Telecom Industry Hardware Standards - MicroTCA

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In this issue of Future Technology magazine, Tyco Electronics provides the final article in a series of articles on three industry standards created to support the evolving needs of the Telecommunications industry. Previously, we described the Advanced Telecommunications Computing Architecture (AdvancedTCA) which can be viewed at www.Future-Mag.com/070718, and Advanced Mezzanine Card (AdvancedMC) which can be viewed at www.Future-Mag.com/070909. This article covers the Micro Telecommunications Computing Architecture (MicroTCA) standard, the third industry standard generated by the PICMG organization primarily for the Telecommunication industry.

The MicroTCA standard is a natural evolution following AdvancedTCA and AdvancedMC standards. The AdvancedTCA standard established a chassis based architecture capable of supporting the converging telecommunications industry with standard hardware competitively supplied by multiple vendors. The AdvancedMC standard established a specification for standard mezzanine cards that would support the telecommunication functions required on AdvancedTCA systems. The MicroTCA standard simply established an architecture that supports the use of the same AdvancedMC cards in a system (chassis) of their own. In this standard, a system is established for multiple chassis, backplane, cooling fan, and power supply configurations that support the AdvancedMC cards plugged into those chassis/backplane assemblies. In less demanding applications, such as the network edge, where reduced capacity is required, a MicroTCA chassis enables the latest processing power in a small, economical format.

As was described in last month’s article on AdvancedMC specifications, the cards are available in three heights, so the height of the cards used in a particular application will determine the overall card capacity of a given chassis (number of slots). Figure 1 shows a mock-up chassis with compact, mid size, and full size AdvancedMC cards.

 

 

The advantage the MicroTCA standard brings is that equipment can be built using this standard for a wide range of complexity and capacity. Concepts exist for systems ranging from minimal system functionality of a Pico shelf with only 2 AdvancedMC cards up to complex systems consisting of a two tier shelf with 24 AdvancedMC cards.

The connectors required for the MicroTCA specification include the two piece power connector used to connect the power supply module to the backplane and the one piece card edge style connector used to connect the AdvancedMC cards to the backplane. Both of these connectors can be seen in Figure 2, which is the backplane for the MicroTCA chassis shown in Figure 1.

 

 

The power connector can be seen in Figure 3. The connector features 24 Universal Power Modules (UPM), hot pluggable power contacts and 72 positions of 2mm HM signal and low power contacts. The Tyco Electronics part numbers are 1469920-x, 1469921-1 and 1469922-x. The dash numbers are for different metallization on the compliant pin, press-fit tails.

 

 

The high speed backplane connector is shown in Figure 4. This connector is a one piece card edge design. The connector has 170 positions, supports 12.5 Gigabits per second speed and installs to the backplane with press-fit contacts. The interconnection between the AdvancedMC card and the connector is via circuit traces at the back of the AdvancedMC card that are received into the connector. Electrical models are available. The Tyco Electronics part number is 1469820-x. Again, the dash numbers allow for different metallization and mounting features.

 

 

All of the connectors discussed above are specified by the PICMG MicroTCA standard, but there are many additional connectors utilized on typical MicroTCA systems. These include Input/Output connectors, stacking/mezzanine connectors, sockets, etc.

Among the many Input/Output connectors utilized are the RJ45 Mod Jacks, MRJ21, EVERCLEAR (MiniSAS and MiniSATA), HSSDC, HSSDC2, INFINIBAND, BNC, SFP and SFP+, as well as many other connectors. Tyco Electronics’ RJ45 family of stacked and ganged connectors has been specially modified to fit onto AdvancedMC faceplates. See Table 1 for a list of part numbers and options.

 

 

Tyco Electronics offers a complete portfolio of Input/Output connectors tailored to meet MicroTCA and AdvancedTCA applications.

One function that is often required on an AdvancedMC module is memory. However, the commonly used industry standard SO DIMM sockets are too wide to fit on AdvancedMC applications. Tyco Electronics has modified SO DIMM memory sockets so they fit on AdvancedMC modules. This enables the use of existing industry standard memory modules. Tyco Electronics offers two heights of SO DIMM sockets that fit on AdvancedMC boards: 5.2mm and 9.2mm, and both are available either standard or reverse keyed. These sockets can be seen in Figure 5 and are Tyco Electronics P/Ns 1981281-4, 1981276-4, 1981287-4, and 1981284-4.

 

 

Tyco Electronics continues to be actively involved with these industry standards, developing the specified connectors as well as adapting current industry standard connectors so that they can be applied and used in these applications.

 

AdvancedMC, AdvancedTCA, MicroTCA, and PICMG are trademarks of the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group.

INFINIBAND is a trademark of the InfiniBand Trade Association.

EVERCLEAR, MRJ21, TE logo and Tyco Electronics are trademarks. Other products, logos, and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

 

 

 Featured Products

Part Number		Description	Data Sheet	App. Notes
1888250-1		PCB Mounted Jack - Single Port, Multi-port and Stacked
1888250-2		PCB Mounted Jack - Single Port, Multi-port and Stacked
1888250-3		PCB Mounted Jack - Single Port, Multi-port and Stacked
1888250-4		PCB Mounted Jack - Single Port, Multi-port and Stacked
1888251-1		PCB Mounted Jack - Single Port, Multi-port and Stacked
1888251-2		PCB Mounted Jack - Single Port, Multi-port and Stacked
1888251-3		PCB Mounted Jack - Single Port, Multi-port and Stacked
1888251-4		PCB Mounted Jack - Single Port, Multi-port and Stacked

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