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The G215 is a universal interface board based on 3U CompactPCI Serial. The physical layer can be realized individually for each channel by means of SA-Adapters.

SA-Adapters are small universal boards providing the line drivers for legacy serial I/O, fieldbus interfaces and other small I/O functions. Most SA-Adapters use 9-pin D-Sub connectors which are accessible at the front panel. Alternatively, the adapter can be connected to the front panel via ribbon cable. The SA concept allows to add additional I/O interfaces to the G215, enhancing flexibility with regard to the line transceivers and isolation requirements.

Two SA-Adapters can be mounted directly on the G215, the other maximum six adapters need more front-panel space and are connected to the carrier via ribbon cable. The G215 comes in a standard configuration with five pre-defined functions on 8 HP: two CAN interfaces, two UARTs and one 8-channel digital I/O interface. SA-Adapters are not included in the delivery, because different types are available, e.g. for the UARTs. They can be ordered as needed.

The board’s I/O functions are realized by means of an FPGA, making it a very flexible, inexpensive solution for dedicated serial I/O. The card can become “everything” from a customized I/O combination to a specialized 8-port CAN card or even an intelligent I/O board including a Nios soft core, on 4, 8 or 12 HP. As an option, further I/O signals, including high-speed interfaces, can be accessed via rear I/O on CompactPCI Serial connectors P3 and P4. The FPGA is loaded automatically after power-up from a 4 MB serial Flash. It is also possible to access this Flash to update its contents.

Up to 64 MB DDR2 SDRAM are optionally available for complementing the functions of the FPGA. This DRAM can be used for example as a large buffer memory for more complex protocols.

The G215 is designed for use in rugged environments. For example, all components are soldered-on and are specified for an operating temperature of -40°C to +85°C.

The MEN G229 is an I/O expansion board for CompactPCI Serial for adding often required functions to a CPU board on a single slot. It can be used, e.g., as a main boot device for a server CPU.

The board is designed and tested for the railway and industrial market. It provides 3 USB 3.2 Gen 1×1 ports and isolated RS232 and RS422/485 interfaces, for either service or continuous operation in a railway or industrial environment.

For data storage or as a boot medium an M.2 slot supporting NVMe is provided on the board. It provides a fast boot time as it is connected via a PCI Express x1 link.

The G229 is a low-power solution for the extended temperature range.

Digital I/O for Railway

The G403 is a digital I/O CompactPCI Serial board especially designed for railway applications. The card is used for input/output of digital signals with different voltage levels and ground references. It supports 16 bidirectional binary input/output channels, which are separated into four optically isolated groups.

EN 50155 Compliance

Its voltage range from 14.4 VDC to 154 VDC and its current output of 1 A at 24 V complies with EN 50155, which makes the board ready for immediate use in train applications.

Safety Measures for Mobile Environments

The four front connectors are implemented by using spring cage terminal blocks causing only low wiring outlay and supporting fast installation. The digital railway I/O supports all safety measures necessary for mobile environments like trains including voltage and temperature supervision and readback of outputs.