FPGA boards featuring NanoRF module released by Annapolis Micro Systems, TE Connectivity
NewsJuly 12, 2018
ANNAPOLIS, Md. Annapolis Micro Systems and TE Connectivity teamed up to release three new high performance FPGA [field-programmable gate array] boards featuring the NanoRF module, which is designed to fit into the VITA 67.3 form factor and supports 70 GHz bandwidth, with more than double the RF contact density of existing VITA 67 solutions.
The commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) boards integrate up to two Xilinx Virtex UltraScale+ FPGAs and a Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC motherboard controller. Each board also has one (3U) or two (6U) WILD FMC+ (WFMC+™) next generation I/O site(s), for dense, high-bandwidth ADCs and/or DACs.
The NanoRF design leverages the alignment features of optical (VITA 66) modules. A floating insert on the backplane pre-aligns the RF contact array before the contacts start to engage. This rugged precision alignment is critical in blindmate plug-in architecture, which requires high reliability under extreme conditions.
TE gave Annapolis early access to the NanoRF with widespread launch expected to take place in August.
The FPGA boards are designed for advanced high performance computing (HPC) and electronic warfare (EW) applications, including DRFM, beamforming, sensor processing, wireless communication, and radar signal processing.
