XYCOM 70688‑001 (XVME‑688 / VME‑AT) Detailed Product Description

I. Product Overview

XYCOM 70688‑001 (with the model usually labeled as XVME‑688, also known as VME‑AT) is a 6U single-slot, PC/AT compatible, low-power industrial-grade VMEbus CPU module launched by XYCOM (now part of Artisan Technology Group). It combines the standard IBM PC/AT architecture with the VMEbus industrial bus, featuring low-power CMOS design, Super VGA display, complete PC peripheral interfaces, and is suitable for industrial automation, embedded measurement and control, data acquisition, and x86 embedded systems in harsh environments. It can operate independently or serve as the main controller of a VME system.

II. Hardware Architecture and Mechanical Characteristics

Form Factor: Standard 6U single-width VMEbus size (165.1 mm × 200.02 mm), compliant with IEEE 1014, single-slot installation, compatible with all standard VME chassis and backplanes.

PCB and Structure: Industrial-grade multi-layer reinforced PCB, on-board CPU, DRAM, SVGA controller, IDE/FDD, VME bus interface, serial/parallel ports, PS/2 keyboard/mouse, power management, watchdog, EMI filtering; enhanced shock, vibration resistance and wide temperature design, suitable for high dust, high vibration working conditions.

Front Panel Interfaces: Integrated 1×SVGA video port, 1×DB25 parallel port, 2×DB9 RS‑232 serial ports, 1×DIN‑5 keyboard port, 1×PS/2 mouse port, reset button, 4-channel LED status lights, SYSFAIL switch.

Backplane Connections: Realize bus communication, interrupts and expansion I/O through VME P1/P2 connectors; support VMEbus Slot 1 system functions (SYSCLK, SYSRESET, IACK daisy chain).

Status Indicators: Power, operation, fault, watchdog LEDs, combined with power-on self-test (POST), facilitating quick on-site diagnosis.

III. Core Processor and Memory Configuration

Main Processor: Intel 80386SX 25 MHz (CMOS low-power), 32-bit x86 architecture, 16-bit external data bus, 8KB L1 cache, compatible with PC/AT instruction set, supports real mode and protected mode.

Floating Point Coprocessor: Reserved 80387SX socket, optional for enhanced floating-point operations, suitable for motion control, scientific computing.

Memory Configuration:

DRAM: 70688‑001 is equipped with 1MB by default; 0/4MB is optional; SIMM slots can be upgraded to 16MB, supporting zero wait page cross-access, 60ns DRAM, parity check.

BIOS / Firmware: EPROM/Flash storage system BIOS and VGA BIOS, supports Shadow RAM, can be upgraded on-site.

IV. VME Bus Interface and System Expansion

Bus Standard: Compatible with VMEbus A16/A24/A32 addressing, D08/D16/D32 data transmission; as a 16-bit VMEbus master device, supports Short I/O and standard address space; has master/slave mode, bus arbitration, interrupts (1–7 levels), DMA capabilities. Address Space: Supports a 4GB A32 range, can access all VME slave devices, and is compatible with I/O modules such as XVME-500/600/630/674/686.

Bus Function: Integrated Slot 1 system functions (SYSCLK, SYSRESET, single-level arbitration, bus timer, IACK driver); programmable interrupt enable, bus request / authorization level; supports real-mode window access to VME Short I/O and standard space.

V. I/O Interface and Peripheral Support

Serial Port: 2×RS-232C (DB9), baud rate 50–115.2 kbps, compatible with serial sensors, HMI, and debugging terminals.

Parallel Port: 1×DB25 parallel port (Centronics compatible), supports printers, parallel devices, and high-speed data transmission.

Graphics Display: Integrated Super VGA controller (512KB VRAM), up to 1024×768@60Hz, compatible with standard VGA/SVGA monitors and industrial touch screens.

Storage Interface:

IDE Controller: High-performance, supports IDE hard drives / optical drives, expands large-capacity local storage.

Floppy Disk Controller: Supports 3.5-inch floppy drives, used for firmware upgrade and data backup.

Keyboard / Mouse: DIN-5 keyboard port + PS/2 AUX mouse port, plug-and-play.

Real-time Clock (RTC): Battery-backed RTC, power-off retention time and date, ensuring accurate event recording.

VI. Electrical Characteristics and Operating Environment

Power Supply: VME bus + 5V/±12V power supply, typical power consumption 2.5A (+5V), low power design, low heat dissipation pressure.

Operating Temperature: Standard 0 ℃ to + 60 ℃; optional -40 ℃ to + 85 ℃ wide temperature version, suitable for industrial, vehicle, military, aerospace, etc., harsh environments.

Storage Temperature: -40 ℃ to + 85 ℃.

Humidity: 5%–95% RH (no condensation).

Vibration / Shock: Complies with MIL-STD-810, anti-vibration 5–2000 Hz, 0.015" displacement, suitable for high mechanical stress scenarios.

Electromagnetic Compatibility: Complies with IEC 61000-6-2/4, strong anti-static, pulse group, and surge resistance.

VII. Core Functions and Software Support

Operating System Compatibility: Native support for MS-DOS, Windows 3.x/95, Linux, VxWorks, QNX, compatible with standard PC/AT drivers and applications, mature development ecosystem.

Hardware Watchdog (WDT): Programmable timeout 1–255 seconds, system abnormal automatic reset, ensuring long-term stable operation.

Power-On Self-Test (POST): Automatic CPU, memory, interface, and bus detection upon startup, LED displays results, quickly locates hardware faults.

Interrupt Handling: Supports VME interrupts, local serial and parallel interrupts, timer interrupts, improving I/O response speed and system real-time performance.

Development Support: Provides standard BIOS, drivers, and C language development libraries, supports user secondary development, compatible with customized control logic.

VIII. Typical Application Scenarios

Industrial Process Control: As the main control of VME system, drives analog / digital I/O modules, realizes closed-loop control of temperature, pressure, flow, etc., process parameters.

Embedded Measurement and Control Platform: Embedded control, status monitoring, and data recording in harsh environments such as military, vehicle, rail transit, aerospace. Data Acquisition and Processing: Combined with the XVME-500 series high-speed analog input module, it accomplishes multi-channel high-speed data acquisition, processing, storage, and local SVGA display.

Automation Equipment Control: Semiconductor equipment, testing instruments, robot controllers, providing x86 architecture real-time computing, I/O control, and graphic display core.

Industrial Human-Machine Interface (HMI): Integrating SVGA display and complete PC peripheral interfaces, serving as the embedded HMI core, realizing on-site data visualization and operation control.

IX. Product Advantages

PC/AT Full Compatibility: 386SX + standard PC peripheral interfaces, massive industrial software plug-and-play, fast development, low maintenance cost.

Low Power Consumption and Wide Temperature Reliability: CMOS design, low power consumption, wide temperature operation, reinforced anti-vibration, suitable for long-term continuous operation and harsh conditions.

Highly Integrated SVGA Display: Single slot integrates CPU, memory, SVGA, IDE, serial/parallel ports and VME bus, comprehensive functions, saves space.

Flexible Memory Expansion: Standard 1MB, upgradeable to 16MB, suitable for different program scales and data cache requirements.

Complete VME Master Control Capability: Slot 1 system functions, master/slave mode, bus arbitration, interrupt/DMA complete, single card builds a complete VME system.