Issue April 2008
6 U backplane with a mesh topology.
Further backplanes are already in course of preparation.
ELMA, the backplane and base system specialist, is introducing new backplanes in 3 U/6 slot and 6 U/5 slot versions for the VPX standard, to meet the strongly increasing demand for VITA 46/VPX-based solutions.
Further versions are in course of preparation, with at least two still to be launched in the current year.
High growth is anticipated for applications in the aerospace and defence markets, for example, areas which the VPX – with its high shock and vibration resistance – is particularly directed at.
Added to this, different cooling concepts (air flow, conduction cooled or liquid cooling) and interchangeability in the field through the use of special plug connectors offering a high level of protection, opens up a whole range of other fields of application. A further advantage of VPX is its possible upward compatibility to the VME bus, whose signals are connected via the VITA 46 connector. That helps achieve a simple migration between the VMEbus and this new technology.
Designed for maximum performance, the new backplanes comply with current VITA 46 specifications. ELMA’s soundly based development and manufacturing experience in the field of high-tech solutions for fast backplanes has gone into the design.
The results are optimal hardware quality, high long-term stability, and the signal integrity across all slots, confirmed in extensive tests.
I/O support for handling large volumes of data – as required with digital video signals, for mass storage (SATA) and FPGA intelligence (Rocket I/O), for example – is integrated via the high-speed interfaces. Data rates up to 10 Gbps are possible via the serial switched fabrics.

Issue April 2008
The 3 U backplane supports 2 channels at the top of the J1 connector, as this is typical for Gigabit Ethernet traffic in big pipes (four bi-directional links). The remaining channels on J1 and others on J2 are reserved for 24 XAUI-compliant connections, which are fully usable for rear panel I/O functions.
The remaining 24 channels for thin pipes (one or two bidirectional channels) can be used to accommodate PMC or XMC mezzanine cards. Alternatively, they can be used as interfaces, via which the VPX modules can communicate with external devices, networks, displays or memories.
The 3 U backplane also incorporates the Gigabit Ethernet control plane as per VITA 46.20. This sub-specification adds a GigE switch with separate star or dual-star network (out-of-band communication) and can be used for important supplementary functions such as system management, software and firmware upgrades, and to initialize new processes on special boards.
The 6 U version has a 20-layer impedance-controlled layer stack-up. The five slots are connected together by a mesh topology, enabling a bandwidth of over 5,000 MBps.

Germany info@elma.de
Phone: +49 7231 97 34 0
Fax: +49 7231 97 34 97
Stuttgarter Strasse 11, D-75179 Pforzheim
Switzerland
France
Romania
United Kingdom
Israel
Other Countries sales@elma.ch
Phone: +41 44 933 41 11
Fax: +41 44 933 42 15
Hofstrasse 93, Postfach, CH-8620 Wetzikon sales@elma-electronic.fr
Phone: +33 4 37 06 21 10
Fax: +33 4 37 06 21 19
ZA du Buisson Rond, F-38460 Villemoirieu info@elma.ro
Phone: +40 21 3 10 79 98
Fax: +40 21 3 10 79 92
Str. Maltopol 16, RO-011048 Bucuresti sales@elma-mektron.co.uk
Phone: +44 1234 838 822
Fax: +44 1234 836 650
Solutions House, Fraser Road,
Priory Business Park, Bedford, MK44 3BF sales@elma.co.il
Phone: +972 3 930 5025
Fax: +972 3 931 3134
34, Modi'in St., IL- I.Z. Sgula Petach Tikva 49271
Backplanes and System Platforms info@elma.de
Phone: +49 7231 97 34 0
Fax: +49 7231 97 34 97
Stuttgarter Strasse 11, D-75179 Pforzheim
Enclosures & Components,
Switches, Knobs & LEDs sales@elma.ch
Phone: +41 44 933 41 11
Fax: +41 44 933 42 15
Hofstrasse 93, Postfach, CH-8620 Wetzikon
ELMA Electronic is a global manufacturer of products for housing electronic systems.
The company provides everything from components such as modular enclosures, cabinets and backplanes, up to complete standard or custom system platforms.
ELMA also manufactures precision rotary switches. The company offers a fast, flexible response to customer needs and extensive practical knowledge in tailoring solutions to specific applications.