AMC327

The AMC327 is an RS-422 synchronous/asynchronous multiport serial adapter. The module can accept a clock input to synchronize the baud rate generators of each port to an external clock. All the protocol management overhead is taken care of in the hardware so that the host CPU is offloaded from managing the detailed serial protocol.

The hardware is re-programmable which enables the board to be re-purposed for different types of synchronous and asynchronous serial applications. The hardware takes care of all bit-serial receive/transmit activity and uses a convenient, high-performance, low-overhead, packet-based interface to the host CPU which supports batching and queuing of input/output bits.

An I/O breakout box may be connected to the high-density connectors of the AMC327 to provide multiple DB25, DB9, or other serial connectors for easy integration to your system or an octopus-style breakout cable may be used. The I/O breakout box may include many different status LEDs which can be tailored to your protocol/application. The AMC327 provides the breakout box with power so that it does not require any additional power cabling.

Protocol Load Ordering Option (Option A=0)

The initial protocol load supported for the AMC327 implements a total of eleven synchronous serial ports: four bi-directional ternary ports, four bi-directional binary ports, and three output-only binary ports. A ternary port is made up of a clock and three data pairs in each direction. A binary port is made up of a clock and single data pair in each direction. Baud rates up to 2Mbps are supported on binary ports. This protocol load is capable of detecting on a per-bit basis whether the received line clock was valid or not (i.e. stopped or too slow of baud rate) and provides this indication to the host CPU as part of the data packet. This protocol load may be used with the VadaTech VT987 break-out box which is a 19” rack-mount unit providing eleven DB25 serial ports and includes port RX/TX activity, port clock valid, and other status LED indicators.

Other Protocol Loads/Breakout Boxes

Since the hardware is reprogrammable, many other serial protocols are possible. Please contact your VadaTech sales representative with your serial protocol needs to discuss how a unique protocol load can be developed to support your application if one does not already exist.