Abaco Systems / VMIC VMIVME-5532M Master VMEbus Fiber-Optic Repeater Link

The VMIVME-5532M is a master VMEbus fiber-optic repeater link that extends VMEbus system capabilities across long distances using fiber-optic cables. This board operates as one half of a two-board set (paired with a slave board such as the VMIVME-5532S) to enable communication between separate VMEbus chassis, allowing a master CPU in one chassis to control slave I/O boards in another. The link provides total electrical isolation between connected systems, eliminating EMI and delivering high-voltage isolation in electrically noisy or safety-critical environments.

Technical Specifications

• Link Type: Master VMEbus fiber-optic repeater (requires paired slave board)


• VMEbus Compliance: Specification revision C


• Data Transfer Support: 8-, 16-, and 32-bit transfers


• Address Support: 16-, 24-, and 32-bit addressing


• Address Modifiers: 09, 0D, 29, 2D, 39, 3D


• Fiber Cable Length: Up to 6,560 feet (2,000 meters)


• Fiber Type: Multi-mode, 62.5 micron core, 125 micron clad, 900 micron buffer


• Operating Wavelength: 1,300 nm


• Maximum Attenuation: 9.0 dB at 1,300 nm (including connectors)


• Fiber Bandwidth: 500 MHz-km at 1,300 nm


• Connectors: ST type or 2.5 mm bayonet


• Cable Rating: OFNP (U.L./NEC)


• Read Cycle Overhead: 4.0 µs maximum


• Write Cycle Overhead: 4.0 µs maximum


• Minimum Transfer Rate: 1 Mbyte/s (D32, 10-foot cable, 250 ns slave response)

Key Features

• Complete electrical isolation between VMEbus chassis eliminates ground loops and cross-coupling noise


• Software-transparent operation achieves direct master-to-slave communication with zero software overhead


• Unidirectional link control with bidirectional data transfers


• Repeated VMEbus signals: D00–D31, A01–A15, SYSRESET*, SYSCLK, DS0*, DS1*, LWORD*, IACK*, AS*, SYSFAIL*, AM0–AM5, BERR*, WRITE*, DTACK*


• Isolated arbitration signals (BR0*–BR3*, BGIN0*–BGIN3*) remain local to each chassis


• System expansion to 19 × 19 slots using 20-slot backplanes in star configuration


• Supports multiple remote computers accessing shared I/O resources

Typical Applications

• Multi-chassis VMEbus systems requiring galvanic isolation


• High-EMI industrial and power distribution environments


• Systems requiring separation of safety-critical and general I/O domains


• Distributed data acquisition across geographically separated locations

Compatibility & Integration Pairs with VMIVME-5532S slave board. Complies with VMEbus specification revision C for standard signal timing and protocol adherence.