MicroTCA-Compliant JTAG Multiplexer Provides 18 Secondary and 3 Master Ports
A MicroTCA-compliant single-chip JTAG multiplexer provides 3 arbitrated master ports and 18 independent secondary ports, which can be cascaded for up to 36 secondary ports. For simplified design and ease of use, the DS26900 from Maxim Integrated Products provides port autodetection that allows the master to detect device presence on secondary ports, as well as transparent communication between an arbitrated master and a selected secondary port. The DS26900 is suitable for MicroTCA applications, AdvancedMC carrier blades, system-level diagnostics, test equipment, board-level JTAG applications and ATCA applications. A solution for star architecture JTAG, the DS26900 also features two 32-bit scratchpad registers, internal pullup/pulldown resistors, and operation up to 50 MHz. This device is available in a leaded or lead-free, tiny, 20 mm x 20 mm, 144-pin LQFP package. It is fully specified over the -40° to +85°C extended temperature range. Pricing starts at $6.50 (10,000-up, FOB USA). Maxim Integrated Products, Sunnyvale, CA. (408) 737-7600. [www.maxim-ic.com].
Rugged Quad Channel Serial FPDP Board Leverages FPGAs
A rugged, quad channel Serial Front Panel Data Port (SFPDP) card delivers sustained data rates up to 247 Mbytes per second on each of its four channels. The FibreXtreme SL100/SL240 Serial FPDP card from Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing is based on Altera’s Stratix II GX FPGAs and connects distributed devices through a highly specialized communications protocol optimized for maximum data throughput. The cards, available in both PCI and XMC mezzanine formats, are designed for use in applications that require high data rates such as digital signal processing, radar and sonar, medical imaging, range and telemetry systems. The SFPDP card off-loads the host processor, enabling data transfers without the CPU overhead and non-deterministic latencies associated with many layers of complex software protocols. The FibreXtreme SL100/SL240 Serial FPDP card supports a 2.5 GHz serial data link that utilizes the VITA 17.1-2003 communications protocol, which is specially optimized for maximum data throughput. The card’s onboard DMA engine handles single transactions up to 64 Mbytes for data throughput without processor intervention. DMA and register byte/word swapping provide additional system flexibility. With support for 2.5 Gbit/s transmission rates (1 Gbit/s data rates supported on the SL100, and 2.5 Gbits/s on the SL240) between interconnected subsystems separated by as much as 50 kilometers and low-latency performance to match, SL100/SL240 Serial FPDP technology is ideal for many of today’s high-throughput DSP applications. Software support includes drivers for today’s popular operating systems, including Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000 and Windows XP, VxWorks and Linux. The price for the Quad version of the multi-channel board is $9,445 in small quantities. Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing Dayton, OH. (937) 610-5457. [www.cwcembedded.com]
Micro PCs for Decentralized Control Applications
A line of ultra-compact computer systems for decentralized control application, called the MPC21 series, is based on Digital-Logic’s 3.5” single board computer MSB800 with all its interfaces. In addition to the functions of the MSB800, the MPC21 has two COM ports (1x external, 1x internal), one LPT interface and a PCI/104 slot available. The video input allows connection to a camera. A MiniPCI socket permits the integration of WLAN or field buses. Additional functions of the MPC21A system include four COM ports, one LPT interface, four relay outputs and four optically isolated inputs. As an option, COM3/4 can be fitted with a galvanized, isolated RS-422/485 interface. The MiniPCI socket also serves for the integration of WLAN or field buses. Further functions incorporated in the MPC21B are two COM ports, one LPT interface and two CAN ports with galvanic isolation. In this model the MiniPCI socket allows the integration of WLAN. All computers are able to boot from CompactFlash, LAN, USB or the optionally integrated 2.5” 40 Gbyte hard drive. Housed in robust metal cases, the miniature computer systems are remarkable for their small dimensions of only 165 mm x 110 mm x 46 mm (W x D x H). The systems require no cooling fan; instead they rely solely on passive cooling techniques. This makes them the ideal solution for reliable, cost-effective, long-term operation in industrial and commercial applications. MPC21/21A/21B run with all PC-compatible operating systems, such as Windows XP, QNX, Linux etc., and work with any application software written for PCs. Power is supplied directly with 12/24V or with a 110/220V power supply. Designed for low power consumption (typically 10 watts), the systems operate within the temperature range of -25° to +70°C. The MSB800 board contains an AMD Geode LX800 processor with passive cooling. The processor runs at 500 MHz and obviously provides a performance equivalent to that of an 800 MHz chip. As a chip set the SBC uses the Geode CS5536. The main memory of the SBC can be equipped with DDR RAMs from 256 Mbytes up to 1 Gbyte. Digtal-Logic, Luterbach, Switzerland. +41 (0)32/ 681 58 40. [www.digitallogic.ch]. December 2007
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