MYD-C437x-PRU Development Board Leverages TI Sitara AM437x Programmable Real-time Unit

MYIR Technologies launched MYC-C437x system-on-module based on TI Sitara AM437X processor, and the corresponding MYD-C437x development board at the end of 2015, but the latter did not make use of the processor’s PRU-ICSS (Programmable Real-Time Unit Subsystem and Industrial Communication SubSystem) block. The company has now released a new version of the baseboard called MYC-C437x-PRU which exposes I/Os pins to leverage the PRU-ICSS and enable implementation of protocols like EtherCAT and Profibus.MYD-C437x-PRU industrial development board specifications:

• System-on-Module – MYC-C437x module with
  • SoC – Texas Instruments AM437x ARM Cortex A9 processor @ up to 1GHz with PowerVR  SGX530 GPU (AM4378/AM4379 only)
  • System Memory – 256 or 512MB (default) DDR3 SDRAM
  • Storage – 4GB eMMC Flash (reserved 256/512MB Nand Flash design), 16MB QSPI Flash (unpopulated by default), 32KB EEPROM
  • Connectivity – Gigabit Ethernet PHY
• Storage – 1x micro SD slot
• Serial ports – 1x 3-wire RS232 debug serial port, 2x  5-wire RS232 serial port, 1x RS485 with isolation
• USB – 1x USB 2.0 host port, 1x mini USB 2.0 device port
• Connectivity – 1x Gigabit Ethernet interface, 2x 10/100 Mbps PRU-ICSS Ethernet interfaces
• Display – 1x 16-bit LCD interface, 1x 24-bit LCD interface, 1x 4-wire resistive touch screen interface
• Camera – 1x Camera interface (0.5mm pitch 30-pin FPC connectors)
• Debugging – 20-pin JTAG interface
• Other Expansion Ports
  • 1x CAN interface with isolation
  • 3x 20-pin expansion connectors (2.0mm pitch) with:
    • 8x ADC
    • 2x SPI, 1x I2C, 2x UART
    • PRU-UART with support for PROFIBUS
    • 2x EnDat, 2x eQEP
    • eHRPWM
• Misc – 4x Buttons (1x reset, 1x PMIC, 2x user), 1x power LED (red), 3x user LEDs (blue)
• Power supply – +12V/1.5A (base board)
• Dimensions – 150mm x 105mm (4-layer PCB)
• Temperature Range – -40 to 85 Celsius (industrial grade)

The company provides a Linux 4.1.18 BSP for the modules and board, as well as Texas Instruments’ SYS/BIOS v6.45 Real-time Operating System. Note that you can only used one LCD interface at a time, and some of EtherCAT and LCD signals are multiplexed so only one can be used.

You can find some limited hardware & software documentation on the product page, as well as purchase MYD-C4377-PRU development board with TI Sitara AM4377 SoC, 512MB DDR3, and a 4GB eMMC flash for $189. Several modules are also offered with LCD displays, WiFi, and cameras.

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