RF-backplane management for the MicroTCA.4 control system

To transport low-noise Radio Frequency (RF) signals within a MicroTCA.4 Crate a new RTM backplane is invented as an optional extension to the 9U crate standard. The RTM backplane is equipped with links for high precision RF and Clock signals for the μRTM, therefore it is also called an RFBackplane. In combination with this backplane new extended RTMs (eRTM) and RTM Power Modules (RTM-PM) can be operated. Up to four 6 HP wide eRTMs can be installed behind the front Power Modules and the MCH Modules. The RTMPMs deliver managed low-noise separated analog bipolar power (+VV, -VV) for the RTMs and unipolar power for the eRTMs. This paper covers one of the eRTMs which is a Backplane Management module for the rear side (MCH-RTM-BM) designed to manage these new features. The MCH-RTM-BM will manage the RTM backplane connectivity for up to 12 μRTMs, 3 eRTMs and 2 RTM-PMs. For this purpose the MCH-RTM-BM is working together with the already existing NAT-MCH-PHYS. In addition the MCH-RTM-BM is connected to the eRTMs via LVDS links. These links can be user defined and are managed with a User Logic on the Backplane Management Module. This User Logic consists of a microcontroller with an FPGA.