Freescale intros MPC830x PowerQUICC II Pro portfolio

Freescale has introduced the MPC830x PowerQUICC II Pro portfolio of processors along the sidelines of the Freescale Technology Forum (FTF) 2010 in Bangalore, India.

Sunil Kaul, product marketing manager, Networking and Multimedia Group, Freescale, said that the MPC830x portfolio extends the e300 core-based PowerQUICC II Pro architecture into cost competitive networking and industrial applications with increased performance per price/power.

Freescale announced the following portfolio:
MPC8308 – 266 to 400 MHz: Performance/price optimized MPC8308 combines 16/32-bit DDR2 memory controller with ECC, 2 x Gigabit Ethernet, PCI Express, USB and eSDHC targeting smart metering gateways, wireless media gateways, factory automation and test/measurement equipment. It is in mass production today.

MPC8306/S – 133 to 266 MHz: The MPC8306 integrates QUICC Engine, CAN, USB, SDHC and IEEE 1588 support, which is ideal for industrial control, factory automation and test/measurement equipment.

MPC8306S: It features the QUICC Engine (HDLC/TDM, 10/100) and USB targeting networking equipment such as low-end base station line cards and branch access gateways.

MPC8309 – 266 to 400 MHz: Richly featured with QUICC Engine, CAN, USB, SDHC, PCI and IEEE 1588 support for networking, industrial control, factory automation and test/measurement equipment.

Target applications for the MPC830x include:
Networking/telecom: Low-end line cards, femto base stations, CPEs and WLAN access points.
Smart metering: Smart metering gateways, data concentrators, HAN gateways.
Industrial: Programmable logic controllers, process automation controllers, intelligent I/O, operator interface terminals, drives, bar-code and ID systems, gateways, bridges and hubs.

Kumar Hebbalalu, product development manager, NMG/CSP, Freescale, added that the complete design has been done out of Freescale India.The MPC830x communications processor portfolio was designed at Freescale’s India Design Center using advanced SoC design methodologies and techniques to achieve quick cycle times from product definition to silicon qualification. He added: "We have a large R&D team here. We are leveraging the ODC support we have in India."

Freescale India was responsible for the following:
* SoC design flow - quick cycle time  for platform  integration and easy re-use.
* SoC verification methodology - functional verification of both h/w and microcode.
* Static timing analysis - full back-end implementation.
* DFT structure - high level of testability and fault coverage.
* Validation platform - test/validate the SoC.
* Software enablement - low level and application software.

Freescale's MPC830x evaluation kit
Freescale is also offering the MPC830x evaluation kit containing a single MPC830x carrier card at a $499 and system-on-modules (SOMs) for each one of the MPC830x devices ranging from $269 to $299. It is also offering the MPC8308-RDB reference design board for $299.

Schematics, Gerber files and user guide are provided with the MPC830x evaluation kit. It will come with Linux BSP and drivers. The MQX port will be available mid-August 2010. The MPC8308, MPC8306 and MPC8309 SOMs are all interchangeable with the carrier card.

According to Freescale, the MPC8308 is shipping now in volume production. Samples for the MPC8306/8306S and MPC8309 are now available for limited customers. Volume production for these devices is likely in December 2010 and March 2011, respectively.

Kaul also highlighted Freescale's Product Longevity Program. According to him, the embedded market needs long-term product support. Freescale has a longstanding track record of providing long-term production support for its products. The company offers a formal product longevity program. A broad range of devices are made available for a minimum of 10 or 15 years from the time of launch.