GE Fanuc Promotes VITA 56 Mezzanine Standard Working Group
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Huntsville, Ala. - October 14, 2005 - GE Fanuc Embedded Systems, Inc. is announcing that it has been successful in promoting a new mezzanine standard working group referred to as "VITA 56."
VITA 56 is a predominately PCI-express based mezzanine board similar in dimensions to a PCI Mezzanine Card (PMC), allowing it to be used on VME and CompactPCI boards, but borrowing heavily from the functional characteristics of an AMC. These boards will be fully de-pluggable/hot-swappable without removing the carrier, will offer a level of manageability similar to AMC, and will include support for many high-speed serial fabrics.
"There is much work to be done and we will receive help from the VITA community in the development of a specification that all will find beneficial, said David S. Slaton, Sr. Design Engineer for GE Fanuc Embedded Systems. "Right now we are working with preliminary designs and demo boards and hosts. As the proposed specification becomes a reality, we will be requiring many levels of testing to ensure we have complete interoperability."
"VITA's continuing goal is to unite manufacturers and users through the acceptance and implementation of open technology standards," said John Rynearson, VITA Technical Director. "We are very excited about the promise of the VITA 56 working group and appreciate the leadership role that GE Fanuc Embedded Systems has taken in this group."
Envisioned VITA 56-based boards will cover a wide range in terms of their functionality and include the following categories:
oTelecom connectivity (ATM/POS (OC-3/12/48), T1/E1, VoIP, GbE, etc.)
oProcessors (CPUs, DSPs, and FPGAs)
oNetwork communication processors (NPUs)
oNetwork communications co-processors (Classification, Security or Intrusion Detection)
oMass storage
VITA 56 enables a modular building block design for both industry standard and proprietary Host Boards. This specification enables larger markets with more unique functions and creates economies of scale that lower prices.
About VITA
VITA, the VMEbus International Trade Association, is an incorporated, non-profit organization of vendors and users having a common market interest. Founded in 1984, VITA believes in and champions open system architectures as opposed to proprietary system architectures. VITA's activities are international in scope. The functions performed by VITA are technical, promotional and user-related and are aimed at increasing the total market size, providing vendors with additional market exposure and providing users with timely technical information. Today, VITA's mission includes not only promoting VMEbus, but also promoting the very concept of open technology as embodied in the many standards currently under development within the VITA Standards Organization. Virtually all players in all markets from the smallest to the largest now use the word "open" in their company and product promotions. The VITA name is now synonymous with open systems. VITA's continuing goal is to unite manufacturers and users through the acceptance and implementation of open technology standards. For information about VITA membership, or to find out how to obtain VITA specifications, visit the VITA website at www.vita.com or call VITA headquarters at (480) 837-7486.
About GE Fanuc Embedded Systems
GE Fanuc Embedded Systems is part of GE Fanuc Automation, a joint venture between GE and FANUC LTD of Japan. GE Fanuc delivers automation hardware and software designed to help users reduce costs, increase efficiency and enhance profitability. With solutions and services catering to virtually every industrial segment, GE Fanuc Automation provides a diverse array of capabilities and products, including controllers, embedded systems, advanced software, motion control, CNCs, operator interfaces, industrial computers, and lasers. Headquartered in Charlottesville, VA, GE Fanuc Automation is a part of GE Industrial and combines the diverse global strengths of the GE family with the local presence customers need to design, develop and maintain their automation investments.
For more information, visit www.gefanuc.com/embedded or contact: GE Fanuc Embedded Systems, 12090 S. Memorial Pkwy, Huntsville, AL 35803, Phone: (800) 322-3616, Fax: (256) 882-0859, e-mail: info.embeddedsystems@gefanuc.com.
© 2005 GE Fanuc Automation Americas, Inc. All rights reserved.
