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ControlCARD socket obsolescence

Crcarle
Intellectual 280 points

Hi:

I am interested in using ControlCARDs, and possibly a ControlCARD developed in-house putting a F2812 on a DIMM168 form factor like the 28346 ControlCARD.

In the case of both the DIMM 100 and DIMM 168, sockets for these are becoming obsolete in the marketplace.  It may be possible to get 25 degree angled DIMM 168 sockets for some time, but straight sockets are becoming almost unobtanium.

This affects both TI who is manufacturing the ControlCARD docking stations, as well as users who plan to use the ControlCARDs for applications.

Does anyone have any thoughts about this?  Has TI stocked sockets to the level that agrees with their expected volume of ControlCARD sales?  I just worry that this issue could mean that ControlCARDs have a limited production life in TI's roadmap.

Thanks for comments.

  • 0
    TI__Guru 57255 points

    CrCarle,

    The DIM100 socket is used quite heavily in many of our application kits and we're pretty invested in it.  Currently we have no plans of abandoning the DIM100 format.  We currently hold a large number of DIM100 sockets and we are even stocking them (http://focus.ti.com/docs/toolsw/folders/print/tmdsdim100con5pk.html) for those who wish to use them for internal development purposes.  In addition, Tyco has a compatible connector (5390213-1) which they are supporting.

    See more: http://e2e.ti.com/support/microcontrollers/tms320c2000_32-bit_real-time_mcus/f/171/p/58417/209721.aspx#209721


    We'll continue to support DIM168 for the F28346, but we do not really have any plans to continue to build new controlCARDs in the DIM168 format.  Research is still ongoing on what C2000 will use as our high pin count connector moving forward (for Delfino & Concerto).


    Thank you,
    Brett

  • 0 in reply to Brett Larimore
    Intellectual 280 points

    Thanks for the reply.

    When do you think the research on the next high-pin-count connector will reach a conclusion? 

    This is sort of frustrating, because I had hoped to open-source a design for an F2812 based DIMM168 ControlCARD, so people who wanted to use F2812 but needed XINTF brought out to the backplane would have a solution.  But the obsolescence of the connector creates a conundrum.

    I need to go ahead and build something because we need to deploy F2812 HW ASAP.  But if I choose to commit to the DIMM168 connector, it won't be a viable long-term path, nor will a design based on it be as useful to others as I had hoped.

     

  • 0 in reply to Crcarle
    TI__Guru 57255 points

    Crcarle,

    We've done some initial work already on the high-pin count connector, but nothing has been finalized.  I'd say it will be another 3-5 months before our plans will start to firm up.

    I understand your frustration, the road to obsolescence has been unkind to our plans as well, fortunately because of the quantity we buy we've been able to reduce much of the pain for ourselves and for our customers as well.

    Like you, I've also seen several DIM168 sockets obtainable in an angled connector.  I know that the connector was generally used for memory and in printers and I think that angled was the common was it was used.  Therefore, the angled versions may still last for awhile (from Molex and Tyco).

    I still think there is some benefit to open sourcing a F2812 DIM168 design.  Even though the F281x series is not as recent as some of our other device families, it is very widely used.  Because of this I think I could see some interest.


    Thank you,
    Brett

  • 0 in reply to Brett Larimore
    Intellectual 280 points

    Thanks for the input, Brett.

    I also have seen the angled connectors.  I will buy a few and see if I can make a back-plane that is compatible with both straight and angled connectors.