Texas Instruments' new AM1810 Sitara ARM MPU, a certified single-chip PROFIBUS solution, reduces power consumption and cost by up to 30 percent for industrial applications

TI demonstrates commitment to industrial market and joins PROFIBUS International (PI) and gains certification of PROFIBUS slave implementation 

Nuremberg --  November 25, 2010 – Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE:TXN) today announced its AM1810 Sitara™ ARM microprocessor (MPU), a new single-chip ARM9™ solution with an integrated PROFIBUS interface, the worlds’ most popular fieldbus used for communications between factory automation equipment.  This integrated, low-power device eliminates the need for an external PROFIBUS, ASIC or FPGA, which saves development time and cost while improving system performance. The AM1810 Sitara ARM MPU has ample performance to support implementation of industrial applications, whether or not the applications require a PROFIBUS.  Examples of industrial applications well-suited for the AM1810 Sitara ARM MPU include a programmable logic controller (PLC) or human machine interface (HMI).  TI also announced its membership into the PROFIBUS International (PI).  By joining PI, TI affirmed its commitment to the industrial market by providing a certified, integrated solution to help make development easier and improve costs for industrial designers.

Compared to multi-chip solutions on the market today, the AM1810 Sitara ARM MPU connects the PROFIBUS interface directly to the RS-485 transceiver, eliminating the need for an ASIC or FPGA.

Customers can also design smaller enclosures and housings with easier thermal designs for their PROFIBUS-based products due to the AM1810 Sitara ARM MPU’s low power architecture. The combination of removing the FPGA or the ASIC, reducing board space and introducing a simpler thermal design, results in bill of materials (BOM) savings of up to 30 percent.

The PROFIBUS real-time frame handler, called the Fieldbus Data Link (FDL), is implemented utilizing the Programmable Real-Time Unit (PRU), which is part of the AM1810 Sitara ARM MPU on-chip peripherals. The PRU is tightly coupled with the ARM processor through the on-chip system bus, yielding shorter control cycle time and increased system response time – running up to 12 MBaud PROFIBUS decentralized peripherals (DP) communication.  Multiple memory options allow customers to run a PROFIBUS node without external memory, booting through serial flash and running PROFIBUS on internal RAM.  The solution also has an operating system abstraction layer, which makes the PROFIBUS DP protocol stack independent of the operating system, allowing complete design flexibility.

Pre-certified silicon and stack software with PROFIBUS Certification

The TI PROFIBUS DP slave implementation earned the PI certification through ComDeC, a PROFIBUS Certification Lab hosted by Siemens AG.  This particular certification was earned on the PROFIBUS interface on TI’s AM1810 Sitara ARM MPU, which allows industrial designers and developers to design with confidence that they are meeting industrial standards.

“In the industrial space, the PROFIBUS standard is synonymous with reliable networking, and with this certification, TI is giving a higher assurance that our product is a quality alternative to existing solutions,” said Ram Sathappan, industrial end equipments manager, Texas Instruments Inc.   “We are very excited to be a member of PI and introduce our certified AM1810 Sitara ARM MPU PROFIBUS solution to the industrial market. Our aim is to help our customers reduce BOM costs, PCB space and design time. We are confident that TI’s one chip solution, the AM1810 Sitara ARM MPU with PROFIBUS, will do just that.”

In addition to the PROFIBUS interface, the AM1810 Sitara ARM MPU supports EtherCAT® Master protocol on the integrated Ethernet port.  This allows industrial designers to develop products with multi-protocol support.

Key features and benefits

Key Feature	Customer Benefit
ARM9 Microprocessor with integrated PROFIBUS communication functionality  (AM1810 Sitara ARM MPU)	-  Provides integrated support for PROFIBUS communications in an applications processor - Offers lower power  allowing for small enclosures with no vents -  Simplifies system design and lowers cost because of application processor integration with PROFIBUS communication interface eliminating the need for a dedicated PROFIBUS ASIC chip
Certified by PROFIBUS International certification lab	Offers certification for passing interoperability testing by PROFIBUS International organization, which allows developers to design with confidence that they are meeting industrial standards
Integrated 10/100 Ethernet MAC	Enables support for Ethernet based industrial protocols like EtherCAT Master to allow industrial designers to develop products with multiple protocol support
375 MHz performance ARM9 RISC core	Enables implementation of industrial applications such as a PLC or HMI, along with a PROFIBUS interface at low power (less than 1mW per MHz of ARM frequency) to reduce temperature and eliminate the need for the fan and heat sink
Industrial grade with long product life cycle	Supports industrial temperature range to meet design needs for industrial applications requiring 10 years or more use in the field
Tools and Support	TI provides full design data for its AM1810 Sitara ARM MPU PROFIBUS evaluation module, along with the software and  tools needed to develop end products

Pricing, software, tools and availability

Customers can start developing their designs today with the TMDXEVM1810 evaluation module (EVM) for $995. The software development kit includes a Linux kernel 2.6.33 board support package, as well as Windows® Embedded CE, PRU configuration tool, PRU CAN, PRU UART and touch screen demo.  In addition to the EVM, TI Design House partner, Critical Link LLC, has a production-quality  industrial ETX standards based development board with AM1810 Sitara ARM MPU priced at $749 that includes the Real Time Linux kernel board support package with the PROFIBUS demonstration and evaluation software.

The AM1810 Sitara ARM MPU with PROFIBUS is available for sampling and priced at USD $9.95 in 1,000 unit quantities (1ku) from TI and TI authorized dealers.

Find out more about TI’s Industrial portfolio at the links below:

• Industrial Automation: http://www.ti.com/am1810prlp
• ComDeC Certification : www.siemens.com/comdec

About Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN) helps customers solve problems and develop new electronics that make the world smarter, healthier, safer, greener and more fun. A global semiconductor company, TI innovates through manufacturing, design and sales operations in more than 30 countries.  For more information, go to www.ti.com

About PROFIBUS International

PROFIBUS® International (PI) is the world's leading field bus, with more than 31 million devices installed globally by 1400+ member companies. Described by open standards IEC 61158 and IEC 61784, PROFIBUS is used for applications requiring coordinated motion and safe operation of networked industrial devices. It eliminates point-to-point cabling and reduces complexity, installation and maintenance cost for factory automation, process control, industrial drives, motion control, and safety devices such as emergency stop push buttons.