Technical

The PCMCIA is shutting down, and selling its assets to the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF). These include the ExpressCard standard and also include the associated compliance programs and copyright of PCMCIA’s logo and trademark’s authority.

Engadget reports that the first USB-3 device (a NEC host controller) is now available. Hopefully this means that consumer devices are coming soon. One of the first products we can expect is an ExpressCard-to-USB 3 adapter.

Back in March 2008, the PCMCIA organization announced that it's working on a new version to the  Expresscard Standard - ExpressCard 2.0.

Now they say that the new Format is almost complete. ExpressCard 2 will achieve between two to 10 times the speeds of the older standard. It will be compatiable with older devices. PCMCIA hope that the final version of the standard will be ready early in 2009, and products (and 'slots') are expected in 2010.

National Instruments today introduced the NI VXIpc-882, a two-slot VXI embedded controller featuring the Intel Core 2 Duo processor T7400. As the industry's highest-performing VXI embedded controller, the VXIpc-882 delivers much faster processing capabilities than typical single-core controllers. Additionally, by combining the controller with the multicore support of NI LabVIEW 8.6 graphical programming software, engineers can create superior-performance VXI systems.

With the high-performance peripheral I/O on the VXIpc-882, engineers can create hybrid systems by connecting external instruments to the VXI system through the GPIB, Ethernet, USB or serial ports or the ExpressCard/34 slot. This makes it possible for them to build on their existing systems using the latest technologies. Additionally, engineers can gain flexibility by adding a second VXI chassis to their systems with the NI VXI-MXI-Express remote controller connected to the VXIpc-882 via the ExpressCard/34 slot.

Engineers requiring maximum performance and reliability can upgrade the VXIpc-882 controller to include a 32 GB solid-state hard drive instead of the standard rotating magnetic disk drive. When paired with the 32 GB solid-state hard drive, the controller offers increased reliability and speed when reading and writing to files and streaming data. It also provides increased durability when exposed to shock and vibration because the drive has no moving parts.

The PCMCIA organization announced that it is working on an 'upgrade' to the ExpressCard standard.

ExpressCard 2 will include:

• Double data transfer rates to 5Gb/s.
• Support for USB 3.0 (SuperSpeed USB)
• PCI Express (PCIe) 2.0 specification
• Compatiability with ExpressCard 1.0 products

PCMCIA today announced that leading European test house Testronic Laboratories, via its PMTC facility in Hasselt, Belgium, has been approved to offer compliance testing for the ExpressCard Standard in Europe.

The multi-step ExpressCard compliance program assures product interoperability. The first step requires manufacturers to submit an approved product compatibility checklist. The second step requires formal interoperability testing, which consists of (1) a standardized test procedure conducted between participating host systems and module products and (2) a set of mandatory tests against a "gold" suite of compliant host systems and modules. This can be done either through a test house or PCMCIA-sponsored workshop.