What are VME64x Connectors?

Meet the Connector: VME64x Connectors

VME64x is a standard for VMEbus ruggedized, high-performance embedded systems in defense, aerospace, industrial control, and medical imaging.

A superset to the VME64 standard, VME64x (VME64 Extensions) was adopted by the VITA Standards Organization in 1997. VME64x added many new capabilities, including:

• a new 160 pin connector family
• a 95 pin P0/J0 connector
• 3 V power supply pins
• additional +5 VDC power supply pins
• geographical addressing
• higher bandwidth bus cycles (up to 160 Mb/s)
• 141 additional user-defined I/O pins
• rear plug-in units (transition modules)
• live insertion/hot-swap capability
• injector/ejector locking handles
• EMC (electromagnetic compatible) front panels
• ESD (electrostatic discharge) features

Smiths Interconnect VME64x connectors feature round pins to mate with Hypertac contacts.

All legacy VME and VME64 modules are forward compatible to VME64x backplanes and sub-racks, meaning that older bus modules can be plugged into newer systems. VME64x bus modules are also backward compatible, with a few exceptions. For example, if a board requires the +3.3 VDC power supplies, it will not work in an older backplane that doesn’t have these power pins.

Many optional features are described by the VME64x standard; however, boards and backplanes must include a minimum set of features to be considered VME64x-compliant.

6U modules and backplanes must include 160 pin connectors, and all defined grounds must be connected.

In addition, a 6U backplane must include:

• monolithic PCB (i.e., must include both J1 and J2 connectors)
• geographical address pins
• route and terminate all VME64 and VME64x bused signal lines
• power connection and distribution for +5V, +3.3V, +/- 12V, +/- V1, +/- V2, and VPC
• if rear (user defined) I/O pins are supported, then the rear connections must comply with the IEEE 101.11 rear I/O transition board standard

Amphenol Aerospace VME64x connectors feature a robust contact system.

Design Notes

Contacts: 160-pin connector family

Environmental properties: Ruggedization for shock and vibration protection

ept DIN 41612 VME 64x female

Markets and Applications

Defense, Aerospace, Industrial, Medical

Radar systems, C4ISR, flight control computers, electronic warfare, data processing in ground vehicles and naval systems, industrial control, medical imaging

Suppliers

Amphenol Aerospace, Smiths Interconnect, ept, HARTING (Mouser),

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