| Petite i.MX31 module comes with Linux BSP |
Nov. 15, 2007
 Phytec has announced an embedded processor module aimed at simplifying the development of devices based on Freescale's highly-integrated i.MX31 SoC (system-on-chip). The PhyCore-i.MX31 comes with a Linux BSP, and is optionally available with a carrier board and touchscreen LCD.
The Freescale i.MX31 SoC, which forms the core of Phytec's 3.3 x 2.3-inch processor module, integrates an ARM1136 processor core along with a Java accelerator, a vector floating point math coprocessor, a video processing engine that supports full-motion (30 frames/sec) VGA video, and numerous other functions and interfaces (see block diagram).
 
The PhyCore-i.MX31 (left) fits onto the carrier board provided with the companion development kit (right)
On the PhyCore-i.MX31 module, the processor is clocked at a core frequency of 532 MHz. Offered memory configurations include 128 MB or 512 MB of RAM, 512 KB or 2 MB of SRAM, 32 MB or 64 MB of NOR flash, and 64 MB or 1 GB of NAND flash.
Features and specifications listed by Phytec for the PhyCore-i.MX31 processor module include:- Processor -- Freescale i.MX31 clocked at 532 MHz
- Memory:
- 128 MB or 512 MB of RAM
- 512 KB or 2 MB of SRAM
- 32 MB or 64 MB of NOR flash
- 64 MB or 1 GB of NAND flash
- Display -- accelerated LCD controller
- Networking -- 10/100 Ethernet
- Other I/O:
- ATA interface
- 3 x USB 2.0
- CAN SJA1000 field bus interface (on carrier board)
- 3 x SPI
- 2 x SSI (I2S)
- 3 x I2C
- 1-wire interface to fast IrDA
- 5 x serial ports
- Expansion:
- 2 x MMC/SD (1 card slot)
- PCMCIA/CompactFlash interface
- Dimensions -- 3.3 x 2.3 inches (84 x 58 mm)
- Temperature range -- 0 to 70 deg. C (-40 to +85 deg. C, "optional")
Development kit
Phytec says the PhyCore-i.MX31 is available as part of a "Rapid Development Kit" that includes a carrier board, a 3.5-inch QVGA LCD (Sharp LQ035Q7DH06) with integrated touch and LED backlighting, an AC power adapter for the required 5 VDC input, and a Phytec tools CD.
According to Phytec, signals pass from the PhyCore-i.MX31 to its companion carrier board via two high density, 200-pin connectors. The carrier board is said to include I/O connectors plus some interface circuitry not present on the module itself. Once programmed, the module can be removed from the carrier board and inserted like a "big chip" in a target hardware application.
Key features and specifications listed by Phytec for the carrier board include:- Networking -- RJ-45 10/100 Ethernet connector
- Audio -- AC97 audio/touch controller (Wolfson WM9713L) (microphone, speaker, line in, line out)
- Other I/O:
- GPIO expansion board connector (provides all signals from module to user port)
- USB host standard-A socket
- USB OTG connector
- 2 x DB-9 sockets for RS-232 interfaces
- DB-9 socket for CAN (CAN controller NXP SJA1000T)
- camera ZIF connector and pin header
- ZigBee connector
- Interface for matrix keyboard
- Lithium cell connector
- JTAG interface
- Expansion:
- CompactFlash card slot
- SD/MMC card slot
The carrier board also includes power on-off buttons, power LEDs, and a system reset button.
On the software side, the Linux BSP supplied by Phytec is currently available, although many features are not yet complete. The list below shows asterisks (*) for BSP features yet to be completed:- i.MX31
- DDRAM - detection of memory size*
- NOR Flash - CFI, boot device MTD drive
- NAND Flash - boot device*, MTD device*
- Ethernet 10/100MBit
- Serial COM interfaces - UART3, UART2, UART1
- USB Host - keyboard, mouse, memory devices
- USB OTG HS -USB Ethernet gadget, file storing gadget
- LCD display - 320 x 240, backlight control
- LCD display touch - tslib*, X11*
- SD/SDIO
- One wire interface*
- Audio - Line out, Line In, Mixer, MIC-IN
- Compact Flash
- SPI*
- I2C
- RTC*
- EEPROM*
- Camera interface*
- CAN
- SRAM battery buffered*
- Power Management*
Availability
According to Phytec, the PhyCore-i.MX31 module is available now for approximately $260. The Rapid Development Kit, including the module, LCD, and carrier board, costs approximately $849. The Linux BSP is available pre-installed on the board, or separately by emailing the company. Alternatively, the product is offered with support for Windows CE 6.0.
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