Motorola Inc has signed an agreement to second source a VME interface chip set from Newbridge Microsystems, based in Kanata, Ontario. Electronic News says that Motorola will market the Advanced VME Interface Chip Set, AVICS, as well as sourcing the 64-bit AVICS-64, currently under development. The chip set has two VLSI devices – the CA91C014 Advanced Architecture Control Circuit and the CA91C015 Data Address Register File. The first can be used in stand-alone applications, and comes in a 144-pin package, while the CA91C014 is in a 224-pin package. The chip set is said to adhere to the IEEE-1014 Revision D standard which enables transfers of 60Mbps, and the 64-bit transfer capability will be implemented by upgrading the CA91C015 through a pin-compatible route, thereby providing current 32-bit AVICS with an upgrade path to AVICS-64. AVICS are used by systems integrators for high-end VMEbus designs, especially in military applications, and it is Motorola’s Military Products division that will second source the chip-set. Newbridge Microsystems was established by Newbridge Networks Inc in 1990 after the parent company acquired Calmos Semiconductor, and it is planning to enter the Futurebus+ marketplace with a family of chip sets. The Canadian Department of National Defence has given the company a $500,000 grant to develop its Futurebus+ programme, and Newbridge plans to ship a device providing a tightly-coupled Motorola 88000 RISC local bus interface.
