PowerQUICC® Processors Simplify Deterministic Industrial Networks
The Internet has changed the way we live, communicate and run our businesses. This enhanced connectivity is revolutionizing how embedded industrial machines autonomously exchange information via simple, low-cost, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) equipment running standard protocols to operate with increased capacity, better management and greater efficiency.
Industrial network protocols such as EtherNet/IP™, ETHERNET Powerlink, IEEE® 1588, PROFINET® and PROFIBUS® provide deterministic, reliable network operation in harsh environments such as industrial manufacturing, power systems, health care equipment and transportation systems. Freescale´s programmable PowerQUICC® communications processors support these protocols with high performance and integrate many features to reduce chip count while offering the flexibility to reprogram network protocols in microcode as they evolve or are replaced by the next best thing.
To help customers shorten time to revenue, Freescale is providing an Industrial Development Platform for the popular PowerQUICC II Pro communications processor in an industry-standard Computer On Module (COM) Express format. This platform provides the ability to evaluate both control and communications protocols for the industrial market.
Industrial Development Platform
The Reference Design Kit (MPC8360E-RDK ) highlights the capabilities of the MPC83xx PowerQUICC processors for applications that require high-performance connectivity and determinism. The platform supports graphics and touch screen capability in addition to popular interfaces such as Ethernet, 64-bit PCI controllers, UARTS, integrated security engine, USB, SPI, I2C, and (GPIO) pins. The platform ships with a Linux® board support package, bootloader, production-ready protocols for evaluation, and is supported by Freescale CodeWarrior® tools, Wind River Linux and VxWorks® and Green Hills INTEGRITY®/velOSity™. The protocols include: EtherNet/IP™ and DeviceNet™ which are licensable from Real Time Automation (RTA) and ETHERNET Powerlink and IEEE® 1588 which are licensable from IXXAT. Additional protocols are under development for this platform. This platform utilizes the industry-standard COM-Express module for the MPC8360E microprocessor which allows for future MPC83xx modules to be offered for this development environment.
- Target applications include industrial automation, communications, and networked medical devices
- Platform is supported by full software, tools and evaluation copies such as ETHERNET Powerlink, EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet and IEEE®1588 industrial protocols
Production Ready COM-Express Module
In addition, Freescale teamed up with Logic Product Development (LogicPD) to provide the COM-Express module of this development system to ship in production volumes.
Leverage the production-ready solution based on standard industry form factor - Pre-integrated, pre-tested, application-ready platform and protocol stacks from leading vendors IXXAT, Real Time Automation and LogicPD reduces significant amount of effort, cost and time to market
- Enables developers and manufacturers to focus on differentiation in their target markets by application-focused functionality
- Allows application portability enabling platform changes with minimized engineering effort
To reduce engineering development cost and risk, customized COM Express modules based on the development platform may be obtained by contacting LogicPD (www.LogicPD.com).
MPC8360E with QUICC Engine™ Technology is ideal for Industrial Protocols
Freescale´s MPC8360E PowerQUICC processor integrates an e300 core, built on Power Architecture™ technology, with the latest programmable QUICC Engine communications processor. QUICC Engine Technology supports a wide range of networking protocols across dual 32-bit RISC controllers. Its programmable microcode allows easy implementation and future revisions to industrial deterministic protocols similar to field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), while providing more flexibility than an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) approach.
QUICC Engine™ Technology Flexibility Ideal for Industrial Protocols - Offloads the core processor from communication and protocol traffic to increase bandwidth optimizing processor performance
- Achieves more efficient protocol implementation due to higher system integration of QUICC Engine coprocessor and the e300 core on one device
- Eliminates hardware, software, driver configuration and layout for a solution that requires more than one device to get the same functionality
- Eases migration and customization of protocols and upgrades through changes to microcode avoiding board re-design or implementing new devices
The MPC8360E processor supports a wide range of communications interfaces, such as MII, RMII, GMII, TBI, RTBI, NMSI, UTOPIA, POS and TDM. The dual 32-bit DDR memory controllers help to ensure high-speed memory access and a local system bus operating up to 133 MHz. System connectivity is further enhanced by dual UART, dual inter-integrated circuit (I2C), dual serial peripheral interface (SPI), PCI interfaces and Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface (USB 2.0 full-/low-speed compatible).
The MPC8360E processor also integrates the powerful integrated security engine derived from Freescale´s security coprocessor product line to offload algorithms such as DES, 3DES, MD-5, SHA-1, AES and ARC-4 encryption, as well as a public key accelerator and an on-chip random number generator. This integrated security engine is capable of single-pass encryption and authentication as required by IPsec, the IEEE® 802.11i standard and other security protocols..
The MPC8360E communications processor contains the fully-featured QUICC Engine of the PowerQUICC II Pro family running up to 500 MHz and the e300 core operating up to 667 MHz. Application software, which is developed for the MPC8360E, can easily port to other lower-priced members of the same product family, such as:
- The MPC8358E processor is pin-compatible with the MPC8360E, runs at lower frequencies and offers slightly fewer features to be cost-effective and lower power than the MPC8360E
- The MPC8323E and MPC8321E processors further reduce power consumption and cost by using the e300c2 core running up to 333 MHz, a single-RISC version of the QUICC Engine communications engine running up to 200 MHz supporting up to 5 network interfaces
