Pentek Launches Extensive Line of AMC Products for Signal Processing I/O

Many new defense programs are evaluating AMCs because of the small form factor packages and chassis. The built-in support for the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) and the existing infrastructure of modules, systems and software provide a reliable computing platform strategy for many applications. AMCs keep the performance level high while keeping systems cost down.

The AMC products are derived from the Pentek Cobalt product family based on Xilinx Virtex-6 FPGAs with PCI Express Gen 2 system interfaces, and the Pentek Onyx product family using Xilinx Virtex-7 FPGAs with PCI Express Gen 3 interfaces. I/O functionality in the 56xxx family includes analog-to-digital, digital-to-analog, multiband-digital receivers, upconverters, and transceivers.

Customers have been knocking on our door asking for AMC modules for their signal processing needs, stated Rodger Hosking, vice president of Pentek. We responded by offering our entire line of Onyx and Cobalt products in the AMC form factor, thereby helping customers implement cost-effective systems. The Pentek 56xxx AMC product line will open many new markets for our popular Cobalt and Onyx product families.

Advanced Mezzanine Card (AMC) is the PICMG specification that defines the small form factor modules. AMC modules can be used directly in a MicroTCA chassis creating a powerful data acquisition and processing system in a small footprint. A summary of the available AMC products:

Model 56760: 4-Channel 200 MHz, 16-bit A/D - Virtex-7
Model 56720: 3-Channel 200 MHz A/D and 2-Channel 800 MHz D/A - Virtex-7
Model 56690: L-Band RF Tuner and 2-Channel 200 MHz A/D - Virtex-6
Model 56671: 4-Ch 1.25 GHz, 16-bit D/A with DUC, Extended Interpolation - Virtex-6
Model 56670: 4-Channel 1.25 GHz, 16-bit D/A - Virtex-6
Model 56662: 4-Channel 200 MHz 16-bit A/D with 32-Channel DDC - Virtex-6
Model 56661: 4-Channel 200 MHz 16-bit A/D with DDC - Virtex-6
Model 56660: 4-Channel 200 MHz, 16-bit A/D - Virtex-6
Model 56651: 2-Ch 500 MHz A/D with DDC & 2-Ch 800 MHz D/A with DUC - Virtex-6
Model 56650: 2-Channel 500 MHz A/D and 2-Channel 800 MHz D/A - Virtex-6
Model 56641: 1-Channel 3.6 GHz or 2-Channel 1.8 GHz 12-bit A/D with DDC - Virtex-6
Model 56640: 1-Channel 3.6 GHz or 2-Channel 1.8 GHz 12-bit A/D - Virtex-6
Model 56630: 1 GHz 12-bit A/D and 1 GHz 12-bit D/A - Virtex-6
Model 56621: 3-Ch 200 MHz A/D with DDC & 2-Ch 800 MHz D/A with DUC - Virtex-6
Model 56620: 3-Channel 200 MHz A/D and 2-Channel 800 MHz D/A - Virtex-6
Model 56611: Quad Serial FPDP Interface – Optical or Copper - Virtex-6

Form Factors and Software Support

The AMC modules are designed for commercial air-cooled operating environments. Software support packages are available for Linux and Windows operating systems. For systems that require custom functions, IP can be developed using the Pentek GateFlow FPGA Design Kit, extending or even replacing the factory-installed functions.

Onyx-based AMC products feature the Pentek GateXpress PCIe configuration manager to reconfigure the entire FPGA across PCIe without having to reboot the system.