Amphenol VPX Solutions 

Amphenol VITA connectors are essential for applications that involve significant data transfers in harsh environments. We’ve innovated the VPX and OpenVPX standard by designing connectors that are ruggedized while also offering industry-leading speeds. Amphenol’s VITA line of products is suited for a variety of applications, including:  

• Ground combat systems 
• Commercial and military aerospace
• Missile defense 
• Space data centers and other space systems
• Radar and sonar equipment  
• Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems  
• Sensors, switches, and integrated processors  
• Electronic warfare (EW) and C5ISR systems 
• VPX single board computers 
• Embedded computing
• Phased array radars 
• Single processing computers

What is VITA? 

VITA (VMEbus International Trade Association) is the working group responsible for the development and sustainment of VPX open standard computer bus technology that forms the backbone of Amphenol VITA connectors. Amphenol Aerospace is an active member of the VITA working group alongside other industry leaders in military aerospace and electronics manufacturing. Amphenol has played a prominent role in the development and promotion of VITA open-source technologies such as VPX.   

VITA began in 1982 as the VMEbus Manufacturers Group and changed its name to the VMEbus International Trade Association (VITA) a few years later. Ultimately, the name was shortened to just VITA in 2005. Throughout its existence, VITA has developed and advanced a variety of open architecture standards and products, including VPX.  

What is VPX?

VPX is an open architecture specification that’s wide in scope. But generally, it refers to a family of computer bus technologies that utilize 3U and 6U switched fabric formats, among other features. The VPX standard is an industry-standard technology for embedded computing systems that require especially fast data processing speeds, such as those common in modern commercial and military technologies.  

The first VPX specification, known as VITA 46, emerged in 2004 and became a standard with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in 2007. Multiple VPX specifications have been added to the VPX family of technologies since stemming from the founding of VITA 46 architecture.

The VPX standard necessitates a variety of technologies, including:  

• 3U and 6U formats 
• High-speed backplane and module connectors rated up to 25 Gb/s+  
• Choice of high-speed serial fabrics
• PMC and XMC mezzanines 
• Hybrid backplanes to accommodate VME64, VXS, and VPX boards 
• Passed VITA 72 vibration level testing with BER monitoring.

Amphenol R-VPX connectors, or ruggedized VPX, adhere to stringent VPX criteria defined in VITA 46 and are optimized for harsh environments with a multipoint contact system.  

OpenVPX improves the base technology by addressing interoperability points within standard VPX architecture. OpenVPX maintains VITA specifications, speed, and performance, but with a defined set of system architectures that allows seamless integration with different modules and backplanes. The introduction of OpenVPX cuts down on the need for developers to create custom system architecture for applications where they wish to apply VPX technology. This innovation reduces development times while decreasing costs and design challenges.  

OpenVPX arose when the U.S. Department of Defense and other users began to prioritize open standards and interoperability practices throughout the defense industry. A notable driver was the MOSA memorandum issued by the DOD in Jan. 2019.  

Amphenol’s R-VPX connector series has passed VITA 72 vibration level testing with BER monitoring.

This stringent testing protocol assesses how well a VITA component can withstand extreme vibrations over an extended period. Amphenol’s R-VPX underwent a battery of random and sine vibrations according to the 6U VITA 72 test plan in addition to mechanical shock testing. Throughout the testing sequences, the connectors did not sustain any damage or BER failures and displayed acceptable LLCR levels per the VITA 72 study group standards.

Amphenol’s R-VPX connectors, and by extension our EVO and EVO2 connectors due to their identical mating interface, are proven to sustain structural integrity and functionality under intense vibrational circumstances and are excellent for applications where extreme vibrations are expected.

See our Product Configurator for available drawings and 3D models.