Analog Devices Inc. (ADI) is shipping a new version of its “Stamp” development board based on a single-core DSP processor running uClinux. The ADSP-BF537 has a 500MHz BlackFin processor, comes with uClinux 2.6.x, and targets telematics, “infotainment” devices, and set-top box applications.

(Click for larger view of ADSP-BF537)

ADI's BlackFin processors integrate DSP and general computing instructions into the same core, an approach it says saves expense, board real estate, and development complexity. The chip was one of the first standalone DSPs (digital signal processors) coaxed into runing Linux — Metrowerks wrote the original port in early 2003, and a community BlackFin uClinux portal appeared about a year later. This article describes one of the first BlackFin uClinux applications — a project to build a networked audio player.

The ADSP-BF537

In addition to a BlackFin processor, the ADSP-BF537 includes 64MB of SDRAM and 4MB of Flash, along with Ethernet, a CAN (controller area network) bus, and various I/O interfaces.

ADSP-BF537 diagram
(Click to enlarge)
Additional features include:

• 10/100 ethernet MAC
  and PHY
• CAN (controller area network) 2.0B interface
• RS232 serial interface
• JTAG interface for debug and Flash programming
• I/O connectors for Blackfin daughtercards and other peripherals, including:
  • SPI two-wire interface
  • I2C
  • IrDA
  • USB
  • SPORT0 and SPORT1
  • Timers inputs
  • PPI, a general purpose parallel high speed interface
  • Glueless TFT flat panel interface
  • Stereo audio in/out
• Six LEDs and four push buttons
• On-board power regulation

Additionally, analog interfaces can be added through ADI daughtercards. The ADSP-BF537 supports three SPI (serial peripheral interface) cards and one audio card.

ADI says it ships the ADSP-BF537 with a CD-ROM containing a GPL license-compliant uClinux 2.6.x kernel and drivers for on-board peripherals, complete with source code. The environment supports gcc, along with both the gdb and kgdb debuggers, which can be run over Ethernet or JTAG. The open source Das U-Boot bootloader is also included, as is a Linux IP (Internet protocol) stack, documentation, board schematics, gerbers, and layout files.

Availability

The BF537 has been released to production. ADI released its previous DSP Stamp model, the BF533, in February.

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