Texas Instruments (TI) and MontaVista Software announced that they are collaborating to provide embedded Linux support for OEMs using TI's OMAP application processors. According to TI, the OMAP processors target a broad range of Internet- and multimedia-enabled consumer, business, and industrial applications including 2.5G/3G handsets, specialized PDAs, telematics, biometrics, and gaming systems and… devices.

The first OMAP processor supported by MontaVista Linux is the OMAP5910, which was introduced by TI in August, 2002.

MontaVista Linux support for the OMAP5910-based Innovator Development Kit (shown in the photo) was demonstrated in October at the Convergence Automotive show in Detroit and in November at the Embedded Technology show in Yokohama, Japan.

In addition to its built-in TI-enhanced ARM-925 microprocessor and TMS320C55x DSP cores, the OMAP5910 dual-core system-on-chip processor integrates 192 KB RAM, USB 1.1 host and client, MMC/SD card interface, multi-channel buffered serial ports, real-time clock, GPIO and UARTs, LCD interface, SPI, uWire, and i2s.

According to MontaVista's Bill Weinberg, the MontaVista Linux support for the OMAP5910 includes drivers and other support for the chip's built-in power management, UARTs, LCD controller, RTC, timers, USB client and host functions, I2C, I2S, and DMA. Additional support provided for the Innovator Development Kit (which is based on the OMAP5910) includes support for the SMC9196C Ethernet NIC, OmniVision CCD video, TLV320AIC23 audio, touch screen interface, PS/2 mouse and keyboard ports, SD/MMC card interface, IrDA port, and 5-way jog switch input. Key technologies for the platform supported by MontaVista include Flash memory, fast boot, and execute-in-place capability, Weinberg explained.

Developers wanting to optimize applications to make use of the built-in DSP in the OMAP5910 and other dual-core OMAP processors can take advantage of tools, application programming interfaces (APIs), and other products available from TI and third-party providers, available at www.omap.com.

TI had previously partnered with RidgeRun for embedded Linux support (“DSPLinux”) of its dual-core processors. However, RidgeRun ran into financial difficulties and ceased operation earlier this year. RidgeRun reportedly had received $5 million funding from TI.

MontaVista's Linux support for the OMAP5910 and Innovator Development Kit will become available by the end of this month.

 
This article was originally published on LinuxDevices.com and has been donated to the open source community by QuinStreet Inc. Please visit LinuxToday.com for up-to-date news and articles about Linux and open source.