UPPER SADDLE RIVER, N.J., 27 Aug. 2009. Pentek Inc. in Upper Saddle River, N.J., is introducing the Model 6891 embedded systems board, which makes it easier for engineers to configure multi-channel defense systems. The VME board is suited for mil apps like radar beamforming, direction finding, shipboard diversity reception, and cellular wireless applications where several antennas are used to steer and improve the reception of signals.

The 6891 in VME form factor accepts embedded computing clock, sync, gate and trigger signals from military embedded systems and other inputs, and delivers buffered versions of these signals to other modules in the system to ensure synchronous sampling and data collection across all connected modules.

From the standpoint of economy of packaging, the 6891 occupies one VME slot. It often eliminates the need for a custom external timing signal generator chassis, providing a more compact and less expensive system solution.

"Many of our customers need to synchronize several channels to satisfy their system requirements. For larger systems, this means delivering timing signals to several boards and even several chassis," says Rodger Hosking, Pentek vice president.

The 6891 provides as many as eight timing signal cables compatible with the multi-pin front panel timing signal connectors found on Pentek PMC modules. Using this strategy, as many as eight modules can receive a common clock up to 500 MHz along with timing signals. For larger systems up to eight 6891 VME boards can be linked together providing synchronization for 64 I/O modules producing systems with up to 256 channels.

"Users can typically synchronize two, three, or four boards by joining the timing signal connectors with a ribbon cable," says Robert Sgandurra, product manager for Pentek.

For more information contact Pentek online at www.pentek.com.