Description
- Model: IPMC761-001 (Part No: 01-W3432F01A)
- Brand: Motorola Computer Group (Artesyn / SMART Embedded)
- Series: VMEbus PowerPC Accessories
- Core Function: PMC (PCI Mezzanine Card) I/O Expansion Module
- Product Type: Mezzanine I/O Card for MVME series baseboards
- Key Specs: Ultra-Wide SCSI 10/100 Ethernet 4 x Serial Ports 1 x Parallel Port
- Compatibility: Specifically designed for Motorola MVME2100, MVME2300, MVME2400, MVME2600, MVME2700, and MVME5100 series VME boards.
- SCSI Interface: Symbios 53C875 Ultra-Wide SCSI controller.
- Ethernet: Intel 82559 10/100BaseTX interface (front panel access).
- Serial I/O: Four asynchronous serial ports (via 68-pin SCSI-style connector or transition module).
- Parallel Port: IEEE 1284 bidirectional parallel port.
- Form Factor: Single-width PMC (PCI Mezzanine Card) standard.
- Bus Interface: 32-bit PCI, 33 MHz.
- Power Consumption: Approx. 3.5W to 5.0W (dependent on I/O activity).
MOTOROLA IPMC761-001
Application Scenarios & Pain Points
The IPMC761-001 is a critical “sidecar” module for Motorola’s legendary MVME PowerPC boards. It provides the essential “legacy” and high-speed I/O that the base CPUs lack on their own. In many military, aerospace, and semiconductor manufacturing systems, these modules are the only way to interface the VME rack with external SCSI storage or high-density serial sensors. If this mezzanine fails, your CPU is essentially “blind and deaf” to its peripheral environment.
Typical Application Scenarios:
- Semiconductor Manufacturing (Applied Materials/Lam Research) Providing the SCSI interface for legacy hard drives or MO (Magneto-Optical) drives used for recipe storage in wafer tools.
- Flight Simulation & Aerospace Handling multi-channel serial telemetry data from flight controls back to the VME processing core.
- Medical Imaging (MRI/CT Scanners) Aggregating high-speed Ethernet and parallel data from imaging sensors for real-time reconstruction on the MVME5100.
- Military Defense Systems Used in shipboard and airborne computer racks where reliable RS-232/422 serial communication is required for GPS or radar units.
Case Study: The “Lost” SCSI Disk
Background: A wafer fab was using an MVME2400 board with an IPMC761-001 to control an older lithography tool. One morning, the tool failed to boot, reporting “SCSI Device Not Found.”
The Problem: The facility replaced the SCSI drive, but the error persisted. After testing the rack, we found that the PCI connector bridge on the IPMC761 module had developed a “dry joint” due to years of vibration and thermal cycling. The SCSI controller chip couldn’t talk to the PowerPC CPU.
The Solution: We supplied a certified IPMC761-001. Because these are mezzanine cards, we advised the client to ensure the standoff spacers were tightened correctly during installation to prevent future mechanical stress on the PCI pins.
Result: The tool recognized the disk immediately and returned to production, avoiding a $50k-a-day downtime loss.
MOTOROLA IPMC761-001
Similar Product Recommendations
The IPMC series has several variants depending on the specific I/O mix required. The 761-001 is the most “complete” version featuring SCSI.
| Model Number | Compatibility | Main Difference | Integration Note |
| IPMC761-001 | ✅ Direct | Full I/O: SCSI/Ethernet/Serial/Parallel | Most common for storage-heavy systems. |
| IPMC712 | ❌ Incompatible | Different transition module mapping | Used for older MVME162/172 series. |
| MVME761 | ⚠️ Related | Transition Module (Rear) | Required for breakout of serial/parallel ports to DB connectors. |
Troubleshooting Quick Reference
| Symptom | Possible Cause | Relevance | Action |
| SCSI “Time Out” | Termination Issue | ✅ High | Ensure the SCSI bus is terminated at the last physical device. |
| Ethernet No Link | Driver / PHY Fault | ✅ High | Check the Intel 82559 status in the VxWorks or LynxOS boot log. |
| Board Not Detected | Seat / Pin Alignment | ✅ High | Reseat the PMC onto the baseboard; check for bent pins in the PCI connector. |
| Serial Port Garbled | Baud Rate / Pinout | ⚠️ Medium | Verify you are using the correct MVME761 transition cable/module. |
Technical SOP & Quality Guarantee
Mezzanine cards are delicate due to their high-density PCI connectors. Our testing is meticulous:
- SCSI Loopback Test: We connect an Ultra-Wide SCSI drive and perform a 2GB read/write verify to ensure the Symbios controller is 100% stable.
- PCI Bridge Verification: We mount the IPMC on a test MVME5100 and verify that all PCI registers are correctly mapped in the system memory.
- Port Throughput: We run a ping test on the Ethernet port and a loopback on all four serial ports to ensure no packet loss or bit errors.
- Connector Integrity: We inspect the mezzanine pins under a microscope to ensure no oxidation or misalignment.
Engineer’s Note: When installing the IPMC761-001 on an MVME5100 or similar, always use the correct height spacers. If the card is slightly tilted, it can cause intermittent PCI bus resets that are a nightmare to troubleshoot.
