RMI 公司的Alchemy Au1250是媒体处理器,引脚和软件与Au1200处理器兼容,但具有更强的功能. Au1250采用SoC架构,能实现全部的PMP特性而不需要其它元件. Au1250处理器工作在700MHz频率,内核为32位MIPS架构,媒体加速引擎支持MPEG1, 2, 4和 WMV9,清晰度达1024x768,从更大区块NAND存储器引导起动, 扩展的温度范围,从-40℃到100℃.而媒体手提导航(mPND)解决方案包括PND,移动TV和个人媒体播放器(PMP)等功能. 本文介绍了Alchemy Au1250媒体处理器的主要特性,方框图以及采用Au1250的低成本mPND应用解决方案主要特性和方框图.

RMI Alchemy Media Portable Navigation Device (mPND)

Media PND = PND + Mobile TV + PMP

An Alchemy-BasedTM Application Solution

The RMI Alchemy Au1250 media processor extends the strengths of the existing Alchemy processors into a broad range of digital media applications. The Au1250 processor is pin- and software-compatible with the existing RMI Alchemy Au1200 processor’s sockets and leverages the Au1200 processor’s success in Portable Media Players (PMPs),

Automotive Infotainment and Digital Media Adapters (DMAs), by providing significantly increased performance while improving its power optimized advantages associated with the Alchemy processor family. The System-on-a-Chip (SoC) architecture allows system designers the ability to implement full featured PMPs using the Alchemy processors without the need for additional components.

This elevated application processing performance, with remarkably low power, makes the Au1250 processor ideally suited to the expanding needs of multi-function Portable Media Players (mPMPs). The Au1250 processor’s optimized design is tailored to efficiently support multi-format video playback, GPS navigation, mobile TV, satellite radio, along with photo viewers, digital cameras and other applications in a single, low-cost, portable design.

700MHz Means More Available MIPS

The Au1250 processor at 700MHz provides 17% more CPU performance compared to the 600MHz version. When simultaneously playing full D1 video using the on-chip Media Acceleration Engine, which off-loads video processing in hardware, the Au1250 processor delivers more Available MIPS for other user applications than have been possible in portable consumer devices. Users can now enjoy unprecedented processing performance for simultaneously running multiple diverse applications with substantially longer battery life than before.

Support for Large Block NAND Boot

Another advantage of the Au1250 processor is the expansion of the memory implementation options that are available to a designer. The Au1250 processor enables boot start-up directly from large block NAND memories. Today’s large block, multi-level cell NAND Flash memories are much denser than previously available, allowing higher capacities and lower memory costs.

Lower cost-per-bit makes NAND Flash an attractive option for portable storage. The Au1250 processor recognizes this trend by supporting the access requirements of large block NAND memories. System designers now have the flexibility to boot from large block NAND as well as NOR Flash memories.

Extended Temperature Versions

For systems with DDR2 memories, the Au1250 processor is available in an extended temperature range option of -40℃ to 100℃ for speeds up to 500MHz. This is well suited for select in-cabin automotive applications, and other environments with more hostile temperature requirements.

The Alchemy family of pin-compatible Media and Navigation SoCs enables designers to support multiple price-performance points and application requirements from a single board design.

Au1250处理器基本特性:

Customized MIPS32 Core

333, 400, 500, 600 and 700MHz

32-bit architecture

16KB instruct + 16KB data caches

High-speed multiply-accumulate (MAC) and divide unit

1.2V core, 3.3V I/O

Media Acceleration Engine (MAE)

Support for MPEG1, 2, 4, and WMV9 scaled up to 1024x768

MPEG2 main profile/main level (720x480, 10Mbps, 30fps)

MPEG4 advanced simple profile/level 5 (720x480, 4Mbps, 30fps)

WMV9 main profile/medium level (720x480, 2.5Mbps, 30fps)

DDR SDRAM Controller

Supports 2.5 or 1.8V DDR1/DDR2 and mobile DDR memory with speeds up to DDR500

16/32-bit data, 14-bit address

Up to 512MB (four 1-Gbit devices)

1:1, 2:1, 3:1 system bus clock to memory clock options

Unified memory architecture with dedicated video subsystem

Static Bus Controller

16-bit data bus interface

IDE interface with support for PIO mode and multiword simple

DMA data transfers

Support for both NOR and NAND Flash devices

— Boot from NAND or NOR Flash, including Large Block NAND Flash

— Supports 30 bits of addressable memory using 15 pins and address latch protocol

Compact Flash/PCMCIA

Support for external 10/100 Ethernet controller

AES Hardware Encrypt/Decrypt Engine

AES 128

ECB, CBC, CFB, OFB modes supported

100/50/25/12MHz clock option for power/performance considerations

LCD Controller

Up to 1024x768 resolution screens

32-bits per pixel aRGB color resolution support

Four prioritizable overlay windows

Alpha override and per-pixel alpha blending

Four-color hardware cursor

Configurable on-chip memory area for palette RAM, gamma correction, or 1KB frame buffer

Integrated Peripherals

Two Programmable Serial Controllers (PSCs) – each independently capable of being programmed for AC97, I2S, SPI, and SMBus (system management bus) serial protocols

Two Secure Digital/SDIO/MMC Controllers

USB 2.0 Host and Device Controller with HS, FS, and LS support (for both)

— Configurable Host, Device, OTG (On-the-Go) support

Two UARTs

GPIO (48)

Camera Interface Module

8-10 bit parallel data bus

Planar modes support CMOS/CCD sensors

CCIR 656 data input

CIM image data is autonomously planarized in RGB or YCbCr format, relieving the core from the actual work

A Raw Data Mode supports moving CIM input data unchanged to memory

Power Management Modes

Sleep

Hibernate

Idle0/Idle1

Other

Low power

Package: Pin count 372 Plastic BGA



图1.Au1250方框图

Dozens of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) are shipping a new type of portable navigation device featuring mobile TV and other multimedia functions. Based on the RMI AlchemyTM Au1250TM and Au1210TM SoC Processors, Media PNDs (mPND) allow manufacturers to differentiate products with new consumercentric innovations and to avoid the eroding margins which are typical of single-purpose GPS devices. By receiving mobile TV content, typically available worldwide without subscription cost, the mPND is well aligned with consumer usage trends. Media PNDs represent an explosive new market category that leverages the investment system manufacturers have made in navigation devices.

Low Cost GPS

Alchemy Processors support lower cost alternatives to replace expensive GPS modules. RMI works closely with top GPS partners to offer a spectrum of cost optimized choices for the mPND designer. The mPND reference design from RMI implements the lowest cost GPS solution based on CSR, Inc., a leader in software GPS technology. The Au1250 media processor provides ample processing headroom to perform the complex baseband function in software, removing the need for external baseband hardware.

By trading off available CPU performance for lower bill-of-material (BOM) cost, the reference design implements a remarkably low cost GPS system consisting of the Au1250 processor plus the SE4120L GPS radio from SiGe Semiconductor.

采用Au1250的低成本mPND应用解决方案

Low Cost Media PND Application Solution

This low cost mPND reference design consists of a reference design board, software board support package (BSP), hardware schematics, documentation, as well as navigation and mobile TV applications. While Alchemy-based mobile TV solutions are available for worldwide geographies, this reference design is targeted to the China market.

mPND主要特性:

Low Cost

GPS - CSR (using SiGe Semiconductor SE4120L or Samsung Electro-Mechanics module)

TV - CMMB (China Standard)

CIF Resolution

Software:

Supports Linux or WinCE 5.0 BSP & Media SDK from RMI

Navigation application, Maps, Mobile TV

Software GPS (CSR Software baseband)

Upgrade Options

Hosted GPS implementation

Other Mobile TV Standards:

— DMB-TH

— DVB-T

— ISDB-T

— T-DMB

Board Support Package

The low cost mPND Reference Design Kit includes a complete board support package (BSP) based on WinCE 5.0. The BSP includes the OS, file system, and tool chain, along with driver support for all peripherals. In addition, the BSP includes a complete media stack for high quality, D1 resolution video playback of the internet’s most popular audio and video formats including MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, WMV, DivX, H.263 and XviD.



图2.低成本mPND 方框图