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. A Windows CE 6.0 image is preinstalled, and a 180-day evaluation CD with Windows CE 6.0 Visual Studio and Platform Builder is also included, but the BSP is a separate purchase, according to the company.

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.

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. A version of the kit with preinstalled Linux, and a separately available Linux BSP, are also available, the company said.

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