Fujitsu Announces - Graphics SoC with Integrated Dual APIX Link for Automotive Applications

One of the key features of the MB86R02 is the dual APIX serial gigabit interface from Inova Semiconductors. The APIX technology is becoming the new standard for peer-to-peer real-time transmissions of video and peripheral data in the car. It meets the strict EMC requirements of display applications in vehicles and because of its potential for SoC integration it leads to higher performance at significantly lower system costs. Fujitsu was the first silicon vendor on the market to integrate this new video interface into a portfolio of microcontrollers and graphics controllers. The built-in links in the MB86R02 can be used for various link speeds up to 1Gbit/s. Both are configurable as transmitter or receiver and support the sideband channel for peripheral data.

Target applications are graphical dashboard systems, head-up display units, on-board navigation systems, rear-seat entertainment, point-of-sale terminals and industrial control panels. Packaged in a 484-pin TEBGA (Thermal Enhanced BGA), the device requires a supply voltage of 3.3V (I/O), 1.8V (DDR2), 1.2V (internal) and is designed to operate over a temperature range of -40 to +105°C. The integrated SSCG ensures reduced electromagnetic interference (EMI) by slight clock modulation.

The ARM926EJ-S is a fully synthesisable processor with a Jazelle® enhanced (Java™ Acceleration) 32-bit RISC CPU, 16kB instruction cache, 16kB data cache, 16kB ITCM, 16kB DTCM and a memory management unit (MMU). The CPU runs all major operating systems and middleware. Further features include an ETM9 (medium) and JTAG ICE interface, 8-channel DMA and 32-bit timers.

Core frequency is 320MHz (generated by on-chip PLL). On-board peripherals include a unified DDR2 memory supporting 320Mbps (up to 128MB), a parallel flash/SRAM host interface with decryption engine, CAN, MediaLB, ADC, I2C, I2S, PWM, SPI, UART, GPIO and an external interrupt.

Fujitsu’s ‘Coral PA’ processor provides sophisticated features for embedded graphics applications that require more display and rendering functions. These features include a rendering engine for 2D/3D graphic acceleration functions combined with ROP and blend operations, a geometry processor supporting floating-point transformations for smooth graphics animation and a dual-display capability that enables independent contents to be shown on two connected screens.

Display panels with a resolutions ranging from 320 x 240 up to 1280 x 768 are supported on two separate outputs. A built-in TCON unit allows panels to be attached without the need for further controller logic, which is a significant cost benefit. A signature unit for safety, dithering and gamma units for picture quality optimisation are available, as well as pixel and layer blending. The physical interface to a display panel can be APIX, RGB digital or RSDS.