Lineo Solutions has contributed patches to the Consumer Electronics Linux Forum that enable its CE-optimized Linux distribution to run on SuperH processors, and SuperH processor company Renesas has released a “prototype development platform” that runs the new CE Linux code.

The initial release of the Linux Source Tree from CELF supported only the ARM and MIPs architectures.

The prototype development platform from Renesas comprises an RTS7751R2D development board and a Linux OS compatible with CELF specifications, according to Renesas. The Linux implementation is based on the Linux Source Tree code released by CELF, with patches for the SH-4 architecture provided to CELF by Lineo Solutions, which recently launched its own board support package for the RTS7751R2D.

According to Renesas, the development board targets digital home appliances and other consumer electronics devices.

Renesas RTS7751R2D development board for CE Linux devices
(Click for larger view)

Renesas lists the following features for the board:

• Renesas SH7751R processor incorporating a 32-bit RISC microcomputer SuperH Family SH-4 CPU core, MMU (memory management unit), FPU (floating-point processing unit), PCI controller, and PCMCIA controller.
• An SM501 manufactured by Silicon Motion, Inc. of the United States, which in combination with the SH7751R provides video overlay display, alpha blending, ZV port video input, an LCD/CRT display controller, and a USB host.
• The CELF specification compatible Linux OS, incorporating a real-time scheduler, enabling moving images to be displayed within two seconds after powering on, and user key input to be accepted within four seconds. Seven independent frame buffers and an AC97 interface sound playback function are also supported.

The prototype platform is the first result of the Renesas's involvement with CELF. Lineo Solutions joined CELF in November, 2003.

CELF was established in July 2003 with the aim of enhancing and promoting the Linux OS for use in CE products. It is chartered with:

• speeding up the process from system startup to termination
• improving real-time responsiveness
• reducing the memory capacity required
• reducing power consumption
• enhancing video and graphics display functions

Renesas, which in April 2003 spun out of a joint venture between Hitachi and Mitsubishi, will exhibit and demonstrate the prototype platform at CE Linux Forum 2004, in Las Vegas, Nevada, on January 9, 2004.

 
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