Articles
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FPGA based PCIe-to-VME bridge
Since the VME bus is no longer natively supported by current processors, it is essential to implement bridging technologies that take over these functions for this form factor standard. MEN Mikro Elektronik developed a PCIe-to-VME bridge based on FPGA logic as an alternative to discrete components and can be utilized under the General Purpose License 3.
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VITA 57.4: FMC+
Field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are utilized in many applications, with the range expanding as new variations of FPGAs emerge. By design, FPGAs are easily reconfigured as application needs change. But sometimes a change to the front-end hardware connecting the FPGA to a real-world application must also change. Until the advent of the FPGA Mezzanine Card (FMC), there was no universally accepted way to modularize the I/O. FMC must now continue to improve in order to meet the latest wave of performance requirements.
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VITA's switched fabrics roadmap
Over the years, VITA's charter has evolved to embrace a host of new open architecture standards for critical embedded computing. Originally founded to develop standards and an ecosystem in support of VMEbus, VITA has evolved its interconnect strategy for high performance computing to be based on leading switched fabrics. Most popular are Ethernet, PCI Express, InfiniBand, and Serial RapidIO. Today's working groups now spend their efforts on developing standards that implement the latest advancements in the roadmaps of these fabrics in various VITA form factors such as VPX, VNX, XMC, and FMC. The working groups are no longer responsible for defining the protocols but ensuring that the right connector technology is defined suitable for VITA form factors and ensuring that the correct connector technology is implemented as appropriate.
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Visions of Sugar Plums!
We have 20 sponsors lined up for the 2019 edition of Embedded Tech Trends to be held at The Andaz in San Diego, California on January 28 and 29. Embedded Tech Trends is an industry-wide forum where suppliers of component, board and system level solutions meet exclusively with members of relevant industry media to discuss technologies, trends, and products.
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VITA Standards Organization activity updates
The September VITA Standards Organization (VSO) standards' meeting was held in Huntsville, Alabama. This update is based on the results of that meeting. Contact VITA if you are interested in participating in any of these working groups. Visit the VITA website (http://www.vita.com) for details on upcoming VSO meetings.
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1, 2, 3, ... Slots are In
When one envisions a VPX system, the image that often comes to mind is a multislot high performance computing system full of processing and I/O boards. But there is a completely different class of VPX "systems" that range from one to three slots in size, primarily in a 3U form factor. What do these "systems" look like and what is driving their existence?
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Next generation VPX backplane production technology
The new generation of VPX protocols are here and the next generations are on the horizon. The exciting world of high speed has arrived and before we know it today's technology will be superseded. VPX is "evolving." The next generation of PCIe and Ethernet will add more complexities to the VPX signal channel. We are seeing data rates increase exponentially and the evolution of VPX has begun.
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VITA 49: Software radio's evolving language
Overwhelming adoption of software radio as a critical technology for real-time embedded systems spurs defense customers to expand its capabilities for the constantly evolving needs of military applications. With numerous vendors in the market, customers are seeking interoperability and easy insertion of new technology. However, data protocols, metadata information, and control software have traditionally been vendor-unique, proprietary solutions, capable of meeting the requirements of any given system, but highly variable, even when delivered by the same vendor. To overcome these inconsistencies, VITA 49 offers standards for implementing these features to boost user confidence in multivendor, open architecture systems, and simplify life cycle support.
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Examining key attributes essential to modular SFF designs
The concept of modular designs in small-form-factor (SFF) electronic systems poses interesting challenges to equipment suppliers who feed the embedded computing market's demand for smaller, more cost-effective solutions. Competing expectations from designers include reduced size, lower cost, lower NRE (nonrecurring engineering) charges, and the drive for the most forward-reaching future-proof designs that enable form, fit, and functional upgrades at a reasonable cost.
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VITA 67: VPX coaxial interconnect
One of the biggest challenges for VPX system designers is the management of I/O [input/output] to and from the modules. VPX leaves a lot of room for handling all types of I/O and the teams working on the standards have brought some excellent solutions to market.
Rodger Hosking, Pentek, Inc.