XYCOM 70688‑011 (XVME‑688 / VME‑AT) Detailed Product Description

I. Product Overview

XYCOM 70688‑011 (model XVME‑688, commonly known as VME‑AT) is a 6U single-slot, PC/AT compatible, wide-temperature ruggedized VMEbus CPU module launched by XYCOM (now part of Artisan Technology Group). It is the 4MB memory version of 70688‑001. It integrates the industrial reliability of VME bus with the software ecosystem of IBM PC/AT, featuring low-power CMOS, SVGA display, complete PC peripherals, wide-temperature operation, and is targeted at x86 control scenarios in industrial automation, embedded measurement and control, military/aerospace, etc., under harsh environments.

II. Hardware Architecture and Mechanical Characteristics

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

PCB and Structure: Industrial-grade multi-layer rugged PCB, board-mounted CPU, DRAM, SVGA controller, IDE/FDD, VME bus, serial/parallel ports, PS/2 keyboard/mouse, power management, hardware watchdog, EMI filtering; enhanced anti-vibration, anti-shock 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: Achieve bus communication, interrupts and extended 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 rapid on-site diagnosis.

III. Core Processor and Memory Configuration

Main Processor: Intel 80386SX 25MHz (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: 70688‑011标配 4MB (70688‑001 is 1MB)， SIMM slots can be upgraded to 16MB， supports 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 Standards： 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, automotive, 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 5–2000Hz, 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 exception 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, automotive, rail transit, aerospace. Data Acquisition and Processing: Combined with the XVME-500 series high-speed analog input module, it enables 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

4MB Standard Memory: Compared to version 001, the 4MB standard allows for direct execution of larger programs and complex data processing without additional upgrades.

PC/AT Full Compatibility: 386SX + standard PC peripheral interfaces, massive industrial software plug-and-play, quick 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, space-saving.

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