Description

The MOTOROLA MVME162-212 is a high-performance,32-bit single-board computer(SBC)built on the Motorola MC68040 microprocessor,designed for embedded control in mission-critical industrial systems.As part of Motorola’s widely adopted MVME162 family,this variant features 16 MB of onboard DRAM,integrated peripherals,and full VME64 bus compatibility,making it a cornerstone in legacy distributed control systems(DCS),power plant automation,railway signaling,and test equipment.Despite Motorola’s exit from the embedded computing market(now under Emerson and formerly Artesyn Embedded Technologies),the MOTOROLA MVME162-212 remains in active service worldwide due to its deterministic performance,long-term availability,and rugged design.

Application Scenarios

At a hydroelectric facility in Canada,a 1990s-era turbine control system based on a VME chassis relied on the MOTOROLA MVME162-212 as its central processing unit to manage governor logic,vibration monitoring,and grid synchronization.After a sudden failure of a spare board sourced from an uncertified vendor—causing a 72-hour outage—the plant mandated strict validation for all future replacements.A new,tested MOTOROLA MVME162-212 was installed with verified firmware and memory integrity.The board resumed real-time execution of control algorithms at sub-millisecond latency,while its dual serial ports continued interfacing with legacy excitation systems.Crucially,its conduction-cooled option ensured stable operation in the unventilated control room during summer peaks.This case underscores how the MOTOROLA MVME162-212 continues to safeguard critical infrastructure decades after its original deployment.

Parameter

Main Parameters Value/Description

Product Model MOTOROLA MVME162-212

Manufacturer Motorola(Embedded Systems Division);now supported by Emerson/Artesyn legacy services

Product Category VMEbus Single-Board Computer(SBC)

CPU Motorola MC68040 25 MHz(integrated FPU and MMU)

Onboard Memory 16 MB DRAM(non-parity),512 KB SRAM(battery-backed),2 MB Flash

Bus Interface VME64(32-bit,32-bit address,A32/D32,A24/D16)

I/O Interfaces 2×RS-232/422 serial ports,1×SCSI-1,1×Centronics parallel,8-bit DIO

Optional Networking Supports dual Ethernet via PMC or VME add-on modules(e.g.,MVME366)

Operating System Support VxWorks,pSOS+,OS-9,LynxOS,custom RTOS

Power Consumption~12 W typical(5 V only)

Operating Temperature 0°C to+60°C(standard);–40°C to+85°C(conduction-cooled variant available)

Form Factor 6U VME(233.35 mm×160 mm),ANSI/VITA 1.1 compliant

Technical Principles and Innovative Values

Innovation Point 1:Integrated FPU for Real-Time Math Intensity–The MOTOROLA MVME162-212’s MC68040 includes a hardware floating-point unit,enabling rapid execution of PID loops,FFT-based vibration analysis,or coordinate transformations—tasks that would cripple integer-only CPUs in legacy control systems.

Innovation Point 2:Battery-Backed SRAM for Critical State Retention–Even during complete power loss,the 512 KB SRAM preserves runtime data(e.g.,turbine speed history or alarm logs),ensuring safe restart without reinitialization delays.

Innovation Point 3:VME64 Backward Compatibility with Future-Proof Expansion–While fully compatible with older VME crates,the MOTOROLA MVME162-212 supports 32-bit addressing and burst transfers,allowing integration with modern VME I/O cards for analog,digital,or motion control.

Innovation Point 4:Long-Term Availability Through Lifecycle Management–Despite end-of-life status,certified suppliers maintain traceable inventory with burn-in testing—ensuring functional equivalence to original factory units for brownfield upgrades.

Application Cases and Industry Value

In a European nuclear research reactor,the MOTOROLA MVME162-212 serves as the core of a radiation monitoring subsystem that processes signals from 64 neutron flux detectors.The system runs a custom VxWorks application that must guarantee<500µs response to any threshold breach.Over 20 years,the MOTOROLA MVME162-212 has never missed a deadline,thanks to its deterministic architecture and lack of cache-induced jitter.During a recent safety audit,regulators approved continued operation through 2035—citing the board’s proven reliability and the availability of validated spares.This exemplifies how the MOTOROLA MVME162-212 transcends obsolescence to become a trusted element in life-safety systems.

Related Product Combination Solutions

MOTOROLA MVME366:Dual Ethernet mezzanine card that adds TCP/IP connectivity to MOTOROLA MVME162-212

MOTOROLA MVME167:Higher-performance successor with MC68060 CPU and more memory

MOTOROLA MVME5100:PowerPC-based migration path for VME systems requiring modern compute

GE Fanuc IC697CPU782:Often used in parallel systems where MOTOROLA MVME162-212 handles front-end processing

ABB MasterView:Legacy HMI systems that historically interfaced with MOTOROLA MVME162-212 via serial links

Westinghouse Ovation I/O Cards:Frequently paired in power plants using VME-based controllers

Bently Nevada 3500/50:Rack interface modules that exchange data with MOTOROLA MVME162-212 in machinery protection systems

Emerson DeltaV MVME Chassis:Retrofit platforms that retain MOTOROLA MVME162-212 for legacy algorithm execution

Installation,Maintenance,and Full-Cycle Support

Installing the MOTOROLA MVME162-212 requires seating it firmly into a 6U VME chassis with proper rear transition module(RTM)alignment if used.It draws power solely from the VME P1 connector(5 V),simplifying backplane design.Configuration is typically handled via DIP switches for boot mode and base address,with firmware stored in Flash.For maintenance,the absence of moving parts and low thermal output contribute to exceptional longevity—many units operate over 25 years without failure.

However,aging risks include battery leakage in the SRAM backup circuit and capacitor degradation.Our full-cycle support includes comprehensive refurbishment:replacing the coin-cell battery with a modern holder,reflowing critical solder joints,and performing 72-hour burn-in tests under load.Every MOTOROLA MVME162-212 we supply comes with a functional test report verifying CPU,memory,serial ports,and VME bus handshake.We also offer firmware imaging,JTAG recovery,and cross-reference guidance for migration to PowerPC or x86-based VME alternatives.