Amfeltec Corp. SKU-037 User manual

Flexible MiniPCI to PCI Express
Adapter
Hardware Manual
June 01, 2011
Revision 1.1
Amfeltec Corp. www.amfeltec.com Copyright ©2009 Amfeltec Corp.
35 Fifefield dr.
Maple, ON L6A 1J2

Contents
Contents
1About this Document........................................................................................................................1
1.1Purpose ................................................................................................................................1
1.2Feedback..............................................................................................................................1
1.3Revision History....................................................................................................................1
2General Description .........................................................................................................................2
2.1Introduction...........................................................................................................................2
3Requirements/Features ...................................................................................................................5
3.1Power Source.......................................................................................................................5
3.2Software................................................................................................................................5
4Hardware Description ......................................................................................................................6
4.1Board Layout ........................................................................................................................6
4.2LEDs.....................................................................................................................................7
4.3Connectors ...........................................................................................................................7
5Installation........................................................................................................................................8
5.1Hardware Installation............................................................................................................8
6Ordering Information........................................................................................................................9
6.1Standard package.................................................................................................................9
7Appendix A: Limited warranty........................................................................................................10
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Contents
Flexible MiniPCI to PCI Express Adapter Hardware Manual Revision 1.1
Page iii
Figures
Figure 1: Flexible MiniPCI to PCIe Adapter...............................................................................................2
Figure 2: MiniPCI Host card.......................................................................................................................3
Figure 3: x1 PCI Express adapter board (powered from MiniPCI Host card) ...........................................3
Figure 4: x1 PCI Express adapter board (powered from ATX power supply)...........................................4
Figure 5: x1 PCI Express adapter board (powered from external 12V power supply)..............................4
Figure 6: MiniPCI Host card layout............................................................................................................6
Figure 7: x1 PCI Express adapter board layout.........................................................................................6
Tables
Table 1: MiniPCI Host card LEDs..............................................................................................................7
Table 2: MiniPCI Host card connectors.....................................................................................................7
Table 3: x1 PCI Express Adapter board connectors .................................................................................7

About this Document
1 About this Document
1.1 Purpose
This document describes Hardware installation, features, specification and operation for
AMFELTEC Flexible MiniPCI to PCI Express Bus Adapter (SKU-037).
1.2 Feedback
AMFELTEC Corp. makes every effort to ensure that the information contained in this document
is accurate and complete at time of release. Please contact AMFELTEC Corp. if you find any
errors, inconsistence or have trouble understanding any part of this document.
To provide your feedback, please send an email to [e-mail]
Your comments or corrections are greatly valued in our effort for excellence and continued
improvement.
1.3 Revision History
Rev. No. Description Rev. Date
1.0 Initial Release. December 10, 2009
1.1 Update hardware installation instructions June 01, 2011
Flexible MiniPCI to PCI Express Adapter, Hardware Manual, Revision 1.1
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General Description
2 General Description
2.1 Introduction
Flexible MiniPCI to PCI Express Bus Adapter (Adapter) (Figure 1) is designed to support
expansion of modern motherboards with limited numbers of PCI or PCI Express Connectors.
Adapter converts the standard 124-pin MiniPCI motherboard slot into x1 PCI Express slots.
Figure 1: Flexible MiniPCI to PCIe Adapter
It includes MiniPCI Host card (Figure 2) and x1 PCI Express adapter board (Figure 3/Figure
4/Figure 5). The MiniPCI Host card has to be plugged into an upstream MiniPCI motherboard
connector. PCI Express adapter connects to the main MiniPCI Host card via 12” Flex PCI
Express cable. The expansion x1PCI Express add-in board has to be plugged into the standard
PCI Express connector on the PCI Express adapter board.
Because of the flexible nature of the connection (unlike traditional rigid risers), expansion PCI
Express add-in boards can be positioned away from the MiniPCI Host card, including around any
obstacles inside a computer chassis. PCI Express adapter has two mounting holes allowing them
to be securely fixed inside a computer chassis. An additional the x1 PCI Express adapter board
has two support tabs for mechanical stabilization of add-in PCI Express expansion board (US
Patent 7,255,570).
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General Description
Figure 2: MiniPCI Host card
The Adapter functions right out of the box, no additional software needs to be installed. The
MiniPCI Host card has LEDs for displaying downstream PCI Express Link status as well as
expansion PCI Express add-in card “PRESENT” status.
Figure 3: x1 PCI Express adapter board (powered from MiniPCI Host card)
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General Description
Figure 4: x1 PCI Express adapter board (powered from ATX power supply)
Figure 5: x1 PCI Express adapter board (powered from external 12V power supply)
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Requirements/Features
3 Requirements/Features
3.1 Power Source
The power for the expansion PCI Express add-in board can be supplied from tree different
sources:
•From MiniPCI Host card (3.3 volt only) via power cable and x1 PCI Express adapter board
(Figure 2)
•From standard ATX power supply (“floppy disk” connector)(12 and 5 volts) via x1 PCI
Express adapter board (Figure 3)
•From any 12 volt power supply via x1 PCI Express Adapter board (Figure 4)
3.2 Software
There is no software needed for normal operations.
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Hardware Description
4 Hardware Description
4.1 Board Layout
Figure 6: MiniPCI Host card layout
Figure 7: x1 PCI Express adapter board layout
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Hardware Description
4.2 LEDs
Name RefDes Color Usage
PRESENT D3 Blue “PRSNT” signal from PCI Backplane
LINK UP D4 Green PCI Express link status between PCI Backplane and
MiniPCI Host card
Table 1: MiniPCI Host card LEDs
4.3 Connectors
RefDes Type Usage
J3 Upstream MiniPCI
connector (124 pin) Connection to the upstream MiniPCI bus on motherboard
J9 Power connector Optional (3.3V only)
J4 PCI Express Flex
Cable connector Connector via Flex PCI Express Cable to the x1 PCI Express adapter boards.
Table 2: MiniPCI Host card connectors
RefDes Type Usage
J1 PCI Express Flex
Cable connector Connector via Flex PCI Express Cable to the MiniPCI host card.
J2 “Floppy disk” male
power connectors Incoming power for the expansion x1 PCI Express add-in boards
U2 Downstream 1x PCI Express female
connector Connection to the expansion x1 PCI Express add-in board.
Table 3: x1 PCI Express Adapter board connectors
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Installation
5 Installation
5.1 Hardware Installation
Following steps provide the exact sequence need to be followed in order to properly install the
Flexible MiniPCI to PCI Express Bus Adapter from AMFELTEC Corp.:
Warning: Before touching anything inside the computer or any components, be sure to
discharge your body’s static electricity by touching a grounded surface.
•Turn off host computer and unplug it from the wall outlet.
•Remove the chassis cover or side panel from host computer. Refer to the computer manual
for instructions if you need them.
•If the unit is a tower unit, turn it over on its side to make access easier.
•Ground yourself to the PC case. Attach a grounding wrist strap (if available) to the
computer’s metal chassis and your wrist. CAUTION: If you choose not to use the grounding
wrist strap, be sure to take adequate precautions to discharge static electricity from your body
before touching any components.
•Insert PCI Express Flex Cable into the connectors on the MiniPCI Host card and on the PCI
Express Adapter.
•Install the host card into the motherboard MiniPCI slot.
•Place and retain PCI Express Adapter inside the chassis.
•Connect power to the PCI Express Adapter.
•Holding your add-in card by its edges and the mounting bracket, position the card with the
contacts downward over the PCI Express slot and insert the card into the slot. Do not let it
touch any of the components on the motherboard or PCI Express Adapter.
•Now, you can close computer cover and power-up the host computer.
BE SURE THAT GREEN LED D4 and BLUE LED D3 ARE ON!
(Downstream Link status “ON” and x1 PCI Express add-in board “PRESENT”)
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Ordering Information
6 Ordering Information
6.1 Standard package
Standard package include the following components:
•MiniPCI Host card
•x1 PCI Express adapter board with PCI Express Flex cable
•User manual
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Appendix A: Limited warranty
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7 Appendix A: Limited warranty
AMFELTEC Corporation does not warrant that the operation of the hardware, software or
firmware products will be uninterrupted or error free. AMFELTEC products are not intended to
be used as critical components in life support systems, aircraft, military systems or other systems
whose failure to perform can reasonably be expected to cause significant injury to humans.
AMFELTEC expressly disclaims liability for loss of profits and other consequential damages
caused by the failure of any product which would cause interruption of work or loss of profits,
such as shipboard or military attachment.
THIS LIMITED WARRANTY IS IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED
OR IMPLIED. THE WARRANTIES PROVIDED HEREIN ARE BUYER’S SOLE REMEDIES.
IN NO EVENT SHALL AMFELTEC CORPORATION BE LIABLE FOR DIRECT, SPECIAL,
INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES SUFFERED OR INCURRED
AS A RESULT OF THE USE OF, OR INABILITY TO USE THESE PRODUCTS. THIS
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY REMAINS IN FORCE EVEN IF AMFELTEC CORPORATION
IS INFORMED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation on incidental or consequential damages, so
the above limitation and exclusion may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal
rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.