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What's New:
Survey says: VPX is the new VME
Blogs Market Issues
Written by Chris Ciufo    August 20, 2010
A three-month VITA survey says VPX is going to do well, though VME isn’t going away anytime soon. [Editor's note: For further study, our VPX microsite].
 
EXTRA! OpenVPX goes from conflict to collaboration
Blogs VITA Standards
Written by Chris Ciufo    October 19, 2009
It’s all over folks: OpenVPX becomes VITA 65; vendors announce boards and systems. The next generation of the venerable VMEbus is born.

(continues on vmecritial.com)

 
Back to the well: An alternative approach to LRU energy density
Blogs Defense Issues
Written by Chris Ciufo    April 25, 2008

At the recent Components for Military and Space Electronics Conference and Exhibition in San Diego, editor Sharon Schnakenburg and I were introduced to a radical new technology called Imbedded Component/Die Technology that can conceivably provide more than 2x the energy density on a typical 6U VME LRU. I’m extremely encouraged about the possibilities, and several DoD programs, along with the Navy’s Standard Missile program office, agree with me. (And yes, the company intentionally spells “Imbedded” with an “i” for differentiation.)

At the recent Components for Military and Space Electronics Conference and Exhibition in San Diego1, editor Sharon Schnakenburg and I were introduced to a radical new technology called Imbedded Component/Die Technology that can conceivably provide more than 2x the energy density on a typical 6U VME LRU. I'm extremely encouraged about the possibilities, and several DoD programs, along with the Navy's Standard Missile program office, agree with me. (And yes, the company intentionally spells "Imbedded" with an "i" for differentiation.)

(continues on vmecritial.com)

 
The ever-changing business model
Blogs VITA
Written by Ray Alderman    April 25, 2008

Initially, in the board business, there were only three variations in business models: representative sales teams vs. direct sales teams, national versus international sales, and which processor technology you chose to support. Small companies start with outside sales representatives. Once sales in specific areas reach a certain level, those companies can cost effectively change to the direct sales force model and eliminate the outside representatives. If sales goals are not met, the company eliminates the direct people and goes back to the external sales representative model. I have seen this cycle time and again.

Most smaller companies maintain a purely national sales focus and avoid the export paperwork, credit issues, currency exchange, and cultural difference involved in selling in foreign countries. Even smaller companies adopt an international sales model, using foreign distributors and sales representatives. Eventually, they go through the same representative versus direct sales team oscillations.

(continues on vmecritial.com)

 
Is it time for a new mezzanine card standard?
Blogs VITA
Written by Ray Alderman    March 17, 2008
Any discussion about mezzanine cards requires a recap of some industry history. Back in 1990, there were more than 50 mezzanine specifications in the market. That was problematic. The PMC specifications started with the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), with the S-bus electricals from Sun Microsystems. That migrated to using PCI electricals when PCIbus was announced. Additionally, pinouts were added to support processors, PrPMC. When the high-speed differential-serial fabrics were announced, another connector was added to the PMC specification called XMC (Switched-serial Mezzanine Card). Even with this history, we need to start thinking about a new mezzanine standard for the embedded markets. (continues on vmecritical.com)
 
Parameters and assumptions of critical systems
Blogs Market Issues
Written by Chris Ciufo    March 17, 2008
Fresh on the heels of the techno-extravaganza orgy that is the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show, we journalists (and presumably, you engineer and software types) are daydreaming about implementing some cool new features into tomorrow’s critical system designs. But sorry, Charlie – most of this glitzy consumer stuff just won’t cut it in mission-, safety-, and life-critical systems like those for which VME is uniquely suited. Instead, we are begrudgingly forced to stick with what we know and what’s already been proven to meet critical system parameters. It’s time to reacquaint yourself with these key assumptions.

(continues on vmecritical.com)

 
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