ZCU111 - FMC+ to FMC Adapter

[dbanks122]

I have the ZCU111 Evaluation Board, and I will need to use a daughter board with a plain FMC connector (e.g. FMCOMMS3). This is different from the FMC+ HSPC connector that comes on the ZCU111. What adapters exist that I can use for this?

I found the following adapters from HiTech Global http://www.hitechglobal.com/FMCModules/FMC+ToFMC_Splitter.htm, but I am concerned that this board will not physically fit on the ZCU111 due to the ZCU111's SFP cage. I believe that both the left and the right turn versions of this adapter will turn towards the SFP cage and be blocked by it (one will turn left towards the fan, and one will turn right off the board and towards the cage). Even if the "right turn" option clears the SFP cage, it will likely block me from using the SFP slots.

The mechanical drawings of the FMC+ to FMC splitters from HiTech Global are attached.

I would greatly appreciate it if anyone could tell me with certainty that I can use one of these splitters with the ZCU111 or that another option exists for me to use plain FMC with the ZCU111.

Thank you in advance for your time and help,

dbanks122

[zhendon · Accepted solution]

Hi @dbanks122

It looks to me that left-turn model should work. The information on the website is limited and I cannot find the evidence that the left turn model will turn towards to the fan side after mounted. I suppose it should like below after mounted.

[nuelle85]

As stated by VITA, FMC+ is backwards compatibile:

https://www.vita.com/resources/Marketing%20Alliances/FMC/fmc__faq%20v8.8.pdf

"Backwards Compatibility: FMC+ allows for the mating of a female HSPC connector to a male HPC or LPC connector. Due to the large pin-count of the female connector, some of the pins will be “no connects”.  Note, the same configuration vice versa, will not function electrically or mechanically. FMC+ can only accept FMC mezzanines."

That means you can plug an FMC board (LPC/HPC male connector) into FMC+ (HSPC female connector). But I haven't tried this yet.

[dbanks122]

Thank you @nuelle85! I will try this and see if I can connect an FMC daughter board to the FMC+ HSPC connector. It would be best if I could get some further confirmation that this should work. Anything thoughts here @zhendon?

[dbanks122]

Thanks @zhendon! Look at the male FMC+ HSPC connectors on the splitter boards in this image:

Note that the connectors are horizontally flipped in the left turn and right turn versions. You can tell this is the case by looking closely at the connectors here and noting that the two little pieces of protruding plastic on each board point towards the center of this image. So the left turn option would need to be flipped over like you are turning back a page in a book (left over right) to fit in your image below. And the right turn option would need to be flipped up like a laptop screen (bottom over top). Both options would point towards the right in the image below:

[nuelle85]

@dbanks122They just mirrored the picture for simplicity! Don't rely on that images. It would make no sense to flip the connectors as well.

[tkontogiorgis]

Hello @dbanks122 ,

Thanks for the post really helped. Did you finally get solution? Is the Left Turn Option ok ? We are trying to configure the same thing ( ZCU111 FMC+ to FMCOMMS3 ).

Thanks,

Theo

[dbanks122]

@tkontogiorgisyes, the Left Turn Option was fins on the ZCU111 FMC+. Sorry, I forgot to mark a response as the "solution". I will do so now.