PSI System Controls and Diagnostics
A500 User Manual
A500_UM_090115 Page 58 of 61
21
Hardware Versions
21.1 Change history
Revision Changes
Rev 1
First production version.
RCM3200 Ethernet processor only.
Rev 2
Added support for 100 MHz processor speed.
Compatible with the A30 Ethernet processor with suitable links added to
cell controller PCB.
Rev 3
A30 Ethernet processor only.
Added support for FPGA code download.
21.2 Ethernet Processor
The Ethernet processor handles all Ethernet communication, and provides the isolated electrical
interface on a standard RJ-45 connector. The Ethernet processor is a small mezzanine board that
fits to the cell controller board on header connectors.
The A500 can be fitted with two types of Ethernet processor, the RCM3200 from Rabbit
Semiconductor., or the A30 from Pyramid Technical Consultants, Inc. The A30 was developed
to provide a throughput improvement over the RCM3200, specifically for the UDP messaging
used by the A500. The A30 supports Auto MDIX (medium-dependent interface crossover),
which is to say that it will connect using a non-crossover or a crossover cable. The detection and
configuration is done automatically during the initial negotiation of the Ethernet connection.
The A30 is standard on revision 3 A500 hardware. It can be fitted to rev 2 units, but zero ohm
resistor networks must be installed (RN3, 4, 5). This requires specialist work on the unit. If you
want an A30 upgrade to a revision 2 unit, please contact your supplier or Pyramid Technical
Consultants, Inc.