HIGH WYCOMBE, UK– April 21, 2011 — Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing (CWCEC), a business group of Curtiss-Wright Controls and a leading designer and manufacturer of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) VME, VPX, VXS, and CompactPCI products for the aerospace and defense market, has introduced a new rugged FPGA Mezzanine Card (FMC/VITA 57) module, the FMC-516 is a quad channel 250 MSPS 16-bit analog input card that enables I/O devices to be directly coupled to a host FPGA. By providing direct ADC connection to the host FPGA, this compact card ensures maximum throughput and enables multiple channels and boards to be synchronized. The FMC-516 speeds and simplifies the integration of FPGAs into embedded system designs. The low latency, high-bandwidth module eliminates data bottlenecks. The card is designed for use in demanding military applications such as Signal Intelligence (SIGINT), Electronic Counter Measures (ECM) and RADAR that require high-speed ADC components as part of a digital receiver.
“Previous generations of FMCs could optimize for speed or for resolution, but not for both. By maximizing speed and resolution, the FMC-516 raises the performance bar for the next generation of FMCs.” said Lynn Bamford, vice president and general manager Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing. “For critical applications such as radar, optimizing speed and resolution directly equates into significantly greater range and sensitivity, this can mean detecting hostile targets sooner.”
The FMC format is supported on a wide range of CWCEC FPGA-based host boards, which are designed to process the FMC-516’s I/O data with high bandwidth, low latency paths.
“In addition to providing the front-end data acquisition, with high-speed/high resolution FMC cards such as the FMC-516, Curtiss-Wright Controls is also deploying fully integrated system-wide image and data processing solutions, to deliver a higher level of solution that our customers require from a market and technology leader,” added Ms. Bamford.
The FMC-516’s four (4) ADC devices connect through the module’s high bandwidth FMC connector to an FPGA-based host board to maximize data throughput and minimize latency. The FMC-516 supports an onboard programmable sample clock generator as well as an external reference input. Multiple FMC-516 boards can be synchronized to increase the number of input channels through the use of trigger input/output signals directly under the control of the FPGA.
Analog Input
The FMC-516 supports four (4) analog inputs through its 50Ω MMCX type front panel connectors. The analog inputs are single-ended and are coupled to the ADCs using a balun and AC coupling capacitor configuration to produce the broadband differential input required by the devices.
The FMC-516, available in both air-cooled and conduction-cooled rugged versions, is easily and quickly integrated onto open standards-based FPGA host boards such as CWCEC’s Xilinx® Virtex®-5 FPGA processor-based FPE650 (Quad FPGA VPX), HPE720 (MPC8641D/dual FPGA VPX) and FPE320 (3U FPGA VPX) boards.
FMC-516 Key Features:
- Quad 250 MSPS 16-bit ADCs
- 700 MHz input bandwidth
- Onboard programmable sample clock
- FMC/VITA 57 form factor
- Air- or conduction-cooled rugged versions
Software Support
The FMC-516 is supported with CWCEC’s FusionXF/HDL development kit. The development kit includes software, HDL and utilities with examples and infrastructure for using the FMC-516 on each supported host. The FusionXF development kit provides a framework for adding new IP functionality or capabilities to the FPGA. It facilitates the inclusion of signal processing blocks, such as digital down converters, to make HDL development easier and system integration more straightforward.
About FMC (VITA 57)
FMC modules enable I/O devices that reside on an industry standard (VITA 57) mezzanine card to be attached to, and directly controlled by FPGAs that reside on a host board. About half the size of a PMC mezzanine module, FMCs provide a small footprint, reduced I/O bottlenecks, increased flexibility, and reduced cost through the elimination of redundant interfaces. To maximize data throughput and minimize latency, the FMC connector provides numerous I/O pins that support high-speed signals for moving data between the FMC and the FPGA.
For pricing information, please contact the factory. Availability is Q2 2011.
About Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing
Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing is the industry’s most comprehensive and experienced single source for embedded solutions, ranging from Processing, Subsystems, Data Communication, DSP, and Video & Graphics to the most advanced board level components and fully integrated custom systems. The Embedded Computing group serves the defense, aerospace, commercial and industrial markets and is part of Curtiss-Wright Controls Inc. For more information about Curtiss-Wright visit www.cwcembedded.com.
About Curtiss-Wright Controls, Inc.
Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Curtiss-Wright Controls is the motion control segment of Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE: CW). With manufacturing facilities around the world, Curtiss-Wright Controls is a leading technology-based organization providing niche motion control products, subsystems and services internationally for the aerospace and defense markets. For more information, visit www.cwcontrols.com.
