Abaco Systems / VMIC VMIVME-DR11W High-Performance DR11W Interface

The Abaco Systems / VMIC VMIVME-DR11W is a DR11W interface board for VMEbus systems. It enables bidirectional, half-duplex data exchange between VMEbus architecture and external DR11W protocol devices, supporting both 16-bit and 32-bit transfers across a 32-bit addressing range. Built around the SCB68430 DMA controller and MC68153 Bus Interrupter Module (BIM), the board delivers deterministic interrupt handling with fully programmable vectors, levels, and VMEbus address modifiers.

A front panel fail LED provides operational status visibility.

Technical Specifications

• DR11W parallel interface protocol


• VMEbus compliance: ANSI/IEEE STD 1014-1987, IEC 821, IEC 297


• A24/A32 master and A16/A24 slave addressing modes


• 32-bit addressing range Data Transfer


• 16-bit and 32-bit data transfers


• Bidirectional, half-duplex operation


• VME-to-VME burst rate: 1.8 Mbytes/s (32-bit, 10 ft cables)


• VME-to-VME single cycle: 1.1 Mbytes/s (32-bit, 10 ft cables)


• Q-Bus burst rate: 1.0 Mbyte/s


• Q-Bus single cycle: 0.5 Mbyte/s


• Maximum block size: 256 Kbytes minus 4 bytes


• Bus grant delay: 70 ns (master operation) Interrupts & Control


• Fully programmable interrupt vectors and levels


• MC68153 BIM for VMEbus interrupt management


• Attention interrupt generation to external devices

Key Features

• Double Eurocard form factor (6U), 160 mm × 233.4 mm × 12.5 mm


• Convection cooling; typical power consumption 4.5 A at +5 VDC


• Two 40-conductor shielded flat-ribbon cable interfaces


• Operating temperature range: 0 to 55 °C


• Storage temperature range: -20 to 85 °C


• Humidity rating: 20% to 80% non-condensing

Typical Applications Industrial data acquisition systems, high-speed VMEbus interconnects, legacy DEC device integration, and multi-board DMA transfers requiring deterministic interrupt response.

Compatibility & Integration Interfaces with Digital Equipment Corporation DR11-W and DRV11-WA devices and DR11-W CPU links. Back-to-back configuration of two VMIVME-DR11W boards creates VMEbus-to-VMEbus DMA links. Full VMEbus specification compliance ensures integration with standard 6U crate architectures.