What is VITA 67?

VITA 67 is a version of the VPX standard that adds RF capabilities to the existing VITA 46 VPX board-to-board connections. It allows RF connectors to coexist in the same backplane as other VPX versions. This provides a convenient and standardized coaxial interface for RF, video and other analog signals. VITA 67 supports the VPX embedded computing architecture and allows RF signals transmitted from plug-in computing modules to a common backplane. The performance capability of VPX makes it a great platform for processing RF signals, so VITA 67 was an important addition to VPX modules.

VITA 67 Backplane and Plug-in Modules

VITA 67 uses the OpenVPX (VITA 65) architecture that ensures interoperability between VPX boards, backplanes, slots module levels and other components from multiple vendors. This allows VITA 67 to be integrated with other VPX serial interfaces like Gigabit Ethernet, 10 Gb Ethernet, Fiber Channel, InfiniBand, Serial RapidIO, PCI Express etc.

SMPM RF connectors for VPX Modules

VITA 67 based RF modules are available in standard 4 position (4 SMPM RF connectors) and 8 position (8 SMPM RF connectors) of high-frequency coaxial contacts for blind-mate daughtercard to backplane connections. The multi-position and multi-configuration RF connector modules have been designed to be used in VPX 3U and 6U applications but can also be used as stand-alone mating connectors.

VITA 67.1    VITA 67.2

The VITA 67 base standard defines a framework from which VITA 67 subversions called “dot standards” can be created in a manner that is supported by all VPX architectures. The VITA 67.1 dot standard defines a 3U VPX compliant analog connector module ­ containing up to 4 SMPM contacts and the VITA 67.2 standard defines a 6U VPX compliant analog connector module ­containing up to 8 SMPM contacts.

VITA 67.3

The latest version - VITA 67.3 - allows fixed contacts on the Plug-In Module and spring-loaded contact action on the backplane. This enables alternate packaging of the RF connector modules through flexible positioning and potentially eliminates all cables on the plug-in module. As the industry has progressed since the initial VITA 67 standards, the need for higher contact densities has also arisen. VITA 67.3 not only reduces physical space requirements by eliminating cable management but also increases space efficiency by taking advantage of a full 1.00” slot pitch as opposed to 0.24” in previous versions (67.1 and 67.2). In VITA 67.3, contact positions within the housings are also no longer constrained to the fixed 2 x 2 (4 positions) and 2 x 4 (8 positions) arrays as it supports up to 12 SMPM contacts for greater flexibility. VITA 67.3 was defined with both future expansion and backward compatibility in mind.

VITA 67 provides a convenient and standardized RF/analog interface and also meets the needs of C4ISR applications such as ground base stations and communication systems, land and sea anti-ballistic signal processing, avionics and ground-based radar systems, and electronic countermeasures. The VITA Working Group envisions future developments to the VITA 67 version to further integrate both RF and optical fiber contacts within a single module. They also help optimize the size, weight, and power (SWaP) of the VPX ecosystem to make even better use of the available space while providing the flexibility designers require.

Click here to see VITA 67 connectors from the leading manufacturers on everything RF.