Date: 24/11/2010

TI releases its new ARM9 based Sitara MPU for industrial applications

Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) has launched its AM1810 Sitara ARM microprocessor (MPU), a new single-chip ARM9 solution with an integrated PROFIBUS interface, the worlds’ most popular fieldbus used for communications between factory automation equipment. AM1810 Sitara ARM MPU connects the PROFIBUS interface directly to the RS-485 transceiver to eliminate the need for an external PROFIBUS, ASIC or FPGA, which saves development time and cost while improving system performance. The AM1810 Sitara ARM MPU is suggested for industrial applications such as programmable logic controller (PLC) or human machine interface (HMI).

TI claims the save in bill of materials (BOM) is up to 30 percent.

The PROFIBUS real-time frame handler, called the Fieldbus Data Link (FDL), is implemented utilizing the Programmable Real-Time Unit (PRU), which is part of the AM1810 Sitara ARM MPU on-chip peripherals. The PRU is tightly coupled with the ARM processor through the on-chip system bus, yielding shorter control cycle time and increased system response time – running up to 12 MBaud PROFIBUS decentralized peripherals (DP) communication. Multiple memory options allow customers to run a PROFIBUS node without external memory, booting through serial flash and running PROFIBUS on internal RAM. The solution also has an operating system abstraction layer, which makes the PROFIBUS DP protocol stack independent of the operating system, allowing complete design flexibility.

The TI PROFIBUS DP slave implementation earned the PI certification through ComDeC, a PROFIBUS Certification Lab hosted by Siemens AG. This particular certification was earned on the PROFIBUS interface on TI’s AM1810 Sitara ARM MPU.

“In the industrial space, the PROFIBUS standard is synonymous with reliable networking, and with this certification, TI is giving a higher assurance that our product is a quality alternative to existing solutions,” said Ram Sathappan, industrial end equipments manager, Texas Instruments Inc. “We are very excited to be a member of PI and introduce our certified AM1810 Sitara ARM MPU PROFIBUS solution to the industrial market. Our aim is to help our customers reduce BOM costs, PCB space and design time. We are confident that TI’s one chip solution, the AM1810 Sitara ARM MPU with PROFIBUS, will do just that.”

In addition to the PROFIBUS interface, the AM1810 Sitara ARM MPU supports EtherCAT Master protocol on the integrated Ethernet port. This allows industrial designers to develop products with multi-protocol support.

Price:
TMDXEVM1810 evaluation module (EVM): US$995.
AM1810 Sitara ARM MPU with PROFIBUS: Each US$9.95 for 1K pieces

Availability: AM1810 Sitara ARM MPU with PROFIBUS is sampling now