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ARM9-based SoCs get Windows Embedded Compact 7 BSPs
2010-07-01 Article Rating:  / 0
Adeneo Embedded announced Windows Embedded Compact 7 board support packages (BSPs) for Atmel's AT91SAM9G45 and AT91SAM9M10. Now downloadable in free binary images, the BSPs include drivers for the chips' video decoders, high-speed USB drivers, and advanced boot capabilities, the company says.
Made available at the beginning of June, Microsoft's Windows Embedded Compact 7 is an upgrade to Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R3. It features support for Adobe Flash 10.1 within its updated Internet Explorer web browser, easy viewing of DLNA (digital living network alliance) content, and development via Visual Studio 2008 and Silverlight for Windows Embedded. Companies that had provided Windows CE 6.0 BSPs for their devices have naturally hasted to announce Windows Embedded Compact 7 support. TI, for example, says a BSP will be "coming soon" for its ARM Cortex-A8 devices, such as the OMAP3530, Sitara AM3505, and Sitara AM3517. Adeneo, however, appears to be the first with finished Windows Embedded Compact 7 BSPs, aimed at Atmel's ARM9-based AT91SAM9G45 and AT91SAM9M10 (see later in this story for background). The BSPs include the drivers necessary for many of the chip's integrated peripherals, such as their H.264 video decoders, high-speed USB drivers, and advanced boot capabilities, the company says. Strict compliance with Microsoft PQOAL (Production-Quality OEM Adaptation Layer) and PQD (Production Quality Device) specifications ensure the BSPs are a very cost-effective way to develop custom solutions on the Atmel AT91SAM9 product line for Windows Embedded Compact 7, Adeneo claims. Only the portions of the BSPs handling board features would need review, and all code linked to the core CPUs is reusable without modifications, the company says. Yannick Chammings, CEO of Adeneo Embedded, stated, "Adeneo Embedded is very proud to provide the release of two new BSPs for Windows Embedded Compact 7. Now OEMs can evaluate the new Windows Embedded Compact 7 platform on the Atmel architecture early in their device development stage." Kim Chau, senior partner manager for Windows Embedded at Microsoft, stated, "Microsoft is excited to work with Adeneo Embedded in helping OEMs bring rich, connected devices to market quickly. Windows Embedded Compact 7, combined with proven BSPs and deep expertise in Silverlight development from Adeneo Embedded, provides the latest tools and technologies for OEMs developing on the Atmel processor-based microcontrollers, as well as other architectures." Background on the AT91SAM9G45 Announced in June of last year, Atmel's AT91SAM9G45 was touted for supporting DDR2 memory and data rates greater than 100Mbps. It clocks to 400MHz, supports LCD touchscreens and 3.3V power, and offers a 480Mbps USB interface, according to the chipmaker. The SAM9G45 is targeted at industrial applications including building automation, data loggers, POS terminals, alarm systems and medical equipment, says Atmel. According to the company, its move to DDR2 was spurred on by the recession, which has forced many memory vendors to shut down their SDRAM fabs. In short, SDRAM "is basically obsolete for current generation PCs," says the company. Like the AT91SAM9G20 announced in May 2008, the SAM9G45 uses an ARM926EJ-S core clocked to 400MHz, as well as 32KB each of data and instruction cache. This is twice the clock speed and four times the cache of the earlier AT91SAM9260. Like the SAM9G20, the SAM9G45 provides 64K of internal SRAM.  SAM9G45 architecture The processor integrates high speed (480Mbps) EHCI-compliant USB host and device ports with on-chip transceivers, says Atmel. Additional interfaces are said to include Ethernet, an LCD controller with resistive touch screen interface, as well as those for a CMOS camera and audio, says the company. Background on the AT91SAM9M10 Announced last January, the AT91SAM9M10 is said to be pin-compatible with the SAM9G45, and shares most of its fundamentals with the earlier SoC, including the 400MHz ARM926EJ core, the Ethernet MAC, the high-speed SD/SDIO/MMC interfaces, and an LCD controller with resistive touchscreen support. However, it steps ahead of its processor when it comes to video. According to Atmel, the SAM9M10's video decoder can process video streams at up to D1 (720 x 576 pixels), or WVGA (800 x 480) at 30 frames per second (fps), claims Atmel. The decoder is also said to support H264, H263, MPEG4, MPEG2, VC1, and JPEG formats. New 2D graphics acceleration, meanwhile, offers image scaling and image rotation, color space conversion (YUV to RGB), and picture-in-picture capability, says the company.  SAM9M10 architecture Further information According to Adeneo, sample demonstration binary images of the new BSPs are now available as free downloads from its website. Full source code is also available for a one-time license fee that is 100 percent royalty-free and includes 90 days of free support and maintenance, the company adds. Further information on Adeneo's BSPs for Atmel AT91-based designs may be found on the company's website, here. Related stories:
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