Defines standards for VPX connectors that support higher data rates, to at least 25 Gbaud.

Embedded Tech Trends 2021, January 25, 2021 — VITA, the trade association for standard computing architectures serving critical and intelligent embedded computing systems markets, announces the ratification of the following standards:

• ANSI/VITA 46.30-2020 Higher Data Rate VPX Standard by ANSI and VITA
• VITA 46.31-2020-VDSTU Higher Data Rate, Solder Tail VPX Standard by VITA.

These standards define VPX connectors that support higher data rates, to at least 25 Gbaud – for protocols such as 100GBASE-KR4 Ethernet and PCIe Gen 4. Connectors compliant to VITA 46.30 or VITA 46.31 are intermateable to legacy VITA 46.0 connectors and follow the same form factor. ANSI/VITA 46.30-2020 was ratified under the VITA and ANSI processes reaching full recognition under guidance of VITA. VITA 46.31-2020 was ratified under the VITA processes as a VITA Draft Standard for Trial Use while the connector undergoes further validation testing.

"The industry has been driving higher speeds in VPX architecture for several years," said Mike Walmsley, product manager at TE Connectivity and Chair of the VITA 46.30 and VITA 46.31 working groups. “These new standards leverage the connector development that provides signal integrity for the next generation protocols, while maintaining intermateability."

Initially, the VPX performance roadmap evolved from its initial signaling rates of 3.125 Gbaud to over 10 Gbaud through advances in board technology and system design. Higher data rate protocols continued to be designed into OpenVPX systems, enabled by processor technology advancements supporting higher signal speeds and more cores. But newer protocols such as PCIe Gen 4 and 100GBASE-KR4 Ethernet are being implemented and these protocol standards have roadmaps for higher data rates, in some cases doubling every 2-3 years. As signaling rates increased above 10 Gbaud, the VPX slot connector needed to evolve to support signal integrity requirements in the channel. The VITA 46.30 and VITA 46.31 standards define such higher performance connectors.

A key physical difference between the original VITA 46.0 connector and the new higher data rate connectors defined in ANSI/VITA 46.30 is a smaller pin size at the board termination. Compliant pins are reduced in size to reduce crosstalk and minimize impedance discontinuity at the connector/PCB interface. The VITA 46.31 standard uses solder tails instead of smaller compliant pins for the high speed signals, terminated in microvias in the PCB to further aid in signal integrity. The format of these standards follows VITA 46.0, and because the connectors meet the same form factor and are intermateable, most sections refer to the baseline VITA 46.0 standard.

The ANSI/VITA 46.30-2020 and VITA 46.31-2020-VDSTU standards are available for purchase at the VITA Online Store (www.vita.com/Purchase).

About VITA

Founded in 1984, VITA is an incorporated, non-profit organization of suppliers and users who share a common market interest in critical embedded systems. VITA champions open system architectures. Its activities are international in scope, technical, promotional, and user-centric. VITA aims to increase total market size for its members, expand market exposure for suppliers, and deliver timely technical information. VITA has American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) accreditation to develop standards (VME, VXS, VPX, OpenVPX, VPX REDI, XMC, FMC, FMC+, VNX, Reliability Community, etc.) for embedded systems used in a myriad of critical applications and harsh environments. For more information, visit www.VITA.com.

VITA and the VITA, VMEbus Technology, VXS, VPX, OpenVPX, VPX REDI, XMC, FMC, FMC+, VNX, and Reliability Community logos are trademarks of VITA in the United States and other countries. Other names and brands may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Source: VITA