VME Adapter Assembly Preventing Five-Row Chassis Misalignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of subsystems with VME64x chassis backplanes often results in damage due to improper alignment and electrical short-circuiting, as three-row connectors are mistakenly mated with five-row interfaces, leading to safety and equipment damage concerns.
Innovation Solution
A Versa Module Europa (VME) adapter assembly with a circuit board and mating plug housing featuring five aligned rows of contact apertures, ensuring proper alignment and safe connection to a five-row VME chassis, including configuration selection areas for power and ground formation, and keying shapes for orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a three-row VME32 mating connector is used to connect to a five-row VME64x chassis, then compatibility with older VME32 systems is maintained, but misalignment and electrical short-circuiting occur causing equipment damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an adapter assembly as an intermediary device between the three-row VME32 connector and the five-row VME64x chassis. The adapter includes a five-row connector that properly mates with the VME64x chassis and internal circuitry that interfaces with the three-row VME32 connector, thereby mediating the connection and preventing direct misalignment between incompatible connectors
Solution Approach 2:
The connection system is segmented into three distinct components: the original three-row VME32 connector, the adapter assembly with its own housing and circuit board, and the five-row VME64x chassis. This segmentation allows each component to maintain its original design while the adapter provides the necessary interface between them
2Object-affected harmful factors
If proper alignment features are added to prevent misconnection, then equipment safety is improved, but connector complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter assembly employs asymmetric keying features including a keyway in the adapter housing that receives a corresponding key on the VME64x chassis connector, and asymmetric contact arrangements where specific contacts are designated for power, ground, and signal functions. This asymmetry physically prevents incorrect insertion while maintaining relatively simple connector structures
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter assembly is pre-configured with the correct five-row contact arrangement and internal circuitry before connection to the chassis. Alignment features such as the keyway and contact positioning are predetermined, ensuring that proper alignment is achieved automatically upon insertion without requiring complex real-time adjustment mechanisms
Data Source
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AI summary
A Versa Module Europa (VME) adapter assembly (100) is configured to operatively couple a subsystem to a five row VME64x chassis. The VME adapter assembly (100) includes an adapter circuit board (102) having a mating contact area (140) proximate to a chassis-mating edge (104), and at least one area proximate to a system-connecting edge (106) that is configured to couple to the subsystem. A mating plug housing (126) is coupled to the mating contact area (140) and may include a chassis interface insert (130) defining a mating interface area having five aligned rows (136) of contact apertures (138). The five aligned rows (136) of contact apertures (138) are configured to mate with a same number of aligned rows of contact pins within a backplane connector of the five row VME64x chassis.