CompactPCI busCompactPCI is a high performance bus standard. Its form factor is a rugged Eurocard format that makes compactPCI a very high performance industrial bus standard. Its form factors include rugged 3U or rugged 6U packaging. Each ‘U' refers to 1.75 inches. PXI is an extension of PCI specifications for instrumentation. National Instruments (NI) developed the PXI specifications to extend CompactPCI for automation and measurement systems. Card form factors, card types, operating systems, and extra features are the important specifications while considering compact PCI and PXI standards.

CompactPCI and PXI card form factors

CompactPCI card form factor is expressed as height X length. Height is given in "U" (1.75 inches) while length in millimeters (mm). Mostly used form factors include 3U (110 mm) and 6U(233mm). Bus width of 3U standard is 32 bits and 6U is 64 bits. 3U PXI bus width is also 32 with card size of 100 mm X 160 mm. 6U PXI bus width is 64 bits with card size of 233 mm X 160 mm.

CompactPCI card types

The specifications allow two types of CompactPCI cards. One is single height board while other is double height board. Single height board is 3U card. It is plugged into the backplane through 96-pin J1-connector (DIN connector) at rear side. Double height board is 6U card. It contains two 96-pin DIN connectors (J1 and J2 connectors).

Operating systems options for CompactPCI products

CompactPCI and PXI products vary in terms of operating systems they support. Most commonly used operating systems are Windows® (95, 98, 2000, and NT), Solaris®, QNX®, VxWorks®, disk operating system (DOS), LynxOS®, and Linux.

CompactPCI Features

Features may differ in various CompactPCI and PXI products. For example some CompactPCI and PXI products are hot swappable. Hot swappable means that CompactPCI cards can be plugged or unplugged while the system is running. This does not affect surrounding devices or buses. Some CompactPCI products are FCC (federal communication commissions) certified. Moreover some devices may be CE (Conformity European) marketing system certified.

CompactPCI and PXI products

CompactPCI and PXI products refer to a wide range of peripherals supporting CompactPCI and PXI bus. Some of these products are switches, controllers, processors, extenders, and interface adapters.

CompactPCI and PXI bus interfaces

CompactPCI and PXI bus interfaces are the expansion cards that can be plugged into the compatible system devices. Data transfer rates and number of input / output channels are important specifications. Optional features include memory (RAM, DRAM, SRAM, ROM, EEPROM, FLASH), indicators such as LEDs, and certification from FCC (federal communication commission), and EEA (European economic Area). CompactPCI and PXI bus Interfaces can be integrated with GPIB, SCSI, DviceNet, PCMCIA cards, Ethernet, CANbus, PMC form factors, and several computer operating systems and network protocols.