Made in USA
The Embedded Solutions Experts


PMC-OctalUART-232

PMC Module with 8 UARTs - 16550 compatible, RS-232 IO, RTS/CTS, DSR/DCD support, programmable rate up to 500 KHz.

Order This Item


PMC-OctalUART-232 Description

  • Driver [Win or Linux] included with purchase.
  • Standard PMC module
  • PCI 32/33 with dipswitch for positive card identification in multi-card installations
  • 8 UART ports each with 128 byte FIFO
  • RS-232 [500 KHz] with RX/TX, CTS/RTS, DSR/DTR
  • Bezel and/or rear IO
  • Spartan 6 FPGA with BRAM for FIFO or RAM implementation
  • IO and Register definitions in common with PMC-OCTPRO-232
  • New features on unused addresses for SW commonality - just change to vendor=xDCBA Device =x0066.
  • 1 year warranty standard. Extended warranty available.
  • Extended [Industrial] Temperature standard.
  • ROHS and Standard processing available
PMC-OctalUART-232 is a client requested design. A long-time client asked if we would help them replace PMC-OCTPRO-232. We were given the basic operational requirements and created PMC-OctalUART-232, a seamless replacement for the now limited supply PN. Our design goes above and beyond the base requirements by adding new features and design benefits. The important (for commonality) rear and front I/O definitions, as well as register and bit mapping, are supersets of the original design. PMC-OctalUART-232 is an upgrade featuring Spartan VI FPGA, higher bandwidth RS-232 I/O, and a few new register functions to allow design revision information to be read. Simply change the vendor ID and Card ID to DCBA 0066 and your SW will work with the new design in existing systems. Windows 7, Linux and VxWorks SW packages are currently in development.

The eight UARTs are implemented with two XR16C854 devices. Each has 4 UART ports with separate 128 byte FIFO´s for transmit and receive. The UART´s support the 16550 standard register and bit mapping conventions. Each UART is referenced to a programmable clock. PMC-OctalUART-232 has both 24 MHz. and 7.3728 MHz oscillators installed.

PMC-OctalUART-232 has a few new features when compared to the design being replaced. Unused addresses in the memory map are used to allow read-back of the current major and minor FLASH revision as well as the current dipswitch setting. The FLASH revision is handy for tracking revisions when fielded. The dipswitch can be used to uniquely identify each board installed in a multi-board set-up.

For new designs without SW restictions we can customize this design to add features like DMA, make use of the Spartan VI internal memory, add filtering or retransmission of data etc.

A new custom version can be implemented in a very reasonable time. Typically a few weeks of design time for a medium sized project including the new VHDL set, Windows® or Linux or VxWorks driver, reference software package, and documentation. Click on the models tab for the base version and any client versions created to date - see if the configuration you need already exists or if we need to work on a custom version for you.

We can be rapid with our response because the designs are structured to allow channels to be moved in and out to create new design sets. Most designs have a fairly large component of reused "known good" VHDL that we can pull from allowing us to focus on the new functions required for your implementation. You receive the benefit of many man-years of design and test time with each new version created. Join our high reliability clients by taking advantage of our know-how to help speed your project to completion.

PMC-OctalUART-232 can be used along with a PCIe or other carrier/adapter to use with a variety of system types - PCI, PCIe, PC104p, VPX cPCI, etc.. Dynamic Engineering has PMC carriers for PCI, PCIexpress, cPCI, PC104p, and can do custom design´s specific to client requirements as well. Please use the handy JAVA pull-down menu at the top any page to navigate to other Dynamic Engineering products including carriers.

PMC´s are independently specified through VITA for the form factor, connectors and pinouts of the PCI signaling; you can use PMC-OctalUART-232 design with any carrier from any vendor that supports standard PMC´s. To make it even easier the PMC-OctalUART-232 has a universal PCI design to allow operation with VIO set to 3.3 or 5V.

It all starts with the PCB [Printed Circuit Board]. Quality design and quality materials are required to meet the strenuous requirements of many of our implementations. You can do the job quickly or you can do the design correctly. We pride ourselves on taking the time to put the extra work into our layouts. The quality goes in before the parts go on. In addition to routing strategy and layer counts, Via size, plating requirements, break-out trace widths, and materials are areas where quality comes into play. The via size and method of trace attachment to the via affect the signal shape and reliability. Using tear-drop trace connections to pads, via´s and through hole components enhance the reliability and minimize the impedance discontinuity resulting in a cleaner signal. Using 8/10/12 mil vias provides adequate copper for proper power distribution and more surface area to bond to where traces are interconnected. The combination provides better vibration endurance than smaller vias and traces would provide. The design has several power planes with sufficient copper weight and coverage to provide the references required for the routing plus the current and voltages needed by the various devices on the board. The larger features make the design work more difficult since there is less room to "play with" and the end result is worth it.

The PCI interface has a published set of requirements for compliance which restrict length, impedance, loading and other factors. PMC-OctalUART-232 is compliant with the PCI Specification. The IO section has requirements based on the IO type and the purpose for the IO. A very conservative approach has been taken to allow operation with any client requirement. The other features including FPGA, UART, RS-232 buffers, oscillators, and power supplies are implemented to exceed the operational requirements for those devices.

The Spartan VI has internal block RAM which can be configured in a variety of ways. For example, the memory can be configured as Dual Port RAM to allow direct addressing and retransmission of repeated patterns.

PMC-OctalUART-232 has 8 transceivers to support the 3 inputs [RX, CTS, DSR] and 3 outputs [Tx, RTS, DTR] for each port. Up to 500 KHz. rates.

The IO is available through either the front panel mounted SCSI III connector or Pn4 or some combination. Each IO is isolated from the connectors with zero ohm resistors. The resistors are mounted front and rear and tied together at each pin to allow for a stub length of 1/16th in. The Connectors are routed from the resistor packs directly allowing for almost zero stub lengths and the option to connect front or rear IO options.

If your situation demands a custom application we will update the Xilinx FPGA and IO components. Send us your description and we will send you the interface. Please refer to the "Models" page for previously completed "customerized" PMC-OctalUART-232 implementations.
email us your wish list or call today

PMC-OctalUART-232 Block Diagram

PMC Modules require a "carrier" in most cases to adapt them to the system. Dynamic Engineering has carrier solutions for a variety of formats.
PCIe implementations can be done with the PCIeBPMCX1 and PCIeBPMCX2.
PCI implementations can be done with the PCI2PMC and PCIBPMCX2.
cPCI 3U is supported with the cPCIBPMC3U64
cPCI 6U is supported with the cPCIBPMC6U.
PCI-104 is supported with the PCI104p2PMC.

PMC-OctalUART-232 Features

Size
Std PMC 74mm x 149mm nominal. Low profile components on rear
IO
IO is available via the PMC bezel connector and / or the PMC "user IO" connector Pn4. The IO is properly routed with impedance control. 0 ohm resistors are used to isolate the front and rear panel IO to allow single connector designs to remove the bus stub to the removed connector. Up to 500 KHz RS-232, all standard baud rates.
Clocks
33 MHz PCI, 7.3728 MHz. and 24 MHz MHz oscillator ( other frequencies available), Counters / Dividers / DCM for local clock control.
Interface Types
Custom programmed interfaces are available. Please send us a description, and we can program one for you. Most interfaces can be adapted from our large library of designs withina few weeks including the updated VHDL, Windows or Linux or VxWorks Driver, reference manuals etc. We can support on-site [ours] integration to help you get your application level software working.

Alternatively choose one of the already completed versions and purchase off-the-shelf.
Memory
Spartan 6 - 25 is standard and has BRAMs to create RAM, FIFO etc.
Software Interface
Control registers are read-writeable
Windows®, Linux, VxWorks reference SW and Drivers. Base features common with PMC-OCTPRO-232.
Interrupts
Software programmable interrupts based on UART capabilities. Status can be polled for non-interrupt driven operation as well.
Power Requirement
+5V, 3.3V at PMC connector, converted to 2.5, 1.2 with local DC:DC power supplies for efficient power conversion. 1.8V for FLASH with linear regulator.
LED´s
On rear indicating Main DC/DC [1.2V] is in regulation.
Reliability
TBD million hours. Bellcore. GB 25c

PMC-OctalUART-232 Benefits

Speed
PMC-OctalUART-232 can offload your CPU and increase system speed. 128 byte FIFO´s allow flexibility with transmission and reception storage, Interrupts can offload polling requirements, higher speed IO rates can lower transmit time. Use for system upgrades, replacement of older boards, and relocating processes done in SW to the HW as needed.
Price
System level cost is best when reasonably priced reliable hardware is used and NRE minimized. With PMC-OctalUART-232, driver support, reference software, history of reliable operation, and fantastic client support your cost per unit and overall costs are attractive.
Ease of Use
PMC-OctalUART-232 is designed to be easy to use. Direct access to all features, aligned registers for larger access types, programmable features to allow personalization for your system. Please download the manuals and see for yourself. Reference software is provided in source form to get you started. Caveat: The UART register map is predefined by the IC vendor.
Availability
There are two basic models with front or rear IO types. Both are stocked items. "Stocked" means we utilize our in-house manufacturing capability to keep inventory and can recover quickly if temporarily sold out or larger orders are received. Conformal coating is done on a per order basis.
PMC Specification Compatibility
PMC-OctalUART-232 is compliant per the VITA PMC/CMC specifications. Tested with PCI and PCIe based carriers. All Dynamic Engineering PMC Modules are compatible with the PCIeBPMCX1, PMC-OctalUART-232 will operate with any PMC specification compliant carrier board.

Part Number: PMC-OctalUART-232
Ordering Options

  • PMC-OctalUART-232 Standard board - with RS-232 bezel IO , Industrial temperature components.
  • -RIO Switch to Pn4 [Rear] IO, comes with blank bezel
  • -FRP Both Bezel and RIO options
  • -ROHS Use ROHS processing. Standard processing is ""leaded"
  • -CC Option to add Conformal Coating
  • -XXX See Manuals section for customized versions and replace XXX with type

PMC-OctalUART-232 Drivers

Software Support for PMC-OctalUART-232-XXX includes: Windows, and Linux compliant drivers
Please see the Driver manuals for the specifics of each type.

Drivers and Reference SW are developed for each type / version of PMC-OctalUART-232 implemented. When custom versions are ordered the NRE will include providing Windows, Linux, and or VxWorks packages. For off-the-shelf models, select on the manuals tab, the Windows® and Linux SW shown is included with your purchase of the HW. A small one-time charge is required for the VxWorks versions. Unsupported SW versions may have an NRE requirement.

Integration support is available. Please contact Dynamic Engineering for this option or download the Technical Support Description from the Company button.


PMC-OctalUART-232 Models

PMC-OctalUART-232

8 UART ports each consisting of TX, RX, RTS, CTS, DSR, and DTR with RS-232 signaling levels. Each UART port has 128 byte FIFO for transmit and another 128 byte FIFO for receive. Two reference frequencies to choose from. Options for Bezel and Rear IO. Industrial Temperature components. Option for conformal coating. Option for ROHS processing.


Download the PMC-OctalUART-232 Hardware manual.
Download the PMC-OctalUART-232 Windows Software manual.