--- In Philip Heron <> wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> Back in June Jesse mentioned he was working with a PC/104 video card on
> a TS-7200, was wondering what if anything became of that?
>
> -Phil <>
>
Yes, we are expecting our first production run on Monday. We got delayed
since we underestimated just how popular the new FPGA chips from Xilinx
were and had to wait a longer than expected lead-time. The board is
called the TS-7KV and at qty. 1 pricing is $99. I actually just got done
writing up some of the specifications for marketing so there should be a
web page up by the end of the day. We advertised the board in the
November issue of Circuit Cellar and the Adobe Illustrator file is on our
FTP site ftp.embeddedarm.com in the "ads" directory.
Here's the synopsis I sent to marketing which may appear in one form or
another on the webpage once its up.
TS-7KV features:
*) TS-VIDCORE embedded video core
*) 16-bit color, 640x480 resolution (other resolutions also available
with custom FPGA bitstreams)
*) 8 MB dedicated video memory running at 95Mhz.
*) simple and fast video accelerater for hardware assisted
font-stamping, bit-blitting, scrolling and rectangle-fills
*) Accelerated Linux framebuffer driver available for use in X,
QT/Embedded, and text-mode system console.
*) Video signals available on standard DB15 VGA connector or 10 pin
header
*) Any current or future LCD or graphics device can be supported through
adapter boards (contact Technologic Systems for details)
*) All features implemented on FPGA ensures long-term availability (no
obsolete or proprietary graphics chips)
*) 24 buffered, 5V tolerant GPIO lines (16 output, 8 input)
*) 16C550 compatible serial port with baudrates up to 5 megabaud
*) Optional half/full RS485 with automatic half-duplex transmitter
enable/disable
*) Optional 8-channel 200ksps 16-bit ADC
*) Optional SJA1000 compatible CAN controller (Linux drivers and
userspace library available)
At the heart of the TS-7KV is a Xilinx Spartan-3 FPGA that is loaded with
functionality by the OS device drivers. The default bitstream
simultaneously supports all the above features and options. Technologic
Systems Professional Services can modify the hardware functionality with a
simple driver change, which is how we can claim to support all future
video and LCD interfaces. Also possible is adding a specific kind of
video acceleration if the default core's primitives are insufficient.
Most any application from a secondary coprocesser to a synchronous serial
port is possible through this device so please talk with a Technologic
Systems engineer about your requirements-- we may already have a bitstream
for it.
The TS-VIDCORE included on the FPGA is a unique video core specifically
designed in-tandem with the Linux framebuffer driver. Hardware
accelerations that were implemented were designed to mesh well with the
capabilities of the Linux 2.4 frame buffer device driver API. As a result
of being very deliberate in choosing what functionality was implemented in
hardware, which functionality was left out for software and which
functionality was hard-coded in the bitstream, we have created a higher
speed design that is specifically suited to the TS ARM products. Also,
since video memory is dedicated rather than shared with system memory, CPU
throughput and real-time response remain fast and predictable-- a common
problem in many devices with integrated video.
The TS-7KV includes not only video functionality but also a 5 megabaud
capable RS232/RS485 serial port, 24 DIO pins, optional CAN bus controller
and 8 channel ADC. The CAN bus, which is the underlying physical
interface for the popular protocols DeviceNet and CanOPEN, is an
ultra-reliable differential 2-wire interface designed for real-time and
multidrop networking of smart controllers and commonly used in automotive
applications. All of this functionality barely fits on the on-board FPGA
and while most others would reduce featureset or increase FPGA size (and
therefore: board cost), Technologic Systems insists on squeezing as much
functionality into every penny and this board is no exception.
//Jesse Off
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