1963<!-- not a specific date, just the earliest source using the term I could find so far. --> the code was already recognized under this name.<ref name="CS_1963"/><ref name="CE_1963"/> By the mid-1960s the code was also known as ''MOA–Gillham code''<ref name="Wheeler_1969"/> or ''ICAO–Gillham code''. ''ARINC 572'' specified the code as well in 1968.<ref name="ARINC_572"/><ref name="ARINC_572-1"/>

Once recommended by the [[ICAO]] for automatic height transmission for air traffic control purposes,<ref name="FI_1964"/><ref name="Wightman_2017"/> itthe interface is now discouraged<ref name="Tooley-Wyatt_2009"/> and has been mostly replaced by modern serial communication in newer aircraft.

== Altitude encoder ==

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An altitude encoder takes the form of a small metal box containing a [[pressure sensor]] and signal conditioning electronics.<ref name="Ameriking_2004"/><ref name="ACK Encoder"/> The pressure sensor is often heated, which requires a warm-up time during which height information is either unavailable or inaccurate. Older style units can have a warm-up time of up to 10 minutes; more modern units warm up in less than 2 minutes. Some of the very latest encoders incorporate unheated 'instant on' type sensors. 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 would be transmitting correct height information soon after take-off.<ref name="Shadin_2016"/>

The encoder has an [[open-collector]] output, compatible with 14&nbsp;V or 28&nbsp;V electrical systems.{{cn|date=August 2022|reason=Possible original research as open-collector interfaces are often specified in terms of drain current rather than voltage.}}

Light aircraft electrical systems are typically 14&nbsp;V or 28&nbsp;V. To allow seamless integration with either, the encoder uses a number of [[open-collector]] ([[open-drain]]) [[transistor]]s to interface to the transponder. The height information is represented as 11 binary digits in a parallel form using 11 separate lines designated D2 D4 A1 A2 A4 B1 B2 B4 C1 C2 C4.<ref name="Phillips_1998_MODEC"/> As a twelfth bit, the Gillham code contains a D1 bit but this is unused and consequently set to zero in practical applications.

== Coding ==

Light aircraft electrical systems are typically 14&nbsp;V or 28&nbsp;V. To allow seamless integration with either, the encoder uses a number of [[open-collector]] ([[open-drain]]) [[transistor]]s to interface to the transponder. The height information is represented as 11 binary digits in a parallel form using 11 separate lines designated D2 D4 A1 A2 A4 B1 B2 B4 C1 C2 C4.<ref name="Phillips_1998_MODEC"/> As a twelfth bit, the Gillham code contains a D1 bit but this is unused and consequently set to zero in practical applications.

Different classes of altitude encoder do not use all of the available bits. All use the A, B and C bits; increasing altitude limits require more of the D bits. Up to and including 30700&nbsp;ft does not require any of the D bits (9-wire interface<ref name="Honeywell_2002"/>). This is suitable for most light general aviation aircraft. Up to and including 62700&nbsp;ft requires D4 (10-wire interface<ref name="Tooley-Wyatt_2009"/>). Up to and including 126700&nbsp;ft requires D4 and D2 (11-wire interface<ref name="Tooley-Wyatt_2009"/>). D1 is never used.<ref name="Phillips_1998_ASCII"/><ref name="DFS_2000"/>

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== Decoding ==

{{Disputed section|date=August 2022|The "Altitude Encoder" and "Decoding the Gillham Code" sections}}

Bits D2 (msbit) through B4 (lsbit) encode the pressure altitude in 500&nbsp;ft increments (above a base altitude of −1000±250&nbsp;ft) in a standard 8-bit [[reflected binary code]] (Gray code).<ref name="Phillips_1998_ASCII"/><ref name="Stewart_2010"/><ref name="Gray_1947"/><ref name="Steinbuch_1962"/><ref name="Steinbuch-Weber_1974"/> The specification stops at code 1000000 (126500±250&nbsp;ft), above which D1 would be needed as a most significant bit.

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==References==

{{Reflist|refs=

<ref name="Wightman_2017">{{cite book |author-first=Eric Jeffrey |author-last=Wightman |title=Instrumentation in Process Control |date=2017 |orig-yeardate=1972 |edition=Revised |publisher=[[Butterworth-Heinemann]] |isbn=978-1-48316335-2<!-- 1-48316335-0 --> |chapter=Chapter 6. Displacement measurement |pages=122–123 [123] |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8WEhBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA123 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8WEhBQAAQBAJ |quote=[…] Other forms of code are also well known. Among these are the [[Royal Radar Establishment]] code; The [[Excess Three decimal code]]; Gillham code which is recommended by [[ICAO]] for automatic height transmission for [[air traffic control]] purposes; the [[Petherick code]], and the [[Leslie and Russell code]] of the [[National Engineering Laboratory]]. Each has its particular merits and they are offered as options by various encoder manufacturers. A discussion of their respective merits is outside the scope of this book. […]}}</ref>

<ref name="Phillips_1998_ASCII">{{cite web |title=Altitude - MODEC ASCII |author-first=Darryl |author-last=Phillips |date=2012-07-26 July 2012 |orig-yeardate=1998 |publisher=AirSport Avionics |url=http://www.airsport-corp.com/modecascii.txt |url-status=deadusurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120726003224/http://www.airsport-corp.com/modecascii.txt |archive-date=2012-07-26 July 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="Ameriking_2004">{{cite web |title=Ameriking AK-350 Altitude Encoder |publisher=Ameri-king |url=http://www.ameri-king.com/altitude_encoder.html |access-date=2018-01-14 January 2018 |year=2004 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625175313/http://www.ameri-king.com/altitude_encoder.html |archive-date=2016-06-25 June 2016}}</ref>

<ref name="ACK Encoder">{{cite web |title=Model E-04 406/121.5 MHz ELT |work=Products |publisher=ACK Technologies, Inc. |date=2002 |url=http://www.ackavionics.com/products.htm |access-date=2018-01-14 January 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116184013/http://www.ackavionics.com/products.htm |archive-date=2018-01-16 January 2018}}</ref>

<ref name="Shadin_2016">{{cite web |title=Altitude Encoder Model 8800-T Operating Manual |date=2016 |id=OP8800-TC Rev. F |publisher=Shadin Avionics |url=https://www.shadin.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/OP8800TC.pdf |access-date=2018-01-14 January 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116190458/https://www.shadin.com/documents/manuals/OP8800TC.pdf |archive-date=2018-01-16 January 2018}}</ref>

<ref name="Phillips_1998_MODEC">{{cite web |title=Mode A and Mode C - The straight scoop on how it works |author-first=Darryl |author-last=Phillips |date=2012 |orig-yeardate=1998 |publisher=AirSport Avionics |url=http://www.airsport-corp.com/modec.htm |access-date=2018-01-14 January 2018 |url-status=deadusurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614184629/http://www.airsport-corp.com/modec.htm |archive-date=2012-06-14 June 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="Decoder Patent">{{cite book |title=Circuit for converting one code into another code |author-first=Hans |author-last=Langheinrich |publisher=[[VDO Tachometer Werke Adolf Schindling GmbH]] |___location=Frankfurt, Germany |orig-yeardate=1971-10-27<!-- fdate --> |date=1974-04-16 April 1974<!-- adate --> |id={{US patent|3805041}}. Application 192830 |url=https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/0a/3b/16/a511d87808faae/US3805041.pdf |access-date=2018-01-14 January 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805111933/https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/0a/3b/16/a511d87808faae/US3805041.pdf |archive-date=5 August 2020-08-05}} (7 pages)</ref>

<ref name="Stewart_2010">{{cite web |title=Aviation Gray Code: Gillham Code Explained |date=3 December 2010-12-03 |author-first=K. |author-last=Stewart |publisher=Custom Computer Services (CCS) |url=http://www.ccsinfo.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=140960#140960 |access-date=2018-01-14 January 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116184525/http://www.ccsinfo.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=140960 |archive-date=2018-01-16 January 2018}}</ref>

<ref name="CS_1963">{{cite journal |title=Beacon Encoder |journal=Computer Design |publisher=Computer Design Publishing Corporation |date=September 1963 |volume=2 |number=9 |issn=0010-4566 |oclc=802774218 |id=Circle No. 169 |___location=Massachusetts, USA |page=45 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=npg_AQAAIAAJ |access-date=2018-01-16 January 2018 |quote=[…] Output code of a new Beacon encoder is known as the Gillham code, a modified [[Gray code]] designed to be compatible with both American and European traffic systems. […]}}</ref>

<ref name="CE_1963">{{cite journal |title=New Products |journal=Control Engineering (CtE) |issn=0010-8049 |publisher=Technical Publishing Company |date=January–December 1963 |volume=10 |id=(344) or (345) |page=110<!-- of which monthly issue? --> |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DPpIAQAAIAAJ |access-date=2018-01-16 January 2018 |quote=[…] Designed to be compatible with American and European traffic systems, a beacon encoder available from Norden Div., United Aircraft Corp., Norwalk, Conn., puts out a modified [[Gray code]] known as the Gillham code. […]}} [https://books.google.com/books?id=xkASAAAAIAAJ]</ref>

<ref name="ARINC_572">{{cite book |title=Mark 2 Subsonic Air Data System |id=ARINC 572 |date=1968-02-15 February 1968 |page=55 |publisher=[[Aeronautical Radio, Incorporated]] ([[ARINC]]) |___location=Annapolis, Maryland, USA}}</ref>

<ref name="ARINC_572-1">{{cite book |title=Mark 2 Air Traffic Control Transponder |id=ARINC 572-1 |publisher=[[Aeronautical Radio, Incorporated]] ([[ARINC]])}}</ref>

<ref name="Gray_1947">{{cite book |author-first=Frank |author-last=Gray |author-link=Frank Gray (researcher) |title=Pulse Code Communication |date=1953-03-17 March 1953<!-- gdate --> |orig-yeardate=1947-11-13<!-- fdate --> |publisher=[[Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated]] |___location=New York, USA |id={{US patent|2632058}}. Serial No. 785697 |url=https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/a3/d7/f2/0343f5f2c0cf50/US2632058.pdf |access-date=5 August 2020-08-05 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805094312/https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/a3/d7/f2/0343f5f2c0cf50/US2632058.pdf |archive-date=5 August 2020-08-05}} (13 pages)</ref>

<ref name="Steinbuch_1962">{{cite book |title=Taschenbuch der Nachrichtenverarbeitung |language=de |editor-first=Karl W. |editor-last=Steinbuch |editor-link=Karl W. Steinbuch |date=1962 |edition=1 |publisher=[[Springer-Verlag OHG]] |___location=Karlsruhe, Germany |publication-place=Berlin / Göttingen / New York |lccn=62-14511 |pages=71–74}}</ref>

<ref name="Steinbuch-Weber_1974">{{cite book |title=Taschenbuch der Informatik – Band II – Struktur und Programmierung von EDV-Systemen |language=de |editor-first1=Karl W. |editor-last1=Steinbuch |editor-link1=Karl W. Steinbuch |editor-first2=Wolfgang |editor-last2=Weber |editor-first3=Traute |editor-last3=Heinemann |date=1974 |orig-yeardate=1967 |edition=3 |volume=2 |workseries=Taschenbuch der Nachrichtenverarbeitung |publisher=[[Springer Verlag]] |___location=Berlin, Germany |isbn=3-540-06241-6 |lccn=73-80607 |pages=98–100}}</ref>

<ref name="O'Brien_1955">{{cite journal |author-first=Joseph A. |author-last=O'Brien |title=Cyclic Decimal Codes for Analogue to Digital Converters |journal=[[Transactions of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, Part I: Communication and Electronics]] |___location=Bell Telephone Laboratories, Whippany, New Jersey, USA |volume=75 |issue=2 |date=May 1956 |orig-yeardate=1956-11-15, 1956-06-23 June 1956 |issn=0097-2452 |doi=10.1109/TCE.1956.6372498 |id=Paper 56-21 |pages=120–122 |s2cid=51657314 |url=https://pdfslide.net/documents/cyclic-decimal-codes-for-analogue-to-digital-converters.html |access-date=18 May 2020 |url-05-18access=subscription }} (3 pages) (NB. This paper was prepared for presentation at the AIEE Winter General Meeting, New York, USA, 1955-01-30 to 1955-02-03.)</ref>

<ref name="FAA_1962">{{cite book |title=Final Engineering Report on Evaluation of L-band Secondary Radar. For ANDB under CAA. |author=((Airborne Instruments Laboratory, a division of [[Cutler-Hammer, Inc.]])) |publisher=[[Federal Aviation Administration]] (FAA), Aviation Research And Development Service |type=Report |id=Report 8893-SP-1 |date=1962-05-19 May 1962 |___location=Deer Park, Long Island, New York, USA }}</ref>

<ref name="FAA_1962_T6">{{cite book |title=Height Code Tables For Use With Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System |author=((Airborne Instruments Laboratory, a division of [[Cutler-Hammer, Inc.]])) |publisher=[[Federal Aviation Administration]] (FAA), Aviation Research And Development Service |type=Report |id=Report 8893-SP-1. Contract FAA/BRD-329. Task 6 |date=May 1962 |___location=Deer Park, Long Island, New York, USA |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/615818.pdf |access-date=2020-05-17 May 2020 |url-status=livedead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200517142356/https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/615818.pdf |archive-date=2020-05-17 May 2020}} (43 pages)</ref>

<ref name="FI_1964">{{cite journal |title=Altitude encoding |author=United Service and Royal Aero Club (Great Britain) |journal=[[Flight International]] |issn=0015-3710 |volume=85 |number=2874 |publisher=Illiffe Transport Publications |date=9 April 1964-04-09 |page=593 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v04eERVZ_HMC |quote=[…] A new […] encoder with an output in Gillham code, as recommended for altitude encoding by [[ICAO]] and described in an [[FAA]] report of May 1962, has been introduced […]}}</ref>

<ref name="Honeywell_2002">{{cite book |title=Honeywell System Installation Manual - Bendix/King KMH 880/KTA 870 Multi-Hazard Awareness Traffic Advisory System |id=Manual number 006-10609-0003 |edition=Revision 3 |date=August 2002 |orig-yeardate=2001 |publisher=[[Honeywell International Inc.]] |url=https://petitcessnavoyageur.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/kmh880-kta-870-im-006-10609-0003_3.pdf |access-date=18 January 2018-01-18 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118163000/https://petitcessnavoyageur.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/kmh880-kta-870-im-006-10609-0003_3.pdf |archive-date=18 January 2018-01-18}}</ref>

<ref name="Tooley-Wyatt_2009">{{cite book |title=Aircraft Electrical and Electronic Systems - Principles, Operation and Maintenance |url=https://archive.org/details/aircraftelectric00bami_387 |url-access=limited |chapter=3.5.1 Gillham interface and Gillham code |author-first1=Mike |author-last1=Tooley |author-first2=David |author-last2=Wyatt |edition=1 |date=2009 |publisher=[[Butterworth-Heinemann]] ([[Elsevier Ltd.]]) |isbn=978-0-7506-8695-2 |page=[https://archive.org/details/aircraftelectric00bami_387/page/n85 69]}}</ref>

<ref name="Wheeler_1969">{{cite book |title=Analog to digital encoder |author-first=Edwin L. |author-last=Wheeler |publisher=Conrac Corporation |___location=New York, USA |date=1969-12-30 December 1969<!-- gdate --> |orig-yeardate=1968-04-05<!-- fdate --> |id={{US patent|3487460A}}. Serial No. 719026 (397812<!-- 1964-09-21 -->) |url=https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/f0/c0/60/9c3231f7e8ed44/US3487460.pdf |access-date=2018-01-21 January 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805102804/https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/f0/c0/60/9c3231f7e8ed44/US3487460.pdf |archive-date=5 August 2020-08-05 |quote=[…] The MOA-GILLHAM code is essentially the combination of the [[Gray code]] discussed thereinabove and the well known [[Datex code]]; the Datex code is disclosed in U.S. Patent {{citeref|Spaulding|1965a|3,165,731|style=plain}}. The arrangement is such that the Datex code defines the bits for the units count of the encoder and the Gray code defines the bits for each of the higher order decades, the tens, hundreds, etc […]}}</ref>

<ref name="Spaulding_1954">{{cite web |title=Digital coding and translating system |author-first=Carl P. |author-last=Spaulding |publisher=Datex Corporation |___location=Monrovia, California, USA |date=1965-01-12<!-- gdateJanuary --> |year=1965a<!-- for citerefgdate --> |orig-yeardate=1954-03-09<!-- fdate --> |id={{US patent|3165731A}}. Serial No. 415058 |url=https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/7f/1d/09/6a9b1fa3e67cb8/US3165731.pdf |access-date=2018-01-21 January 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805101618/https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/7f/1d/09/6a9b1fa3e67cb8/US3165731.pdf |archive-date=5 August 2020-08-05}} (28 pages)</ref>

<ref name="Spaulding_1965">{{cite book |title=How to Use Shaft Encoders |author-first=Carl P. |author-last=Spaulding |date=1965-07-12 |year=July 1965b |publisher=Datex Corporation<!-- Datex Div, of Conrac Corp. / a subsidiary of Giannini Control Corp. --> |___location=Monrovia, California, USA}} (85 pages)</ref>

<ref name="DFS_2000">{{cite web |title=Single Gillham code |author-first=Marc |author-last=D. F. S. |date=2000-11-27 November 2000 |publisher=ForPilots |url=http://www.forpilots.com/archive/rec.aviation.owning/5/msg5377.htm |access-date=2018-01-17 January 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117174656/http://www.forpilots.com/archive/rec.aviation.owning/5/msg5377.htm |archive-date=2018-01-17 January 2018}}</ref>

<ref name="LG_1955-06-03">{{London Gazette |issue=40497 |date=3 June 1955-06-03 |publisher=[[Her Majesty's Stationery Office]] |startpage=3257 |endpage=3296 |pages=3267, 3272, 3274 |supp=y |quote=[…] CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD. […] ''St. James's Palace, S.W.''1. […] ''9th June'', 1955. […] The QUEEN has been graciously pleased, on the occasion of the Celebration of Her Majesty's Birthday, to give orders for the following promotions in, and appointments to, the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire:— […] To be Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order:— […] Ronald Lionel GILLHAM, Esq., Signals Officer, Air Navigational Services, Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation. […]}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20200518094510/https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/40497/supplement/3267][https://web.archive.org/web/20200518095002/https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/40497/supplement/3272][https://web.archive.org/web/20200518095002/https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/40497/supplement/3274]</ref>

<ref name="Dokter_1973">{{cite book |title=Digital Electronics |author-first1=Folkert |author-last1=Dokter |author-first2=Jürgen |author-last2=Steinhauer |chapter=2.4. Coding numbers in the binary system |date=1973-06-18 June 1973 |series=Philips Technical Library (PTL) / Macmillan Education |publisher=[[The Macmillan Press Ltd.]] / [[N. V. Philips' Gloeilampenfabrieken]] |edition=Reprint of 1st English |___location=Eindhoven, Netherlands |sbn=333-13360-9 |isbn=978-1-349-01419-4 |doi=10.1007/978-1-349-01417-0 |pages=32, 39, 50–53 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hlRdDwAAQBAJ |access-date=2020-05-11 May 2020 |quote-page=53 |quote=[…] The [[Datex code]] […] uses the [[O'Brien code II]] within each decade, and reflected decimal numbers for the decimal transitions. For further processing, code conversion to the natural decimal notation is necessary. Since the O'Brien II code forms a [[9s complement]], this does not give rise to particular difficulties: whenever the code word for the tens represents an odd number, the code words for the decimal units are given as the 9s complements by inversion of the fourth binary digit. […] }}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} (270 pages) (NB. This is based on a translation of volume I of the two-volume German edition.)</ref>

<ref name="Dokter_1975">{{cite book |author-first1=Folkert |author-last1=Dokter |author-first2=Jürgen |author-last2=Steinhauer |title=Digitale Elektronik in der Meßtechnik und Datenverarbeitung: Theoretische Grundlagen und Schaltungstechnik |chapter=2.4.4.6. Einschrittige Kodes |language=de |series=Philips Fachbücher |publisher=[[Deutsche Philips GmbH]] |___location=Hamburg, Germany |volume=I |date=1975 |orig-yeardate=1969 |edition=improved and extended 5th |isbn=3-87145-272-6 |page=60}} (xii+327+3 pages) (NB. The German edition of volume I was published in 1969, 1971, two editions in 1972, and 1975. Volume II was published in 1970, 1972, 1973, and 1975.)</ref>

<ref name="IEEE_1983">{{cite journal |title=1983 Pioneer Award |journal=[[IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems]] |volume=AES-19 |number=4 |date=July 1983 |publisher=[[IEEE]] |pages=648–656 |doi=10.1109/TAES.1983.309363 |url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/4102842 |access-date=2020-05-16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516153346/https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=4102842 |archive-date=2020-05-16 |quote=[…] The Pioneer Award Committee of the IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society has named […] Allan Ashley […] Joseph E. Her[r]mann […] James S. Perry […] as recipients of the 1983 Pioneer Award in recognition of the highly significant contributions made by them. "FOR ADVANCING THE STATE OF THE ART OF VOICE AND DATA RADIO COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS" The Award was presented at NAECON on May 18, 1983. […] Being aware of developments within the United States and shortly before the ICAO VII COM [in January 1962], the U.K. delegates proposed a compromise code to the United States which quantized altitude in 500 ft steps for a range of 64000 ft by employing a conventional Gray code with a 2.9 µs pulse spacing in the return message, and in a compatible manner subdivided further by 100 ft increments with a 1.45 µs pulse spacing in the return message […] A quick look at the U.K. proposal concluded that the United States could live with the U.K. compromise although greater circuit complexity resulted for coding and decoding. It is to the credit of the U.S. delegation to the ICAO VII COM, and as a result of the advice of Ashley, Herrmann, Perry, and others, that the acceptance of the compatible U.K. proposal was seen as offering a means of obtaining timely agreement on 100 ft increment reportings o that future air traffic control systems could be developed with automatic three dimensional data acquisition. A potential impasse in ICAO was averted, leaving nations free to choose between 100 ft and 500 ft increments of altitude reporting. […]}} (9 pages)</ref>

<ref name="Ashley_1961">{{cite journal |title=Code Configuration for Automatic Altitude Reporting via ATCRBS |author-first=Allan |author-last=Ashley |journal=IRE Transactions on Aerospace and Navigational Electronics |publisher=[[Institute of Radio Engineers]] |volume=ANE-8 |issue=4 |date=December 1961 |pages=144–148 |issn=0096-1647 |eissn=2331-0812 |doi=10.1109/TANE3.1961.4201819 |___location=Melville, New York, USA|s2cid=51647765 }} (5 pages)</ref>

}}

==Further reading==

* {{cite book |title=Military Handbook: Encoders - Shaft Angle To Digital |publisher=[[United States Department of Defense]] |id=MIL-HDBK-231A |date=1991-09-30 September 1991 |url=http://everyspec.com/MIL-HDBK/MIL-HDBK-0200-0299/download.php?spec=MIL_HDBK_231A.1809.pdf |access-date=2020-07-25 July 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725051128/http://everyspec.com/MIL-HDBK/MIL-HDBK-0200-0299/download.php?spec=MIL_HDBK_231A.1809.pdf |archive-date=2020-07-25 July 2020}} (NB. Supersedes MIL-HDBK-231(AS) (1970-07-01).)

* [http://store1.icao.int/index.php/publications/annexes/10-aeronautical-telecommunications/annex-10-volume-iv-surveillance-radar-and-collision-avoidance-systems-english-printed.html ''Annex 10 - Volume IV - Surveillance Radar and Collision Avoidance Systems''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506014926/http://store1.icao.int/index.php/publications/annexes/10-aeronautical-telecommunications/annex-10-volume-iv-surveillance-radar-and-collision-avoidance-systems-english-printed.html |date=6 May 2014 }}; 4th Edition; ICAO; 280 pages; 2007.

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140506011211/http://www.rtca.org/store_product.asp?prodid=933 ''DO-181E Minimum Operational Performance Standards for ATCRBS / Mode S Airborne Equipment'']; Rev E; RTCA; 2011.

* {{cite book |title=Study of Altitude Reporting via ATC Radar Beacon System |author-first=Allan |author-last=Ashley |date=September 1960 |publisher=Airborne Instruments Laboratory |id=Report 5791-23 |___location=Deer Park, New York,}}
**{{cite USAbook |lay-sourcesection=Study of Altitude Reporting via ATC Radar Beacon System |title=Consolidated Abstracts of Technical Reports: General distribution. 1957–1962 |lay-date=1962 |lay-formatpage=p. #62-45 |laysection-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nBqRqql9lg0C&pg=PA45 |type=Abstract}} (59 pages)

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[[Category:History of air traffic control]]