Microprocessor enhances graphics and supports HLOS
The AM3358-EP microprocessor from Texas Instruments and based on the ARM Cortex-A8 processor, is enhanced with image, graphics processing, peripherals and industrial interface options such as PROFIBUS. The device supports high-level operating systems (HLOS). Linux and Android are available free of charge from TI.
The AM3358-EP microprocessor contains the subsystems shown in the Functional Block Diagram and a brief description of each follows:
The microprocessor unit (MPU) subsystem is based on the ARM Cortex-A8 processor and the PowerVR SGX Graphics Accelerator subsystem provides 3D graphics acceleration to support display and gaming effects.
The PRU-ICSS is separate from the ARM core, allowing independent operation and clocking for greater efficiency and flexibility. The PRU-ICSS enables additional peripheral interfaces and real-time protocols such as PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, PROFIBUS, Ethernet Powerlink, Sercos, and others. Additionally, the programmable nature of the PRU-ICSS, along with its access to pins, events and all system-on-chip (SoC) resources, provides flexibility in implementing fast, real-time responses, specialised data handling operations, custom peripheral interfaces, and in offloading tasks from the other processor cores of SoC.
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