Controls field benefits from Compact PCI in telecommunications

The industrial controls market will likely benefit from decreasing prices, economies of scale, and technological improvements among CompactPCI-related products in the near future. These events are expected to occur as major vendors—including Ziatech, Digital, Force Computers, PLX Technology, Natural MicroSystems, and Spectrum Signal Processing&#8212...

By Staff May 1, 1998

The industrial controls market will likely benefit from decreasing prices, economies of scale, and technological improvements among CompactPCI-related products in the near future. These events are expected to occur as major vendors—including Ziatech, Digital, Force Computers, PLX Technology, Natural MicroSystems, and Spectrum Signal Processing—secure increasing contracts in the telecommunications industry.

This was the analysis at the Motorola Computer Group’s (Tempe, Ariz.) recent “Compact PCI Media Day III.” This has been an annual event organized by the PC Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG), a 363-member industrial consortium devoted to developing open specifications and applying PCI to the communications and industrial computing markets.

Many attributes that make CompactPCI useful in telecommunications also suit many industrial applications. For example, later this year, PICMG plans to release its 3.0 specification, which will include pin staging, clock routing, and hot-swap capability on all platforms. A subsequent 64-bit enhancement will help systems self-configure as boards are swapped.

For more information, visit www.controleng.com/info .