VMIC PCI-5565 Reflective Memory Card – High Speed Data Sharing

The VMIC PCI-5565 is a high-performance reflective memory card designed for PCI-based systems. This card enables high-speed, deterministic data sharing between multiple distributed nodes, with automatic memory replication across all connected nodes. Its high-speed interface and low latency make it ideal for simulation, distributed control, and data acquisition applications where real-time data exchange is critical.

Reflective memory technology allows any write to the local memory to be automatically propagated to all other nodes in the network with extremely low latency, eliminating the need for complex software communication protocols and offloading the host CPU. The PCI-5565 supports fiber-optic or copper interconnect options for flexible system integration.

Key Features

• Reflective Memory Architecture: Automatic data replication across all network nodes.

• High Speed: Supports data rates up to 170 MB/s or more.

• Low Latency: Typical propagation delays of less than 1 microsecond.

• PCI Bus Compatibility: Standard PCI form factor for easy system integration.

• Scalable Network: Supports up to 256 nodes in multi-drop or daisy-chain topology.

• Fiber-optic or Copper Options: Flexibility for distance and noise immunity requirements.

• Diagnostic Features: Built-in error detection and network status monitoring.

Technical Specifications

The PCI-5565 features onboard reflective memory, typically ranging from 128 MB to 512 MB, mapped into the PCI address space. Data transfers are performed using hardware DMA engines that offload the host CPU. The card supports standard PCI 32-bit/33 MHz or 64-bit/66 MHz interfaces. Interconnect options include multi-mode or single-mode fiber-optic cables for distances up to several kilometers, or copper cables for shorter distances.

Applications

• Distributed Simulation: Flight simulators, power grid simulators, vehicle dynamics.

• Distributed Control: Synchronizing multiple controllers in industrial plants.

• Data Acquisition: Merging data from multiple acquisition systems.

• Test and Measurement: Coordinating distributed test instruments.

• Radar and Sonar Processing: Sharing processed data across multiple boards.

Integration and Configuration

Installing the PCI-5565 is straightforward: the card plugs into any standard PCI slot. Each node is assigned a unique ID, and the network topology is configured via software. Once initialized, memory writes are automatically replicated to all nodes. Drivers for VxWorks, Linux, and Windows are available, with a comprehensive API for application development.

Benefits

• Real-Time Performance: Deterministic, low-latency data sharing.

• Reduced CPU Load: Automatic data replication offloads the host processor.

• Scalability: Easily expand the network to include more nodes.

• Noise Immunity: Fiber optic transmission ensures data integrity.

• Flexibility: Choice of fiber or copper for diverse applications.

Conclusion

The VMIC PCI-5565 reflective memory card provides a powerful, efficient solution for high-speed data sharing in PCI-based systems, making it indispensable for simulation, distributed control, and data acquisition applications.