We had a feeling that Freescale was onto something when it debuted a i.MX508, a system-on-a-chip that carried a guarantee of $150 e-readers (and a being of $129 ones). Given that, we can see where a execs during Freescale would be feeling a bit heady, as good as competence consternation where else they could assistance pull down prices. That’s just what we have here: a outfit is trotting out 3 latest i.MX50 processors and, as we can see in that accessible draft up there, they all lay even reduce in a lineup than a low-cost i.MX508. Like a i.MX508, they all container an 800HMz ARM Cortex-A8 processor, between alternative identical specs. The latest i.MX507, in particular, resembles a i.MX508 in that it’s written to work with E Ink displays, yet it lacks graphics acceleration, as good as Freescale imagines it’ll instead find a home in outside signs as good as intelligent labels. Moving upon down a line, a i.MX502 as good as a i.MX503 were both dictated for inclination with LCD — not electronic paper — displays, with a latter charity OpenVG graphics acceleration. If Freescale’s predictions have been upon a money, you’ll find a lower-end i.MX502 in DECT phones as good as vending appurtenance displays, as good as a i.MX503 in personal navigators as good as healing monitoring tablets, between alternative operate cases. For now, companies have been sampling a chips, though they’ll begin shipping after this entertain for a strain — reduction than $10 for a i.MX502 during volume cost. Full PR after a break, as good as lots some-more technical sum during a source link. Show full PR textNew Freescale i.MX height extends to advanced, low-power arrangement applications
i.MX50 processors with program as good as dedicated appetite government IC yield single-source solutions that streamline growth as good as assistance speed time-to-market
AUSTIN, Texas, July 11, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Building upon a care in a eReader marketplace as good as clever invasion in to consumer as good as ubiquitous embedded spaces, Freescale Semiconductor FSL -2.33% is expanding a portfolio of i.MX applications processors that confederate hardware-based arrangement controllers as good as ARM(R) Cortex(TM)-A8 cores with 3 latest members of a i.MX50 product family that capacitate constrained finish inclination featuring LCD and/or electronic paper displays (EPDs). Combined with Freescale’s interrelated latest MC34708 appetite government IC (PMIC), this rarely optimized height helps speed time to marketplace as good as allows business to buy right-sized, easy-to-use solutions for their specific applications.
The union of hardware-based arrangement carry out record is a hallmark of a i.MX50 product family. Freescale voiced a primary part of of a family final year with a key of a i.MX508 system-on-chip (SoC). Designed to accelerate as good as magnify Freescale’s estimate care for a flourishing eReader market, a i.MX508 was a initial SoC to confederate modernized ARM Cortex-A8 record with a hardware-based arrangement controller from E Ink.
Offering tall resolution, easy readability as good as well-developed appetite efficiency, EPDs concede systems designers to emanate sparkling latest display-based products that broach ultra-low appetite expenditure as good as intensely prolonged battery life. EPD record is preferred for applications such as digital signage, kiosks as good as home/office industrialisation apparatus for that “always-on” functionality is essential.
Freescale’s i.MX50 family of applications processors provides optimal pattern coherence as good as efficiency. Ample mental recall bandwidth helps i.MX50 processors capacitate faster mental recall connectors for optimized complement performance. Integrating an extended pixel estimate tube (ePxP) as good as a OpenVG(TM) hardware accelerator, a inclination concede business to arrangement modernized graphics as good as UIs with minimal CPU overhead. An integrated, extended LCD interface offers limit arrangement flexibility, ancillary even a coexisting deployment of EPD as good as LCD displays in a singular finish product. The i.MX50 processors await LCD displays with fortitude up to 1280 x 1024 pixels (SGXA).
“Freescale is delivering comprehensive, optimized solutions with appetite assets as good as stretchable pattern features, permitting business one-stop shopping, ease-of-use as good as discerning time to market,” pronounced Ken Obuszewski, executive of product selling for Freescale’s Multimedia Applications Division. “Our latest i.MX50 inclination suggest an superb resolution for made easy arrangement applications, as good as right away with a extensive portfolio to select from, business can collect a most appropriate choice for their specific product needs.”
The i.MX508 is right away in production, as good as a one some-more i.MX50 products have been sampling now, with volume accessibility approaching to follow after in Q3 2011. The i.MX502 is a lowest-cost processor offering, as good as during reduction than $10 USD (MSRP), provides await for tall performance, LCD-based applications such as vending machines as good as DECT phones. The i.MX503 supports OpenVG increase in speed as good as is preferred for unstable products requiring some-more modernized user interfaces such as healing monitoring tablets as good as PNDs. The i.MX507 as good as i.MX508 products both await a EPD controller, with opposite levels of graphics capabilities for targeted EPD markets.
“E Ink is collaborating with Freescale to confederate hardware, facilitate pattern as good as reduce altogether complement costs,” pronounced Giovanni Mancini, executive of product government for E Ink Holdings. “This partnership is formulating latest markets for ePaper/semiconductor solutions.”
Freescale skeleton to suggest an i.MX50 analysis pack (EVK), as good as an eReader anxiety design. Both growth solutions embody customized house await packages to streamline development.
Complementary appetite government IC
Freescale’s joining to system-level growth await for a i.MX50 family additionally includes appetite government technology. Designed privately for operate with a i.MX50 family as good as a i.MX53 product line, Freescale’s latest MC34708 PMIC facilities a tall turn of formation targeted toward single-cell Li-ion applications. The MC34708 incorporates a series of appetite reserve to await a i.MX processor, as good as an form of complement marginal ICs. An integrated dual-input switching horse allows for faster assign time from possibly approach submit supply or USB input, where it supports auto-charge modes agreeable with a concept charging standard. An integrated mini/micro-USB switch allows for porting of audio, UART as good as USB by a singular connector, shortening complement price as good as enabling a some-more streamlined cultured design. Additional facilities embody a coulomb counter, ubiquitous role 10-bit ADC, genuine time time with backup battery as good as charger, indicator LED drivers as good as 6 GPIO ports.
The MC34708 PMIC additionally can be used in a series of non-battery powered applications where a horse sire is used for supplemental supply generation. A family of products written to aim varying levels of formation aligned to specific finish applications have been programmed to follow a MC34708.
Development support
Freescale’s i.MX50 as good as MC34708 solutions have been accessible as anxiety designs with full program BSPs as good as corroborated by integrated technical support. The i.MX50 EVK is a singular house resolution with discretionary arrangement add-ons. Freescale additionally offers a Smart Application Blueprint for Rapid Engineering (SABRE) height for eReaders anxiety pattern as good as Linux as good as Android(TM) program for quick time to market.
Availability as good as pricing
Samples of a i.MX502, i.MX503 as good as i.MX507 have been accessible right away as good as begin during $9.97 USD referred to resale for 10K units. The MC34708 additionally is sampling right away as good as is accessible in both 8mm x 8mm 0.5mm representation BGA as good as 13mm x 13mm 0.8mm representation BGA versions. The 10K referred to resale upon a 13mm x13mm device is $4.04 USD, with a 8mm x8mm device during $3.74 USD in a same volume. The i.MX50 EVK, SABRE height for eReaders, as good as ancillary program have been additionally accessible right away from Freescale. For some-more information, revisit www.freescale.com/imx50
