ARM9 Linux dev kit includes an LCD

By Linux Devices
2006-03-06

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An embedded services and board vendor in British Columbia is shipping its first reference design to include an integrated LCD display. The TPC-57 is based on an ARM9-based CPU module, along with a 5.7-inch touchscreen LCD.

An included Linux stack supports nearly every imaginable GUI stack, the company says.

(Click for larger view of TPC-57)

The TPC-57 is based on Techsol's SA2410 CPU module (pictured at right), which just shipped last month. The module is powered by a 200MHz Samsung SoC (system-on-chip) claimed to offer better graphics performance than XScale chips clocked much higher.

The kit includes a 5.7-inch, QVGA (320x240), STN (super-twisted nematic) LCD with CFL (compact flourescent lamp) backlight, and an optional touch-panel. Other touted hardware features include:

2MB of NOR Flash for fault-tolerant boot-loaders
32MB or optionally 64MB each of SDRAM and Flash
Low-power 10-BaseT Ethernet interface
GPIO for push-buttons, etc.
2 RS-232 serial interfaces
1 RS-485 serial interface
2 SMPS (switching-mode power supplies) feeding 5-volts for logic and display, and 12-volts for the backlight inverter
High-quality 16-bit audio out
4 channels of 4-20 mA analog sensor Inputs
Digital inputs and outputs, pre-configured to drive opto-couplers (with LED drive power)
Low-power battery-backed RTC (real-time clock)
I2C
SD/MMC connector
2 USB host ports
USB device (gadget) port
Backlight inverter powered from 12-volt switching power supply
Display and backlight cables included
Size -- 4.5 x 7 x 1.25 in. (114 x 178 x 32 mm)

According to TechSol, the TPC-57 comes preinstalled with a Linux 2.6-based operating system that supports a wide range of graphical environments, including:

Linux frame-buffer (FB), operating in 8-bit, 256-color mode
Micro-Windows on framebuffer, "a simple, 'windows-like' API," Techsol says
Qt/Embedded on framebuffer, "a nicer look and more features"
X-11 on framebuffer, for standard Linux/Unix graphics
FLTK on X, "a full-featured, extensible, yet free GUI"
GTK on X, "for full PC compatibility"
Other obscure GUIs, such as EZWGL, "for critical control environments where C++ is not allowed (such as Intel's production lines)"

The company says it has previously developed medical devices, high-volume consumer gadgets, and other products with LCDs. However, the TPC-57 is its first off-the-shelf development system to include a display.

Availability

The TPC-57 is available from stock, priced under $500 in quantities of a thousand or more.

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