Chipmaker Freescale today announced that its top-of-the-line system-on-chip (SoC) for telematics applications such as in-car infotainment and driver assist devices has attracted a broad range of support from embedded development tool and RTOS (real-time operating system) vendors. Five software partners have endorsed the MPC5121e SoC since its introduction in May, promising to deliver products tailored to… the part.

Freescale billed the SoC as its most powerful telematics chip yet, when it launched the MPC5121e in May. The chip began sampling to Tier 1 and OEM customers at the end of Q2, Freescale confirmed, along with a development board and Linux BSP (board support package). General availability is slated for Q1, 2008.

So far, five embedded tools and RTOS vendors have lined up behind the part, including:

• ALT Software — vendor of OpenGL-based 3D graphics stacks for embedded systems, and embedded services provider specializing in device drivers, A/V, networking, and mobile
• Green Hills Software — vendor of proprietary Integrity RTOS
• QNX Software Systems — vendor of proprietary Neutrino RTOS
• Tilcon Software — vendor of embedded GUI (graphical user interface), HMI (human-machine interface), and graphics software, including stacks that support Linux
• Wind River — vendor of proprietary VxWorks RTOS, and major promoter of automotive-grade Linux

All of the five belong to Freescale's “mobileGT Alliance,” which also includes Linux vendors MontaVista and Denx, not to mention Freescale's own automotive grade Linux team, formerly aligned with tools division Metrowerks.

The MPC5121e SoC

The MPC5121e is based on an e300 core clockable up to 400MHz. The SoC integrates an XGA (1024 x 768) LCD controller, along with a PowerVR MBX Lite 2D/3D graphics core from Imagination Technologies. It also integrates a separate AXE core, described as a “fully programmable, 200 MHz 32-bit RISC core for real-time acceleration tasks, such as audio.”

MPC5121e function block diagram
(Click to enlarge)
The MPC5212e complies with AEC-Q100 and TS14969 requirements for harsh environmental conditions, such as those met by automotive center console devices. Additionally, the highly integrated part dishes out a bevy of standard PC interfaces, like SATA, USB, and Ethernet. Freescale hopes the part will ultimately see use in a broad range of applications, from networked industrial control and security/surveillance to networked patient monitoring, gaming, media gateways, and even set-top boxes.

Lots more technical details about the MPC5121e can be found in our earlier coverage, here.

Tilcon CEO Prosanto Sarkar stated, “Tilcon will be tightly integrating its toolkit with the MPC5121e.”

Vincent Rerolle, VP of strategy at Wind River, stated, “Wind River plans to offer board support packages for Freescale's exciting, next-generation MPC5121e, for both VxWorks and Wind River Linux, supported by Workbench, Wind River's Eclipse-based common development environment.”

Availability

The MPC5121e is sampling now to tier one and OEM (original equipment manufacturer) customers, along with a development board and Linux board support package. When it reaches general availability in Q1, 2008, it is expected to be priced at $20 in 10K lots, with significant volume discounts available.

Also available from Freescale is the CodeWarrior Development Studio mobileGT Processor Edition toolsuite.

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