Texas Instruments (TI) is delivering embedded Linux in a low-cost development kit for an ARM-plus-DSP SoC targeting the portable data terminal (PDT) market. The $295 OMAP5912 Starter Kit (OSK) includes a board, a MultiICE JTAG interface, and MontaVista Linux, with optional third-party support packages also available.

(Click for larger view of TI OSK)

TI's OMAP5912 is a dual-core SoC (system-on-chip) that launched in late March. It targets PDT applications that require high-level application support as well as high-performance signal processing in real-time, according to TI. The chip includes an ARM9 processor, TI's TMS320C55xx DSP (digital signal processor), and “PDT-focused peripherals,” such as accelerators for security and multimedia.

OSK development board block diagramt
TI's OSK includes a development board manufactured by Spectrum Digital. Board features include:

• 192Mhz ARM9 (ARM926) core
• 192Mhz Texas Instruments TMS320C55xx core
• TLV320AIC23 codec
• 32 Mbyte DDR RAM
• 32 Mbyte Flash ROM
• 4 Expansion connectors (bottom side)
• RS-232 serial port
• 10 MBPS Ethernet port
• USB host/client port
• On board IEEE 1149.1 JTAG connector for optional emulation
• +5 Volt operation only, power supply included
• Size: 5.55″ x 3.54″ (141 x 90 mm), 0.062 thick, 8 layers
• Compatible with Spectrum Digital's OSK wire Wrap Prototype Card

Comes with Linux

According to TI, “Linux is the OS of choice for PDT designers,” and the company ships a Linux development environment with the OSK. The environment includes a prebuilt Linux kernel, chip- and processor-specific libraries, and an embedded Linux development toolsuite. The OSK also includes an OMAP-optimized build of TI's Code Composer Studio IDE, which TI says developers can use to optimize the real-time execution of their C applications on the chip's DSP and ARM cores.

The OSK additionally includes a TI and ARM MultiICE JTAG interface, which allows communications to a host computer via a JTAG emulator such as TI's XDS560 emulator, or any of Spectrum Digital's JTAG emulators.

Availability

The $295 OSK is available now. Bundled support services are also available from TI's network of OMAP Technology Centers, and from third-party support providers Mistral Software and Logic PD, which together offer a $5,000 Kick Start Bundle that includes an LCD module, a USB emulator from Spectrum Digital, and 20 hours of development assistnace.

Additional details about the development OSK are available here.

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