NXP i.MX RT1180 is the latest member of the company’s i.MX RT Series crossover MCUss with application processor-like performance. The 800 MHz dual-core Arm Cortex-M7/M33 microcontroller is specifically designed for industrial IoT communication with a Gigabit Ethernet port supporting time-sensitive networking (TSN).
NXP also highlights that it is the first crossover MCU to include an EdgeLock secure enclave that “eases the complexity of implementing robust, system-wide security intelligence for industrial IoT applications”, and the new processor aims to bridge the gap between existing industrial systems and Industry 4.0 system.
NXP i.MX RT1180 key features and specifications:
- CPUs – Arm Cortex-M7 @ 800 MHz + Arm Cortex-M33 @ 240 MHz (Optional: single-core Arm Cortex-M33)
- On-chip Memory – Up to 1.5 MB SRAM (ECC protected) with 512 KB of TCM for Cortex-M7 and 256 KB of TCM for Cortex-M33
- Memory & Storage I/F –
- 2x FlexSPI for HyperRAM or HyperFlash
- 8/16/32-bit SDRAM/LPSDRAM
- NAND/Parallel NOR flash
- 2x eMMC 5.1, SD 3.0
- Networking
- Gbps time-sensitive network (TSN) switch supporting multiple protocols
- Real-time industrial Ethernet protocols such as Profinet, Ethernet/IP, EtherCAT, CC-Link IE Field, HSR, and more
- Latest generation of TSN standards compliant to IEC 60802 for industrial automation
- TSN based protocols such as OPC UA Pub-Sub, Profinet over TSN and CC-Link IE TSN
- Up to 5 Gbps ports including 4x ports on the TSN switch (Layer 2) and 1x port on the TSN endpoint controller
- L2 management with advanced flow control features including port counters, filters, and more
- Gbps time-sensitive network (TSN) switch supporting multiple protocols
- Peripherals
- 2x High-speed 16-bit analog to digital converters
- 1x DAC
- Advanced timer/PWM and delta-sigma demodulators
- 6x LPSPI
- 2x I3C, 6x I2C, 12x UART,
- Audio – 8-ch digital mic input, 4x SAI, SPDIF
- 2x FlexIO
- 2x USB OTG with PHY
- 3x CAN FD
- Security
- EdgeLock Secure Enclave – Preconfigured, self-managed, autonomous security subsystem
- Component level foundation for IEC 62443 system compliance
- Root of trust requirements in complex networked systems with secure boot, secure key mechanism, and high-performance crypto
- System-level physical tamper monitoring with secure RTC and 10 tamper pins
- Packaging
- 289 MAPBGA, 14 x 14 mm, 0.8 mm pitch
- 144 MAPBGA, 10 x10 mm, 0.8 mm pitch
- Temperature Range – -40°C to 125°C
- Qualifications – Automotive AEC-Q100 qualification
NXP provides the usual software development tools for i.MX RT1180 with the MCUXpresso Config Tools for configuration, the MCUXpresso SDK open-source software development kit, and the MCUXpresso IDE for creating, building, debugging, and optimizing your application.
Target applications include automotive networking, Ethernet switches, building & factory automation, healthcare, industrial gateways, motion control and robotics, motor drives, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) and Remote I/O among others.
NXP did not say when to expect the i.MX RT1180 crossover MCU, and it is currently shown as a preproduction product on the product page. Based on the previous history with NXP processors, this could mean a launch in a couple of months, or up to a couple of years.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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