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Processor combines Coretex-A8 core with graphics and digital-signal processing

By Robert Cravotta, Technical Editor -- EDN, 2/26/2008

Texas Instruments’ latest OMAP (Open Multimedia Applications Platform) processors integrate a superscalar, 600-MHz ARM Coretex-A8 core with DSP processing, HD (high-definition)-video acceleration, and 2- and 3-D graphics engines. The devices, which can operate with Windows CE or Linux operating systems, target applications with graphics interfaces and video capabilities for power-constrained products, such as handheld devices for home management and patient monitoring, as well as graphical user interfaces for consumer and home appliances.

The entry-level device of the family, the OMAP3503, is available for sampling and includes the same peripheral set as the other OMAP35x processors: USB 2.0 HS (high-speed)-compliant OTG (On-The-Go) controllers with two additional USB-host controllers. It also includes a display subsystem with support for PIP (picture in picture), color-space conversion, rotation, and resizing. All the devices include interface support for LCDs, SDTVs (standard-definition televisions), and HDTVs (high-definition televisions) and support for LPDDR (low-power-double-data-rate), NOR, and NAND memories, along with SRAM and pseudoSRAM. The OMAP3503 is available for $19.95 (10,000) in a 0.4-mm-pitch package. A 0.65-mm-pitch version will be available in the second half of 2008.

The OMAP3515 and 3530 add a 2- and 3-D graphics engine that supports Open GL ES (graphics language for embedded systems) 2.0 graphics based on Imagination Technologies’ PowerVR SGX graphics accelerator that can deliver 10 million-polygon/sec performance. The fully featured OMAP3530 adds a 64x+ DSP core and HD-video accelerators that can support performance to MPEG-4 SP with 720p decoding at 30 frames/sec. The OMPA3525 omits the Open GL ES 2.0 engine, but it includes the C64x+ DSP and HD-video accelerator of the OMAP3530 processor. The OMAP 3515, 3525, and 3530 will be available in the second half of 2008 along with development tools that will leverage the DaVinci technology-programming model.

To provide support in power-constrained applications, these processors use Texas Instruments’ SmartReflex technologies, which allow the system to dynamically control the voltage, frequency, and overall power consumption based on the device’s activity. To support developers, the OMAP35x evaluation module includes an OMAP3503 processor with a Linux board-support package based on the 2.6.22 kernel, peripheral drivers, a U-boot for boot loading, and a Busybox-based root-file system. A Windows CE board-support package will be available in the second quarter of 2008. The evaluation module includes 640-Mbyte SDRAM and 128 Mbytes of NAND flash, a touchscreen LCD, support for portrait and landscape modes, and a DVI (digital-video-interface) output. It supports Ethernet, USB 2.0, SDIO (secure digital input/output), I²C, JTAG, keypad connectivity, and daughtercards. It sports S-video output via NTSC/PAL (National Television System Committee/phase-alternation-line)and YpbPr/RGB, and it can connect with CompactFlash, SD/MMC (secure-digital/multimedia-card), and DDR memories. The evaluation module is available for $1499, and it includes an integrated power-management and analog feature for OMPA35x devices.