Backplanes provide express performance

Butterfly-form-factor backplanes support SHB Express system host boards and a variety of PCI Express option cards.

Two new PICMG 1.3, butterfly-form-factor backplanes from Trenton support SHB Express system host boards and a variety of PCI Express (PCIe) option cards.

The BPG6741 and BPX6736 are optimised for use in 2U chassis systems that operate in graphics-class or server-class embedded computing applications.

"System designers can now incorporate the technical and commercial advantages provided by the PICMG 1.3 architecture and COTS PCI Express option cards into rugged, 2U chassis applications", says Brad Trent, Director of Engineering at Trenton.

"Many 2U chassis are deployed in diverse applications such as ship-board, airborne, industrial automation and telecom embedded computing systems where rack space is at a premium".

"The 2U backplanes support chassis designs that are optimised to function within these space constraints".

A new feature on the Trenton BPG6741 and BPX6736 is the USB audio controller.

USB audio takes advantage of the optional USB routings between a PICMG 1.3 SHB and the backplane.

These USB routings are located on edge connector C of the system host board and are defined in the PICMG 1.3 specification.

This key feature allows a designer to implement system audio with a minimum of cables and without the added expense of an audio option card.

USB audio also has the net effect of freeing up an option card slot.

The additional card slot gained by using USB audio allows the chassis designer to provide additional functionality in the 2U embedded computing system.

For increased reliability and reduced system mean time to repair (MTTR), all Trenton's PICMG 1.3 compatible backplanes have every system power supply connection located on the backplane, including the +12V auxilliary power connection.

All Trenton backplanes are engineered to ensure that controlled impedance conditions exist regardless of the application's option card loading requirements.

The specific slot configurations for Trenton's BPG6741 and BPX6736 backplanes are as follows.

The two sides of the BPG6741 graphics-class 2U butterfly-form-factor PCI Express backplane are identified as side A and side B.

Side A of the backplane supports one PICMG 1.3 SHB and one x16 PCI Express option card slot.

This slot is driven by a x16 PCIe link from a graphics-class system host board and is designed to support x16 PCI Express option cards such as those used in video, graphics and vision inspection systems.

Side A also includes the USB audio interface.

Side B includes two x8 PCIe slots driven with x1 links from an SHB like a Trenton MCG-series system host board.

Like the BPG6741, the two sides of the BPX6736 are also identified as side A and side B.

Side A of the BPX6736 server-class backplane supports one PICMG 1.3 SHB, one x16 and one x8 PCI Express option card slot.

These two option card slots are each driven with a x8 PCIe link from a server-class system host board.

The side A slots of the BPX6736 are designed to support two PCI Express option cards where multiple high-bandwidth, server-class option cards are needed in the application.

Side A also includes the USB audio interface.

Side B includes two x8 PCIe slots driven with x1 links from an SHB like a Trenton MCX-series system host board.

The backplanes are available now, and typical BPG6741 and BPX6736 pricing starts at US $316.

Back to top