The Abaco Systems / Radstone PME SIO-4 is a VMEbus-resident serial communications controller that provides 16 independently programmable RS-232C channels for embedded systems requiring multi-port peripheral and device connectivity. The module integrates eight Type 68681 Dual Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitters (DUARTs), with all channels accessible via two 64-way front-panel connectors. Memory mapping appears as 1 Mbyte of RAM within the VMEbus address space on a 1 Mbyte boundary, with address selection configured via on-board DIL switches. The PME SIO-4 functions as a slave device with full VME interrupt generation and handling capabilities, including location monitor facility support. Jumper-selectable configuration permits operation in either A24 or A32 address spaces, allowing flexible integration into diverse VME system architectures.
Technical Specifications
• 16 x RS-232C serial channels
• 8 x Type 68681 Dual Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitters (DUARTs)
• 1 Mbyte RAM mapped into VMEbus memory space (1 Mbyte boundary alignment)
• Two 64-way connectors (front panel serial I/O)
• VMEbus slave mode operation
• Address space: A24 or A32 selectable via jumpers
• Address selection: on-board DIL switches
• VMEbus interrupt generation and handling
• Location monitor facility
– Key Features
• Independent channel programmability across all 16 ports
• Dual DUART architecture ensures distributed processing load
• Standard VMEbus interface compatibility
• Flexible address space configuration for system integration
• Full interrupt and status monitoring capabilities
– Typical Applications
• Multi-serial port expansion in embedded VME systems
• Real-time peripheral and device communication interfaces
• Industrial control and instrumentation platforms
• Legacy VME system modernization requiring serial port density
– Compatibility & Integration
The PME SIO-4 integrates directly into VMEbus architectures as a memory-mapped slave device. Standard VMEbus connector and protocol compliance ensure compatibility with existing VME backplane infrastructure. Address configuration via DIL switches and jumper selection permits deployment across diverse memory maps without external hardware modification.
