Form Factors

Most Speedgoat I/O modules come in either the XMC, PMC or CMC form factors. Such Mezzanine Card form factors can be installed in all Speedgoat real-time target machines, either directly or by using carriers. Other I/O modules use the following form factors: PCI, PCI Express (PCIe) and mini PCI Express (mPCIe). The table below depicts the form factors compatible with each real-time target machine.

Being able to use the same I/O-modules across different real-time systems, application areas, and projects increases your return of investment and significantly flattens the learning curve when you embark on a new project with a different machine.

New I/O designs usually first become available in the XMC form factor. Speedgoat real-time target machines are therefore guaranteed to have access to the latest technology, such as on-board multi-gigabit transceivers leveraging FPGAs.

Speedgoat’s XMC, PMC, and CMC I/O modules meet the open standard VITA specifications. VITA compliant technologies are a favorite choice for modular critical embedded computing systems.

PMC is a mezzanine standard leveraging the PCI-bus, and XMC leverages the PCIe bus. CMC I/O modules condition rear I/O lines of FPGA-based I/O modules e.g. from LVCMOS to TTL or RS422.

The appropriate carrier (if required) is always included in the delivery of your selected I/O module.

FPGA-based XMC (PCIe) I/O modules also include dedicated multi-gigabit links (MGTs) for lowest latency data exchange between multiple FPGA-based I/O modules, and external multi-gigabit fiber-optic transceivers (SFPs) to connect with multiple real-time target machines, or to your hardware:

XMC, PMC, and CMC I/O modules are small enough to physically fit directly into the Mobile real-time target machines. P14 and J16 MGT connections are implemented on-board - no additional hardware, carriers, or cabling is required.

For installation into our Performance, and Audio (cPCI/PXI) real-time target machines, PMC/XMC/CMC to PCI/PCIe/cPCI carrier cards are included in delivery:

These carriers also provide the required connections to interface P14 I/O lines of PMC/XMC I/O modules to CMC signal conditioning I/O modules, and to connect J16 connectors of multiple FPGA-based I/O modules.