Description

The GE VMIVME-4140 is a high-performance 6U VMEbus single-board computer(SBC)based on an Intel Celeron processor(1.3GHz).It features 256MB of DDR memory and a 2.5″CompactFlash(CF)card slot for storage.It supports real-time operating systems such as VxWorks,Linux,and Windows CE,and is widely used in VME-based control systems in industrial automation,power systems,rail transit,and the military.It is an optional CPU module for PAC systems such as the GE Fanuc RX3i.

Processor:Intel Celeron 1.3 GHz

Memory:256MB of DDR

Storage:2.5″CompactFlash(CF)card slot

Bus Standard:VME64(VMEbus)

Operating System:Supports VxWorks,Linux,and Windows CE

Operating Temperature:0°C to 60°C

Mounting Method:Mountable on standard VME6U chassis rails

GE VMIVME-4140 Technical Specifications

Product Model:VMIVME-4140

Manufacturer:GE Intelligent Platforms(formerly VMIC,now part of Abaco Systems,but still widely used within the GE ecosystem)

Product Type:VME 6U Single Board Computer(SBC)

Bus Standard:VME64(IEEE 1014-1987),VME32 Compatible

Form Factor:6U(233.35 mm×160 mm)

Processor:Intel Celeron M processor,1.3 GHz

Chipset:Intel 852GME+ICH4-M

Memory:

Standard:256 MB DDR SDRAM(expandable)

Slots:1 x DDR SODIMM

Storage:

1 x 2.5″CompactFlash(CF)card slot(primary storage,for the operating system and applications)

Optional:IDE/ATA interface supports 2.5″hard drives or SSDs(via adapter)

BIOS:AMI BIOS,supports booting from CF cards and network(PXE)

Network Interfaces:

1 x 10/100/1000 Mbps auto-sensing Ethernet port(RJ45)

Compliant with IEEE 802.3,802.3u,and 802.3ab

Serial Ports:

2×RS-232/422/485 multi-mode serial ports(DB9)

2×RS-232 serial ports(DB9)

USB Ports:

2×USB 2.0 ports(Type A)

Display Ports:

1×VGA output(DB15),supports SVGA resolution

Expansion Ports:

1×PC/104-Plus bus port(supports ISA and PCI expansion)

1×PMC(PCI Mezzanine Card)slot(optional)

Real-time Clock(RTC):Internal,with battery backup

Watchdog Timer:Hardware watchdog,programmable

Diagnostic Features:

Front panel LED indicators(POWER,HDD,LAN,User)

BIOS Power-On Self-Test(POST)code display(select models)

Remote diagnostics and monitoring support(via network)

Supported operating systems:

VxWorks(Wind River)

Linux(Red Hat,Ubuntu,etc.)

Windows CE/Windows Embedded Standard

LynxOS

Operating temperature:

Commercial:0°C to+60°C

Extended:-40°C to+85°C(select models)

Storage temperature:−55°C to+105°C

Relative humidity:5%to 95%,non-condensing

Enclosure rating:IP20

Cooling:Natural convection or forced air(depending on chassis)

MTBF(Mean Time Between Failures):>50,000 hours(typical)

Mounting:Standard VME 6U chassis,DIN rail or cold plate mounting

Certifications:CE,FCC,RoHS,NEBS

GE VMIVME-4140 Product Overview

To put it simply,the GE VMIVME-4140 It’s the”brain”of the VMEbus system.Large-scale power automation systems,high-speed train control cabinets,military radar platforms,and industrial test equipment all require a”master control computer”to execute control logic,process data,and communicate with the outside world.This”brain”is served by an embedded single-board computer like the VMIVME-4140.

This module belongs to the GE Intelligent Platforms(formerly VMIC)VME high-performance processor series,distinguished by its power and stability.It’s not an ordinary PC,but an embedded industrial computer designed for harsh industrial environments.Powered by a 1.3GHz Intel Celeron processor,while not fast by today’s standards,it was considered high-performance at the time of its design(mid-to-late 2000s),capable of handling complex motion control,data acquisition,and real-time monitoring tasks.

Key to this is its compliance with the VME64 standard.The VMEbus is a long-established,high-performance backplane bus in the industrial and military sectors,offering high bandwidth,excellent real-time performance,and robust interference immunity.The VMIVME-4140 plugs into a VME chassis and connects to I/O modules,communication modules,and motion control modules via a backplane for high-speed connectivity,forming a complete control system.

It lacks a hard drive and uses CompactFlash cards for storage,offering vibration and shock resistance,making it suitable for mobile and vibrating environments.It supports real-time operating systems such as VxWorks and Linux,ensuring deterministic execution of control instructions.It features PC/104 expansion for connecting additional serial ports,CAN bus,or specialized I/O.It supports a watchdog timer for automatic restart in the event of a program freeze and remote boot(PXE)for easy centralized management.

The GE VMIVME-4140 is a high-performance 6U VME single-board computer based on the Intel Celeron 1.3 GHz processor,designed for demanding real-time computing applications in industrial automation,transportation,and defense.With 256 MB of DDR memory,a CompactFlash storage interface,and rich I/O(Gigabit Ethernet,multiple serial ports,USB,and VGA),it serves as the central processing unit in VME-based control systems.Its support for real-time operating systems(VxWorks and Linux)and rugged design make it ideal for mission-critical applications where reliability,performance,and long-term availability are essential.

Main Features and Advantages

What I admire most about the VMIVME-4140 is its toughness and flexibility.Other industrial computers may offer high performance but lack interference immunity,while others may be stable but have limited interfaces.This one,with its VME bus,rich I/O,and real-time OS support,provides peace of mind in situations where a single failure could be disastrous.

Let’s talk about its ecosystem compatibility.Although GE has sold this business,it still has extensive applications in GE Fanuc RX3i PACs,Power SCADA,and power protection systems.Its VME bus seamlessly connects to GE I/O modules and communication cards,creating a complete automation solution.

The module’s expandability is also exceptional.The PC/104-Plus interface allows you to stack expansion boards,adding CAN bus,additional serial ports,and GPS modules to meet specialized needs.I’ve seen it in a rail transit signaling system,where two CAN interfaces were expanded via PC/104 for communication with the train control system.

It supports multiple boot methods(CF card and PXE network boot),facilitating system deployment and maintenance.A watchdog function ensures automatic system recovery in the event of an anomaly.Over the years,this module has become a classic in applications requiring extremely high reliability,such as power dispatching,high-speed rail train control,and military radar,and there is still a large demand for spare parts.

Application Areas

Where is the VMIVME-4140 most effective?Power systems are a prime example.As the main control unit of substation automation systems,it processes protection,measurement and control,and telecontrol data.

Secondly,it is used in rail transit.It is used in train signaling systems(such as CBTC),wayside controllers,and locomotive control cabinets.

Further,it is used in industrial automation,such as large test benches,semiconductor equipment,and metallurgical blast furnace control.

And finally,in the military and aerospace industries,such as radar signal processing,ship control systems,and ground station monitoring.

Selection Guide/Purchasing Recommendations

Before purchasing this VMIVME-4140,you must first confirm a few points.First,your system must be a VME6U chassis and support the VME64 bus.Second,the operating system.Confirm that your application software supports VxWorks,Linux,or Windows CE.Third,storage.The CF card capacity and speed must meet system requirements.Industrial-grade,wide-temperature CF cards are recommended.Fourth,heat dissipation.The VME chassis must have good airflow or cooling to prevent CPU overheating and frequency throttling.Finally,it is recommended to purchase genuine new products or refurbished parts that have been rigorously tested.Second-hand modules may have degraded capacitors,resulting in startup failure or unstable operation.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)

Q:Can I upgrade to a larger memory size?

A:Yes.The VMIVME-4140 typically supports up to 1GB of DDR SODIMM memory(depending on the BIOS version),but 256MB is a common configuration.

Q:What if the CF card fails?

A:CF cards are consumable.We recommend backing up the image regularly.After replacing a card,you will need to reinstall the operating system and applications.

Q:Does it support SATA hard drives?

A:Not directly supported.However,you can connect a 2.5″SATA SSD or hard drive using an IDE-to-SATA adapter board(note the chassis space and power supply requirements).

Q:How can remote maintenance be performed?

A:Remote access and maintenance can be performed through the Gigabit Ethernet port using SSH(Linux),Remote Desktop(WinCE),or dedicated diagnostic software.

Q:Why use a CF card instead of an SSD?

A:CF cards are a traditional storage medium for embedded systems.They offer excellent vibration resistance,simple interfaces,and low power consumption,making them suitable for fanless industrial environments.

Related Products

VMIVME-7750:A higher-performance VME SBC based on a PowerPC or higher-end x86 processor.

VMIVME-7655:A similar x86 VME CPU,but may have different configurations.

GE Fanuc RX3i CPU(IC695CPU005,etc.):In PAC systems,the VMIVME-4140 can serve as a VME expansion controller.

VME I/O modules:Such as analog,digital,and motion control modules communicate with the VMIVME-4140 via a VME backplane.

VME 6U Chassis and Power Supply:A standard 19″chassis with a VME backplane and redundant power supplies.

Abaco Systems SBCs:The VMIC business is now owned by Abaco,and their new products can serve as an upgrade to the VMIVME-4140.

CF Card(Industrial Grade):Used to store the operating system and data.Wide-temperature,high-endurance models are recommended.

PC/104 Expansion Board:Used to add serial port,CAN,GPIO,and other functions.