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Evaluation Board for ARM Processors
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The
eAT55 module is an evaluation board for ARM architecture
based on the Atmel AT91M55800 processor, which uses a core 32-bit
ARM7TDMI. It also includes SRAM, Flash, ADC, DAC, RTC, interfaces
(serial, USB, PS/2 and LCD), in addition to providing the processing
bus for expansion boards.
The
core ARM is used by dozens of processor manufacturers (Intel, Motorola,
Atmel, Samsung, Sharp, among others) and by hundreds of embedded
systems manufacturers.
Kit
of the eAT55 Module |
Model Characteristics
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ARM architecture is used in a wide variety of application areas including: PDA, commercial automation, industrial automation, modems, electronic security, sensor signal processing, telemetry, energy and biomedicine.
Use in Engineering / Development:
- The eAT55 evaluation board
is a platform for firmware / software development.
It permits hardware and software design activities to be conducted in parallel, with a significant reduction in the time and costs for developing new designs. The eAT55 is also quite useful as a reference for new hardware design.
- The availability of the processing bus permits attached devices to be tested and rapidly evaluated, with respect to both hardware design and device driver development.
- The eAT55 evaluation board is a robust model that may be integrated with a wide variety of products whenever the functionality it offers is deemed necessary.
Use in Teaching / Training:
- Teaching and training laboratories can offer their students contact with a 32-bit architecture frequently used in high-performance embedded applications.
- With a quite well-known and well-documented architecture, supported by many operating systems - some of which are based on open-source software -, eAT55 is an ideal tool for hands-on teaching of computer and operating system architecture.
- A BDM (Background Debug Mode) port permits the connection with low-cost emulators, permitting the processor to be completely halted at any point within the execution of a program.
The
main characteristics of the eAT55 module are listed in the table below.
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ATMEL AT91M55800 processor, containing:
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core ARM7TDMI
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programmable clock of up to 32 MHz (PLL)
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bus controller for 8 chip selects
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interrupt controller
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58 IO pins
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6 16-bit timers
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3 USARTs
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1 SPI
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ADC - eight 10-bit analogical input channels
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DAC - two 8-bit analogical output channels
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energy management unit
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RTC
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SRAM memory (options of between 256 KBytes and 1 MByte) |
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FLASH memory (options of between 256 KBytes and 8 MBytes) |
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two RS-232 standard
serial communication interfaces for assynchronous communication of up to 2 Mbps |
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USB slave interface with on-board USB controller |
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PS/2 interface |
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Processor bus available (160 pins) |
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16-bit digital output port for general use or for monitoring via a logical analizer |
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Programmable interface (via Xilinx XC9572/36 CPLD )
for graphic or text LCD |
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Optional high-level precision (2 ppm) reference tension for ADC and DAC |
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5V input feed and 3.3V on-board regulation |
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Lithium battery for RTC |
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JTAG interface (Xilinx standard) for CPLD programming |
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JTAG interface (ARM-20 and DB-25 standards) for debugging (OCD) and programming FLASH memory. Since it follows the DB-25 standard, it can be directly connected to the parallel port of a PC |
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A variety of programming environments available: GCC
(GNU), MULTI (Green Hills), ADS (ARM), among others |
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Real-time nuclei available: X (eSysTech) and
uCLinux |
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