VXI Technology, Inc.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The CT-400 mainframe is a C-size, thirteen-slot, VXIbus compatible mainframe that conforms fully to VXIbus Specification Revision 1.4. The mainframe employs a multi-layer backplane to ensure premium VXIbus and VMEbus performance and provides all power supplies required by the VXIbus specification.
The CT-400 mainframe contains thirteen slots in the card cage, twelve of which are available for use by VXIbus compatible instruments. The thirteenth slot in the card cage (slot 0) is typically dedicated to the VXIbus Resource Manager.
POWER SUPPLIES
The CT-400 is designed to operate at line frequencies from 47 Hz to 440 Hz and is factory preset to operate at a nominal line voltage of 115 V ac. The ac input is both auto-voltage and auto- frequency ranging and may be reconfigured to operate at a nominal 220 V ac by simply changing the fuse located at the rear of the chassis.
The power supply assembly is completely removable from the rear of the mainframe. The assembly is short-circuit, over-voltage, reverse-voltage and thermal-shutdown protected. In addition, all supply lines are monitored and displayed on the front panel to provide user-feedback of correct operation.
BACKPLANE
The CT-400 has a jumperless auto-configurable backplane with automatic bus grant and IACK jumpering. There is also a custom power sub-panel to distribute all the supply lines across the backplane, as well as a 10-layer stripline construction that minimizes crosstalk.
COOLING
The airflow design uses a pressurized plenum system with a baffling system to guarantee enough cooling capacity. The cooling direction for the VXI instruments is air is drawn through the back of the mainframe and exhausted out both sides at the top. The power supply is cooled by an airflow that moves from left (if facing the mainframe) to right.