An alternate connector specification for VPX was recently ratified by ANSI under ANSI/VITA 60-2012. This specification describes an alternate connector for VPX as specified in VITA 46.0, VPX Baseline Standard. VITA 60 offers an option for VPX applications where greater resistance to environmental conditions is needed. The connector is designed to meet the demanding requirements of the next generation of rugged military and aerospace applications
The alternate connector is based on the Amphenol VIPER™ connector, a powerful new backplane and daughtercard interconnect platform providing 63 differential signals per linear inch. The VIPER™ connector has been designed to meet the demanding requirements of the next generation of rugged military and aerospace applications.
VITA 60 offers a connector that is an intermountable (mounts in same PWB layout) alternative to the VITA 46 connector. This intermountable technology leverages the benefits of established VPX PWB configurations and the industry’s broad offerings of high-speed card products. This approach also leverages the modularity of the connector for many custom configurations as well as the standard 3U and 6U formats for both top side and Rear Transition Module (RTM) formats.
The challenge with this connector is that it is not intermateable with the existing connector called for in the original VPX specification. There certainly is a need, but how well this connector will be accepted in the marketplace will only be determined over time.
The standard document is available from VITA.
