Advancing its 32-bit product offering in the automotive and embedded markets, Freescale has introduced a highly integrated system-on-chip (SoC) processor optimised for high-performance, power-sensitive applications requiring complex graphics, multimedia and realtime audio processing.
Built on proprietary Power Architecture technology, the MPC5121e is the latest member of Freescale's mobileGT processor family for telematics. Manufactured on advanced 90 nm low-power CMOS technology, this device is designed to deliver exceptional multimedia performance and feature-rich user interfaces within a low power envelope, without sacrificing flexibility and robustness.
The primary processing engine of the MPC5121e microprocessor is the e300 core, scaling to 400 MHz. The MPC5121e combines the e300 core with an integrated 2D/3D graphics core and a fully programmable 32-bit RISC-based multimedia acceleration core optimised for audio processing. The company also plans to offer a version of the device without the 2D/3D graphics core.
The MPC5121e is automotive-qualified, making it ideal for telematics, connectivity and driver interactive vehicle applications. The device meets the reliability requirements of the AEC-Q100 standard and TS14969 specification and is designed to withstand harsh environmental conditions.
In addition to addressing telematics, this device can be used in a broad range of embedded applications, such as networked industrial control and security/surveillance systems, networked patient monitoring systems, gaming and digital home applications, such as media gateways and set-top boxes.
Powerful, efficient multi-core architecture
The MPC5121e processor contains the PowerVR MBX Lite 2D/3D graphics core, which supports 3D texturing and shading and includes the PowerVR Vertex Geometry processor (VGP Lite) for high-performance vector processing. The processor's fully programmable multimedia acceleration core is designed to enhance the performance of popular compressed audio formats, such as MP3, AAC, WMA and Ogg Vorbis, and to optimise performance of realtime applications. This acceleration core also supports sample rate conversion, noise reduction and acoustic echo cancellation, which are key features for speech recognition and in-vehicle hands-free applications based on Bluetooth wireless technology.
The multicore architecture enables fast system throughput without driving clock rates and power consumption to excessive levels. The processor architecture balances high performance with low operating power consumption, resulting in lower system cost and high reliability. Low standby power consumption also makes the device suitable for automotive system designs and mobile applications.
Rich peripheral set
The MPC5121e processor's high level of on-chip integration helps reduce BOM costs and provides a flexible processing platform for a variety of embedded applications. The device offers a rich set of integrated peripherals, including 10/100 Ethernet, PCI, SATA, PATA, two USB 2.0 on-the-go (OTG) with an integrated high speed PHY, four CAN modules and 12 programmable serial controllers. The integrated display controller provides cost-effective support for LCD and TFT displays.
The 128 KByte of on-chip SRAM and numerous embedded memory buffers help ensure balanced system performance and system bus throughput while reducing latency demands. Processing performance is enhanced by well-balanced system resources for the e300 core, graphics core and multimedia acceleration core, as well as the DDR-I/DDR-II/mobileDDR memory controller with integrated 64-channel DMA support.
mobileGT Alliance and Freescale ecosystem support
The mobileGT Alliance includes world-class tool suppliers, such as Wind River, QNX and Green Hills Software. It also includes a growing list of software and hardware companies to provide support for the mobileGT processor family. Realtime operating system, software drivers, middleware and application solutions from mobileGT alliance members are planned for the near future. Freescale plans to offer a broad range of support for the MPC5121e device, including the CodeWarrior Development Studio mobileGT processor edition and a Linux Board Support Package (BSP) optimised for the mobileGT architecture and the MPC5121e development platform.
The device is designed for application code compatibility with existing solutions based on the MPC5200 architecture. This compatibility provides easy scalability across product solutions to help bring new end-products with the latest features to market quickly and at a lower cost.
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