(Click here for larger image of i.MX31 reference platform)GDA says its Smart Phone Reference Platform provides a complete set of video display and wireless subsystems that span the range from mid-level to high-end phones. This allows OEMs to easily evaluate various functional subsystems, such as GSM/EDGE, WiFi, Bluetooth, LCD, and camera.
Block diagram of GDA's smartphone reference platform
(Click image for larger view)Features and specifications of the GDA smartphone reference platform are said to include:
- Processor -- Freescale iMX31 up to 532 MHz
- Memory -- 32 to 512 MB SDRAM, 32 to 128 MB NAND flash
- Display -- 2.83-inch TFT LCD with backlight and touchscreen
- Keypad -- 30 keys, 5 x 6 matrix, Windows keypad layout
- I/O ports:
- 2 USB 2.0 host
- USB 2.0 OTG interface
- 5 UART
- 2 SPI
- TV encoder
- Audio -- AC97 codec
- Expansion:
- SD/MMC
- PCMCIA/CompactFlash
- Wireless:
- Tri band GSM/GPRS module with antenna interface
- Bluetooth baseband processor with 2.4 GHz transceiver
- WiFi and GPS available as external modules
Netra's NI-2060 image processor SoC (system-on-chip) provides "print-quality" camera functionality for consumer devices, according to the company. It supports both CCD and CMOS sensors up to 3 Mpixels, and integrates an ARM7 processor together with a hardware-based image processing pipeline.
Nethra's NI-2060 image processor SoC block diagram
(Click image for larger view)Future Image senior analyst for Mobile Imaging Tony Henning stated, "GDA and Nethra Imaging have teamed to develop a platform that addresses the needs of handset and PDA manufacturers as they continue to introduce increasingly feature-rich smart phones for both personal and business users. This reference design gives OEMs the ability to reduce both the time and cost of developing smart phones while offering enhanced camera features such as Nethra is addressing with its imaging technology."
Both the GDA Smart Phone Reference Platform and the Nethra NI-2060 appear to be available now. Pricing was not disclosed. In addition to Windows Mobile, the combination of the reference platform and the Nethra image processor also support Linux and Symbian embedded OSes, the companies said.
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