Defining Standards

• Patent policy proposal stirs the pot of business versus innovation interests

  

  On February 2, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it will not challenge a proposal by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) to update the IEEE Standards Association's (IEEE-SA) patent policy. That policy governs the incorporation of patented technology in IEEE standards and explains the terms under which holders of patents essential to IEEE standards commit to make licenses available for use in implementing IEEE standards.

  Jerry Gipper Editorial Director

• VITA 76 provides for high-bandwidth I/O in a rugged MIL-38999 circular connector

  Ken Braund Mertiec and Alan Roath Meritec

  MIL-38999 connectors enable high-bandwidth data transfer through multiple protocols, including commercial standards.

• XMC goes rugged with VITA 61 mezzanine interconnect standard

  Dan Mignogna Tyco Electronics Connectivity

  XMC gets the mechanically robust upgrade path it needs with the VITA 61 spec nearing completion.

• VITA 67 provides the first coaxial-backplane standard for analog and RF I/O

  Robert Normoyle, DRS Signal Solutions

  A VPX-related VITA standard, VITA 67 (Analog/RF Interconnect, formerly 46.14) proffers the inaugural coaxial backplane for analog and RF I/O.

• VITA 71: Revolutionary mezzanine standard aims to replace PMC, XMC standards

  Dean Holman, Mercury Computer Systems, Greg Rocco Mercury Computer Systems, and Dan Toohey, Mercury Computer Systems

  The scope of the VITA 71 Working Group is to define a groundbreaking mezzanine standard to replace the existing PMC and XMC standards. Whereas the migration from PMC to XMC was evolutionary, VITA 71 will be revolutionary.

• VITA 60 standardizes a ruggedized alternative for VPX applications

  David Dix, Amphenol Backplane Systems

  As standardization of high-speed interconnect systems converges with the increased demands of military and aerospace applications, the need for more advanced technology in a ruggedized package has been highlighted. To meet this technology gap, VITA 60 (Alternative Connector on VPX) was launched to define a new interconnect platform consistent with the evolving VITA 46 (VPX) form factor yet designed and tested for more ruggedized environments.

• VITA 68 allows a common backplane design for multiple fabric protocols

  Bob Sullivan VITA Distinguished Fellow

  The recent VITA 68 working group defines backplane performance requirements for different baud rates so any fabric protocol can be supported.

• VITA 41 (VXS) plays a key role in the VITA ecosystem

  Melissa Heckman, Elma Bustronic

  VITA 41 (VXS) is a vital player in the VITA ecosystem, but why?

• VITA 53 standardizes obsolescence data gathering on COTS products

  Steve Cecil, NSWC Crane

  While assembly-level information for COTS systems is integral in managing obsolescence, this kind of insight was not available before the VITA 53 (Commercial Technology Market Surveillance) standard was born.

• VITA 62 brings COTS power supplies to VPX

  Patrick Shaw General Dynamics

  The nascent VITA 62 standard aims to support VITA 46 (VPX) by defining electrical and mechanical requirements for COTS power supply modules.

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