Abaco Systems / Condor Engineering CEI520A-1616 ARINC Interface for PCI

The Abaco Systems / Condor Engineering CEI520A-1616 is a PCI-based ARINC interface card engineered for avionics and aerospace databus applications. This intelligent card delivers up to 16 independent receive and 16 independent transmit channels supporting ARINC 429 at 12.5 KHz or 100 KHz data rates, plus additional ARINC protocols including 419, 561, 571, 573, 575, 582, 717, and CSDB. The card features on-board message scheduling, configurable label and SDI filtering, multiple buffering modes, time-tagged message capture, and error injection and detection capabilities.

– Technical Specifications

ARINC 429 Interface
• Receive channels: Up to 16
• Transmit channels: Up to 16
• Data rates: 12.5 KHz or 100 KHz
• Input levels (standard): ±6.5 to ±13 VDC (A to B)
• Input levels (parametric threshold): ±0.1 to ±13.5 VDC (A to B)
• Output level (standard): ±10 VDC (A to B)
• Output voltages (parametric): 0 to ±10 VDC (A to B)
• Parity options: Odd, even, or none
• Error reporting: Parity detection
• Slew rate adjustment: Automatic on transmit channels

Discrete I/O
• Discrete inputs: 0, 8, or 16 (avionics-level and TTL/CMOS compatible)
• Discrete outputs: 0, 8, or 16 (low-side switches, 0.5 A sink capability per channel)

Physical & Bus Interface
• Form factor: PCI short card (6.8 in. × 4.2 in.)
• PCI signaling: CEI520A supports 3.3V or 5V; earlier CEI-520 supports 5V only

– Key Features

• Fully independent operation across all channels
• High-performance on-board processor
• Label and/or SDI filtering
• Multiple buffering modes: dedicated, buffered, and merged
• Error injection options: parity, gap, high or low bit count
• Dual-Mode functionality (ARINC 573/717) supporting Harvard Bi-Phase (HBP) or Bi-Polar Return to Zero (BPRZ)
• Time-tagged message capture
• Optional ruggedized configurations for extended operating temperatures
• Programmable receive level thresholds (parametric option)
• Adjustable transmit output voltages (parametric option)

– Typical Applications

Avionics databus integration, aerospace test and development, real-time message processing, multi-protocol ARINC system validation.

– Compatibility & Integration

The CEI520A-1616 integrates into standard PCI systems with universal voltage signaling support, enabling deployment across legacy 5V platforms and modern 3.3V infrastructure.