VPX Backplanes

Background

While maintaining backward compatibility with legacy VME technology via preservation of the VMEbus 6U mechanical form factor and through-mapping of the current VMEbus signals to the VITA 46 connectors, the VITA 46 technology brings the following features to reality while maintaining ability to inter-operate with existing VME technology boards:

• Vastly increased high-speed serial I/O support for such needs as digital video, mass storage interconnects (e.g. SATA) and FPGA interconnects (e.g. RocketIO). Support for high-speed switched serial fabrics with performance up to 10 Gbps. Support for cost-reducing two-level maintenance by providing an Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) protection mechanism and board covers. Support of distributed switching that eliminates the need for dedicated switch card slots.
• Support for VITA 42 mezzanine sites with high speed I/O.

OpenVPX is an effort by a joint group of companies to provide definitions for system interoperability. VPX is a highly flexible architecture, allowing a wide range of configurations and topology options. OpenVPX provides an easier way to ensure interoperability between VPX systems. The VPX Modules and Slots across the backplanes have been given definitions so that similar Modules will work within certain Slot configurations. The backplane Configurations have been defined to show the collection of Slot profiles it entails, including information on the data rate, routing topology, and fabric used. Now, the integrator can determine that a daughter card Module from “X” company can be used in the same backplane slot as “Y” company’s, when both Module Profiles specify the same Slot Profile.

The OpenVPX efforts have been sent to the VITA 65 Working Group within the VITA Standards Organization (VSO) for voting on its ratification in VITA. Elma was a co-sponsor of the VITA 65 specification. 

The stated target for the completion of the VITA 65 specification is Q1 2010. Elma is a member of the steering committee and also participates in a number of sub-committees

Elma Bustronic

Elma Bustronic's 3U VPX backplane features a twisted ring topology. The six slot design incorporates a VITA 46.20 Gigabit Ethernet Control Plane which adds a GigE switch, providing a separate Star network for out-of-band communication.

Elma Bustronic

The VPX power and ground development backplane is a simple and cost-effective development tool. All of the pins are user defined. Power for 3.3V, 5V and 12V are included. The 7U version is standard and a 3U version is available upon request. The rear connectors are all fully loaded from RJ0-RJ6.

Elma Electronic

The VPX Tower offers a carrying handle for easy portability making it ideal for prototyping, demonstrations, and mobile applications. The unit also features advanced EMC shielding, scratch-resistant vinyl clad aluminum covers, and power components. (More)

Elma Electronic

Curtiss-Wright - 3U SBCs

Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing offers 3U VPX SBCs in an Intel-based PC-compatible development platform and an SBC that combines Freescale’s 8641PowerPC processer with extensive I/O. (More)

Curtiss-Wright - 6U SBCs

Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing has 6U VPX SBCs featuring the latest technology Intel Core2 T9400 processor. (More)

Curtiss-Wright - FPGAs

Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing's offers 3U and 6U VPX FPGA processor boards that incorporate the Xilinx Virtex-5 FPGAs with a single FMC mezzanine site and dual sites respectively. Another 6U FPGA is available coupling two Xilinx Virtex-5 FPGAs with a dual-core Freescale Power Architecture™ MPC8641D. (More)