Index to Presentations (All presentations are posted as soon as possible after
they are received. Presentation titles not linked have not yet been received from
the presenter. All presentations are in pdf format unless otherwise noted.)
Bob Downing called the meeting to order at 8:35 AM and asked the members to introduce themselves. After introductions the minutes from the September meeting were approved as written. Bob asked the members to review the agenda. Larry Thompson, CRANE, noted that Gerry Thomas and Don Tilton were not at the meeting due to an illness and that the “Spray Cooling” presentation would be reschedule for the January meeting. Several other changes were made and the agenda was approved.
Bob asked for announcements. John Rynearson presented the VSO patent policy and asked for patent disclosures. No patent disclosures were made.
Ray Alderman gave the VITA report. He noted that sponsorship for the Bus&Board conference was up significantly. He encouraged VSO members to make their hotel reservations immediately to insure that they could get the B&B rate. He also noted that special deals were available from the airlines that could significantly reduce airfares. Ray reviewed the status of the patent dispute with Nortel. VITA feels that much prior art exists for the patents in question and has made Nortel aware of the prior art. Ray noted that Nortel has acknowledged prior art re: the Brombal RF shielding patent.
John Rynearson gave the canvass ballot report. See attached presentation. An extension was granted in the case of VITA 29, PC*MIP, to allow the group to resolve the front panel EMF gasket issue. The pre-canvass ballot solicitation process for VITA 30.1, 2mm Equipment Practice for Conduction Cooled Eurocard Systems, has started. Anyone with a direct and material interest in VITA 30.1 should contact John Rynearson regarding the balloting procedure. Membership in VITA is not a requirement. John noted that ANSI/VITA 6-1994, SCSA, was also up for its 5 year review and that the reaffirmation ballot would start shortly.
John reviewed that status of several Nortel patents. See attached presentation. All patents of interest are available from VITA’s web site at the following URL: http://www.vita.com/vso/patents/
Wayne Fischer reviewed the status of IEEE P1386, CMC, and P1386.1, PMC. The recirculation ballot has been submitted to the IEEE and has been received by several members.
*** BREAK ***
Jack Sheldon, IEC, gave a presentation on Industry Technical Agreements (ITA’s). See ITA web link. The group discussed the advantages and disadvantages of ITA’s versus ANSI standards and consortium specifications. Ray Alderman discussed his ideas on developing a common Java standard by using ITA’s to bring various factions together. After more discussion the membership decided to review the current VSO Policies and Procedures to determine what revisions would be required to allow other standardization options. John Rynearson will present a draft proposal at the January meeting.
*** LUNCH ***
Mike Thompson, Pentair, reported on VITA 31, Serial I/O on 2mm Connectors. Mike noted that a specification for using gigabit ethernet on a backplane was being developed in PICMG and suggested that the VSO should consider developing a similar specification on the P0 connector. Mike asked if the members were interested in this idea. Mike Macpherson, MITRE, said that he would take a look at it and report back to the VSO.
John Rynearson asked members for their thoughts regarding putting VME on a 2mm Eurocard. Jim Koser, FCI, said that he thought it was a good idea. Dick Somes, Force, presented the VME64x pin assignments that were part of a PICMG specification. After more discussion the group decided to review this idea again at the January meeting.
John Rynearson noted that ANSI/VITA 1-1994, VME64 was up for its five year reaffirmation/revision review. He discussed two issues that might require revision. One request was to change the +/- 12 volt noise specification to meet power supply specification that are commercially available. The other request involved changing rules 6.13 and 6.17 to accommodate the lower 48 mA drive current in the VMEbus interface chip being developed by the VITA 2.1 task group. The group discussed these issues and decided to review specific proposals at the January meeting. See attached presentation.
Frank Hom, APW/Electronic Solutions, presented the work he had done on VITA 34, A Framework for a Modular Architecture, to model the system “brick” proposal discussed at the September VSO meeting. See attached presentation. Frank said he would present more details at the January meeting.
Mike Macphearson, MITRE, reviewed the comments from the latest VITA 20, Conduction Cooled PMC, task group ballot. The hole dimension issue appears to be resolved and the group will hold another task group ballot.
Mike Thompson discussed the status of VITA 38, System Mgmt Bus for VME. Mike asked for comments since he has not received any from the last meeting.
Bob Sullivan, Hybricon, presented the results of the latest VITA 2.1, VMEbus Interface Chip, simulations. While the results look good, the task group asked TI to try to improve the symmetry of the rising and falling edges.
The meeting was adjourned for the evening.
Bob Downing called the meeting to order at 8:45 AM.
Task Group Meetings
Bob Sullivan, Hybricon, reviewed the results of the morning’s VITA 2.1, VMEbus Interface Transceiver, meeting. The group has asked TI to try to reduce the skew and characterize the value contributed by the chip. The group plans to have a teleconference meeting next Tuesday to discuss the results. The group also approved making it mandatory to use the VITA 2.1, VMEbus Interface Transceiver for 2eVME and 2eSST protocols.
Ron Taulton, Systran, reported that the latest VITA 17.1, Serial FPDP, draft was almost complete and would be posted for review shortly.
Greg Novak, Motorola, was not present to review VITA 32 ballot results. Mac Rush, Motorola, led a short discussion of the major issues.
Plenary Reports
VITA 1.4, System Level Live Insertion for VME64x. Mike Thompson, Pentair, has circulated a draft to various interested parties. Comments will be used for the next update - probably by the January meeting.
VITA 2.1, VMEbus Interface Transceiver. The chip will possibly go to layout within the next 6 weeks. Engineering samples would be available within 3-4 months after that. Contact Steve Blozis, TI, sblozis@ti.com if you are interested in getting engineering samples for testing.
VITA 20, Conduction Cooled PMC. Mike Macphearson reported that the draft will be updated and circulated for what is hoped to be a final task group ballot.
VITA 30.2, Separable Power Connector Equipment Practice. Elwood Parsons, Tyco, reported that the several corrections would be made and a new draft would be released for task group ballot.
VITA 34, A Framework for a Modular Architecture. Bob Downing said that he would update the current white paper.
VITA 37, PIRMA. Mike Macphearson reported that he would try to get some of the telecom standards to see how they would fit with existing military requirements. PIRMA stands for Product Integrity Requirements for Mission critical Applications and is an attempt to discover similarities between telecom and military requirements.
VITA 38, System Mgmt Bus. Mike Thompson ask members to review the current draft as posted on the VITA web site and provide him with comments.
John Rynearson reviewed the meeting schedule for 2001.
January 17,18 – San Diego
March 21-22 – Orlando
May 16-17 – Scottsdale
July - ???
September – Scottsdale
November – Scottsdale
The places and dates through May are confirmed. Dates and places for the July, September, and November meetings are not yet confirmed.
There being no further business, Bob Downing adjourned the meeting.