PMC-OctalUART-232

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.
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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.