Parallel Communications Products

Parallel communications proudcts (parallel boards, parallel ports, parallel cards) transmit data by sending bits of data down parallel electrical paths simultaneously. Extra wires on the parallel port carry control and status signals to indicate when data is ready to be sent or received, to initiate a reset, or indicate an error condition (such as paper out). On many computers, the parallel industrial communications computer board is omitted for cost savings, and is considered to be a legacy port. Serial transmission methods can transmit data much faster than parallel transmission methods, especially when the cost and complexity of a parallel card is considered. Parallel industrial communications computer boards are reserved mainly for devices that are physically close to each other, such as within the PC itself or, with higher quality cabling, for distances up to 200 feet. Serial transmission is used for longer distances.

Parallel communications proudcts use communications protocols such as the 1284 standard from the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), peripheral component interconnect (PCI) technology, PCI Express (PCIe), compact peripheral component interconnect (cPCI), PCI extended (PCI-X), PC/104-Plus, and Advanced Telecommunications Computing Architecture (AdvancedTCA®, ATCA®). AdvancedTCA and ATCA is a registered trademark of the PICMG-PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group, Inc. The specific size and form factor of parallel industrial communications computer boards depends on the computer to which it connects.

Applications for parallel communications proudcts depend in large part on the communications protocols that a parallel board supports. IEEE 1284 devices connect computers to parallel printers and scanners. PCI specifies how parallel industrial communications computer boards connect to the motherboard or backplane. PCI-X supports clock speeds from 66 to 533 MHz. Compact PCI has a small, rugged form factor for industrial computer applications. PC/104 Plus provides higher throughput for devices such as video controllers. ATCA is a next-generation bus for the telecommunications industry.

• Code Design for Dependable Systems - Preface
  Error control coding theory has been studied for over half a century, and it is still going stronger than ever. The most recent examples are the turbo codes and the low-density parity check codes...
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• AdvancedTCA: A New Spin on Supercomputing
  The days of monolithic type mainframe computer installations are over and massive parallel clustering of individual servers has become the trend in creating supercomputers. This clustering trend has...
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• Questions and Answers Concerning Serial EEPROMs
  Interfacing a serial EEPROM to a controller can be a confusing task, especially for first time users. Because communication with a parallel memory device is more straightforward, the advantages of...
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Part Numbers for Parallel Communications Products