Technical

ExpressCard 2.0 Format Almost Complete

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 Introduce New, High-Performance VXI Embedded Controller for ExpressCards

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.

ExpressCard 2.0 is on the way

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

Comsys Expands ComMAX Reference Design Platform to Include ExpressCard/34 Form Factor

Comsys Communication and Signal Processing, a leader in wireless baseband solutions, today announced at the GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona that it has extended its converged cellular/WiMAX reference design platforms offering to include the ExpressCard/34 PC card format. The platform offers ODMs a rapid route to implementing converged cellular/mobile WiMAX functionality for the new generation of laptop PC equipped with an ExpressCard slot.

European Test House Testronic Laboratories Approved as First European ExpressCard(R) Test House

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.

Sequans Unveils the First Mobile WiMAX Wave 2-Ready ExpressCard Design

Sequans will be running a full Mobile WiMAX(R) system demo whereby a Sequans-based ExpressCard34 will be communicating with a Sequans-based Mobile WiMAX base station platform in the 2.5 GHz frequency.

AVX has developed Next-Gen PCMCIA card kits that support both the ExpressCard 34 and 54 form factors

AVX has developed next generation PCMCIA card kits that support both the ExpressCard/34 (34mm wide) and ExpressCard/54 (54mm wide) form factors. Part of AVX's PCI ExpressCard product family, the 9186 and 9187 series PCI ExpressCard kits feature a locking mechanism that snaps into the kit frame providing maximum strength and rigidity to the connector kit.

'AVX's 9186 and 9187 PCI ExpressCard kits are smaller and simpler to use than current products', says Product Manager, Rakesh Shah. 'The PCI ExpressCards have been designed using Elco's unique interlocking snap mechanism to ensure the kit is strong and robust'.

AMD Announces Development of DTX Form Factor, will include ExpressCard slot

AMD today announced the company developing a new small form factor standard. The new form factor, dubbed DTX, is AMD’s attempt to unify the various proprietary small form factors currently in use. DTX will be an open industry standard available to all case, motherboard and system manufacturers, but not be limited to AMD-based products.