Shelf-Management Module For AdvancedTCA, CompactPCI Increases Reliability

Nov. 24, 2003

By incorporating modularity, the 3U by 160-mm IPM (intelligent platform module) Sentry carrier cards for AdvancedTCA and CompactPCI systems help ensure five-nines reliability. The IPM Sentry will be integrated in Elma Electronic's standard chassis...

Roger Allan

Developed in conjunction with Pigeon Point Systems, the module goes beyond the basic monitoring of voltages, fans, and temperature of standard system monitors. It also adjusts the speed of the fans depending on the temperature within the chassis. And, it reads the tachometer input for up to eight fans, using a pulse-width-modulation output to control fan speed.

The unit maintains a system event log and a sensor data record, which can be accessed by the IPM controller. The IPM Sentry collects information on field-replaceable units like hot-swap peripheral boards. It even sends out remote alarms via RS-232 or 10/100 Ethernet lines.

The IPM Sentry will include optional integration. Bustronic, Elma's backplane division in the U.S., has incorporated IPM Sentry connection options into many of its new backplane solutions, including AdvancedTCA and PICMG 2.16 cPSB. Pricing starts at under $1500 with a two- to four-week lead time.

Elma Electronicwww.elma.com (510) 490-7388, ext. 516

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About the Author

Roger Allan

Roger Allan is an electronics journalism veteran, and served as Electronic Design's Executive Editor for 15 of those years. He has covered just about every technology beat from semiconductors, components, packaging and power devices, to communications, test and measurement, automotive electronics, robotics, medical electronics, military electronics, robotics, and industrial electronics. His specialties include MEMS and nanoelectronics technologies. He is a contributor to the McGraw Hill Annual Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. He is also a Life Senior Member of the IEEE and holds a BSEE from New York University's School of Engineering and Science. Roger has worked for major electronics magazines besides Electronic Design, including the IEEE Spectrum, Electronics, EDN, Electronic Products, and the British New Scientist. He also has working experience in the electronics industry as a design engineer in filters, power supplies and control systems.

After his retirement from Electronic Design Magazine, He has been extensively contributing articles for Penton’s Electronic Design, Power Electronics Technology, Energy Efficiency and Technology (EE&T) and Microwaves RF Magazine, covering all of the aforementioned electronics segments as well as energy efficiency, harvesting and related technologies. He has also contributed articles to other electronics technology magazines worldwide.

He is a “jack of all trades and a master in leading-edge technologies” like MEMS, nanolectronics, autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, military electronics, biometrics, implantable medical devices, and energy harvesting and related technologies.