Using ATCA for Low-Latency

Computer systems embedded in industrial equipment are often called upon to perform complex calculations and deliver low-latency deterministic responses. Examples in this class of control-system applications include simple motor controllers, complex hardware-in-the-loop simulators, and high-precision position-controller sub-systems in semiconductor or micro-manufacturing equipment. When the computing requirements exceed the capacity of any one processor, a single system might need to incorporate multiple processors to accomplish the complex processing.

Driven by intense competition, manufacturers of high-precision industrial equipment continue to push the limits of technology, and place extremely rigorous requirements on their embedded computing platforms. These industrial applications often include a control-loop component with rigidly deterministic response time requirements. Applications that use adaptive optics, such as laser welding or energy beam weapons, fall into this category, as do microlithography applications for semiconductor production. In fact, the semiconductor industry, with its constant drive for greater density, more precision, and faster operations, faces a uniquely formidable set of technical and economic challenges.