Freescale expands Tower System development platform to support Power Architecture® processors and microcontrollers

SEOUL--(Korea Newswire)--Freescale Semiconductor (NYSE: FSL) is expanding its popular Tower System modular development platform to include a series of high-performance solutions based on Power Architecture® technology.

A new Tower System module based on Power Architecture technology features the MPC8309 PowerQUICC communications processor, which is ideal for industrial, factory automation and entry-level networking applications. This new solution joins the existing MPC5125 module for industrial, networking, automotive, and human-machine interface (HMI) markets. Future modules in the Tower System series based on Power Architecture technology are planned to include Freescale’s QorIQ microprocessors (MPUs) and Freescale’s PX series of microcontrollers (MCUs).

Freescale has established industry-leading positions in networking, automotive, industrial and other growth markets by leveraging the scalability, energy efficiency and high performance of Power Architecture technology. The technology is at the heart of a broad range of innovative Freescale products, from sophisticated multicore processors engineered to meet and exceed the stringent performance requirements of next-generation networking applications to ruggedized, ultra-low-power microcontrollers designed for the world’s most cost-competitive embedded markets.

Freescale’s Tower System modules based on Power Architecture technology offer the richest feature sets found in the Tower System form factor. The Tower System provides a common development platform for Power Architecture devices that range in performance from 60 to 2550 Dhrystone million instructions per second (DMIPS). Tower System solutions share the MQX real-time operating system (RTOS) and CodeWarrior integrated development environment (IDE), helping designers optimize their software investment by allowing reuse across a broad spectrum of Power Architecture MPUs and MCUs.

“The newest Tower System modules based on Power Architecture technology package Freescale’s embedded control and networking expertise in an affordable, rapid-prototyping platform for industrial applications,” said Dhiraj Handa, director and general manager of Freescale’s Customer Specific Products (CSP) business unit. “The MPC8309 processor module is an easy-to-use prototyping solution for applications such as robotic systems, industrial networking and factory automation.”

Tower System modules featuring the MPC8309 processor
The new Tower System MPC8309 offering includes two main modules:
· The MPC8309 processor module (TWR-MPC8309), measuring only 64 mm x 110 mm, supports comprehensive connectivity, such as dual 10/100 Ethernet ports with IEEE® 1588 support, dual USB 2.0 connectors, twin RS-485 headers for PROFIBUS support, audio ports for headphone and microphone jacks, a mini-PCI connector and an SD card slot.
· The optional, touch-LCD daughter card (MPC830x-TLCD) features a 3.2” QVGA color LCD display, with a 12-key capacitive touch keypad.

The TWR-MPC8309 main processor module can be used with the MPC830x-TLCD daughter card as a standalone or single board computer (SBC) for applications such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs), gateways and operator interface terminals. The modules also support the development of robotics, test/measurement and many other factory automation applications.

At the heart of Freescale’s newest Tower System offering is the highly versatile PowerQUICC MPC8309 communications processor. Its e300 Power Architecture core offers double precision floating point, 16 Kbytes of instruction and data cache, and up to 835 DMIPS (at 417 MHz) of performance, while consuming less than 1.6 watts of power. The processor’s integrated QUICC Engine controller can reduce cost and design complexity by running communications protocols such as PROFINET, PROFIBUS and EtherNet/IP™ that would otherwise require external ASICs or FPGAs.

Tower System PX series modules coming soon
New Tower System modules featuring Freescale’s PX series of Power Architecture MCUs are planned for availability in early 2012.

The Freescale PX series of MCUs targets complex industrial control applications, such as motion control, power generation, medical, aerospace, defense, motor drives, renewable energy conversion and robotics. The devices are engineered to address stringent industrial market requirements for processing performance, safety and integration. Based on the e200 Power Architecture core, PX series MCUs offer single-core performance up to 600 DMIPS, multicore options and up to 4 MB of embedded flash memory. A single PX series MCU can control up to six motors, process complex math algorithms and manage more than the typical three communications connections – all at the same time.

Availability and pricing
Customers can order the TWR-MPC8309 processor module ($199 USD, MSRP) and MPC830x-TLCD touch-LCD daughter card ($99 USD, MSRP) starting this month, with deliveries planned to begin in November. The TWR-MPC8309 processor module is packaged with cables and a Quick Start CD with full schematics and GERBER design files. Software supplied with the TWR-MPC8309 processor module includes Uboot, diagnostic and debug utilities, as well as Linux® OS and MQX RTOS support.

A packaged TWR-MPC8309-KIT planned for the first quarter of 2012 will include a TWR-MPC8309 processor module with TWR-INDCRTL and TWR-ELEV peripheral modules. The TWR-INDCTRL extends the industrial connectivity options on the TWR-MPC8309 by adding a third 10/100 Ethernet port, four CAN, two SPI, an I2C and four motor control ports.

TWR-MPC8309 components may be ordered individually from Freescale or authorized distributors. The MPC8309 processor is shipping now for less than $9 (USD, MSRP) in 10K quantities. To learn more, visit www.freescale.com/TowerPower.

Website: http://www.freescale.com

This is a news release distributed by Korea Newswire on behalf of this company.