MicroTCA

MicroTCA is an open standard embedded computing specification created by PICMG. First ratified in 2006, the specification utilizes the existing Advanced Mezzanine Card (AMCs) in a hot-swappable backplane format. It features MicroTCA Carrier Hubs (MCHs) which provide IPMI-based shelf management and switching functionality to the system. MicroTCA systems provide up to 99.9999% uptime in a smaller form factor than 3U and 6U Eurocard systems. A typical mid-sized 4HP AMC is 73.8mm x 18.96mm x 181.5mm. There are also compact-sized AMCs at 3HP wide (13.88mm) and full-sized at 6HP wide (28.95mm). Double modules have also been created, extending the height of the modules from 73.8mm to 148.8mm. The architecture was originally designed for telecom applications, but MicroTCA has gained significant popularity in other applications including military/aerospace, railway, high-energy physics, and more.

MTCA.0 is the core specification, with MTCA.1 for Air Cooled Rugged MicroTCA with a rugged latching system, MTCA.3 for Hardened Conduction Cooled MicroTCA, and MTCA.4 for Rear I/O and Precision Clocking. Although MicroTCA.4 is geared towards High Energy Physics, it is also used in other applications as a way to incorporate rear I/O and multi-channel A/D and D/A conversion. MTCA.4 is used in the DESY MicroTCA Lab and as the low-level radio-frequency control system for the XFEL experiments.

MicroTCA utilizes high-speed serial fabrics including Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE is ratified and 40GbE is in draft), PCIe, Serial RapidIO, etc. Clock distribution is supported by the MCH with 3 clocks defined and an additional 4 clocks and AMC.0 R2 describes four additional clocks.