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Freescale Tower System Development Board Platform

The document describes the Freescale Tower System, a modular development board platform for 8-, 16-, and 32-bit MCUs and MPUs. The Tower System uses interchangeable boards to provide functionality and enable rapid prototyping. It supports various processor modules and peripheral boards that can be combined based on needs.

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99 views

Freescale Tower System Development Board Platform

The document describes the Freescale Tower System, a modular development board platform for 8-, 16-, and 32-bit MCUs and MPUs. The Tower System uses interchangeable boards to provide functionality and enable rapid prototyping. It supports various processor modules and peripheral boards that can be combined based on needs.

Uploaded by

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Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
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Tower System

8-, 16- and 32-bit MCUs/MPUs

Freescale Tower System


Development Board Platform
Overview
The Freescale Tower System is an evaluation board platform for 8-, 16- and 32-bit MCUs
and MPUs that enables advanced development through rapid prototyping. Featuring more
than fifty development boards or modules, the Tower System provides designers with
building blocks for entry-level to advanced MCU development.

The Freescale Tower System


Tower Plug-In (TWRPI)
Designed to attach to boards that have
a TWRPI socket(s)
Adds features and functionality
Swappable with other TWRPIs

Controller/
Processor Board
(MCU/MPU)

Examples include accelerometers, key


pads, touchpads, sliders and rotary
touchpads

Primary Elevator
Common serial and expansion bus signals
Two 2x80 connectors on back side for easy
signal access and side-mounting board (LCD
module)

Tower MCU/MPU board


Works standalone or in Tower
System

Power regulation circuitry

Features integrated
debugging interface for easy
programming and run control
via standard USB cable

Mounting holes

Standardized signal assignments

Size
Fully assembled Tower System is
approx. 3.5" H x 3.5" W x 3.5" D

Secondary
Elevator

Board Connectors

Additional and secondary


serial and expansion bus
signals

Four card-edge connectors


Uses PCI Express connectors
(x16, 90 mm/3.5" long, 164 pins)

Standardized signal
assignments
Mounting holes and expansion
connectors for side-mounting
peripheral

Peripheral Board
Adds features and functionality to your designs
Interchangeable with other peripheral boards and compatible with all
controller/processor boards
Examples include serial interface, memory, Wi-Fi, graphical LCD, motor
control, audio, Xtrinsic sensing and high-precision analog boards

Freescale Tower System

Modular and Expandable


Controller boards provide easy-to-use,
reconfigurable hardware
Interchangeable peripheral boards
(including communications, memory and
graphical LCD) make customization easy
Open source hardware and standardized
specifications promote the development of
additional boards for added functionality
and customization

Speeds Development Time


Open source hardware and software allow
quick development with proven designs
Integrated debugging interface allows for
easy programming and run control via
standard USB cable

Cost Effective
Interchangeable peripheral boards can be
re-used with all Tower System controller
boards, eliminating the need to purchase
redundant hardware for future designs
Enabling technologies like LCD, Wi-Fi,
motor control, serial and memory
interfacing are offered off-the-shelf at
a low cost to provide a customized
enablement solution

Software Enablement
and Support
The increasing complexity of industrial

Tower System Modules


Controller/Processor Modules (8-, 16-, 32-bit) freescale.com/Towercontroller
Works standalone or as part of Tower System

Allows rapid prototyping

Features open source debugging interface

Provides easy programming and run control via


standard USB cable

Peripheral Modules freescale.com/Towerperipheral


Can be re-used with all Tower System controller
boards

Eliminates the need to buy/develop redundant


hardware

Interchangeable peripheral boards: serial,


memory, graphical LCD, prototyping, sensor

Enables advanced development and broad


functionality

Tower Plug-Ins freescale.com/TWRPI


Designed to attach to any Tower System board
with a TWRPI socket(s)

Adds features and functionality with little investment

Swappable components

Allows for design flexibility

Elevator Modules freescale.com/Towerelev


Two 2x80 connectors

P
 rovides easy signal access and side-mounting
board (i.e., LCD board)

Power regulation circuitry

Provides power to all boards

Standardized signal assignments

Allows for customized peripheral board development

Four card-edge connectors available

Allows easy expansion using PCI Express


connectors (x16, 90 mm/3.5" long, 164 pins)

Build Your Tower System in Three Steps or Less


Each assembled Tower System will
accommodate:

applications and expanding functionality

One controller/processor board

of semiconductors are driving embedded

Up to three peripheral boards

developers toward solutions that require the

One or more additional side mounting


peripheral boards

integration of proven hardware and software


platforms. Freescale, along with a strong
alliance network, offers comprehensive
solutions, including development tools,

Multiple Tower plug-ins (TWRPIs)


Two elevator boards (or risers)

debuggers, programmers and software.

2. Choose peripheral boards and


desired Tower plug-ins (TWRPIs)

Complimentary Software
and Tools
Freescale MQX RTOS, TCP/IP stacks,
file system, USB stacks and more*
Freescale Linux BSP*
CodeWarrior Development Studio
Processor Expert software configuration
tool: Create, configure, optimize, migrate
and deliver software components that
generate source code for Freescale silicon

1. Choose a controller/
processor module

Freescale eGUI: Graphical LCD driver for


MCUs and eMPUs
* Visit freescale.com/software for a list of
supported devices

3. Connect each module to the elevator boards

Development Board Platform

Multiple Power Options


All power connectors are standard
USB connectors that can be powered
by a USB host/hub or an AC-to-DC
adapter with a USB cable.

The Freescale Tower System can be


powered entirely over a USB cable via a host
PC or USB wall power adaptor. Alternatively,
power can be supplied to the Tower System
via a screw terminal on the primary elevator.

1. Processor module
via debugger connection

Protection circuitry is built into all Tower


System boards to avoid contention on the
power rails. Although power can be supplied

2. Tower elevator

through any module, power supplied through


the elevator modules takes precedence.
3. Peripheral board

Example Configurations

TWR-MCF5225x

TWR-56F8257

TWR-MEM

TWR-MC-LV3PH

TWR-SER

Wi-Fi
Solution

Medical
Prototyping
Solution

Motor
Control
Solution

TWR-ELEV

+
TWR-SER

Multimedia
Solution

TWR-ELEV

Sensors
Solution

TWR-ELEV

=
TWR-ELEV

TWR-PROTO

TWR-SER

TWR-AUDIO

TWR-WIFI

+
TWR-LCD

TWR-S08JE128

TWR-K60N512

TWR-SENSOR-PAK

TWR-K40X256

TWR-ELEV

Partner Modules
Tap into a powerful ecosystem of Freescale

Tower Geeks Online


Community

technology alliances for building smarter,

TowerGeeks.org is an online design

better connected solutions. Designed to help


you shorten your design cycle and get your
products to market faster, these technology
alliances provide you with access to rich
design tools, peripherals and world-class
support and training.
A number of partners have developed
modules for the Tower System development
board platform. Some examples include the
i.MX515 ARM Cortex-A8 Tower Computer

engineer community that allows members to


interact, develop designs and share ideas.
Offering a direct path to explore and interact
with other engineers designing with the
Tower System, TowerGeeks.org is a great
way to discuss your projects, post videos
of your progress, ask questions through the
forum and upload software. With updates
through Twitter and Facebook, its easy to
get involved.

Module and StackableUSB I/O Device


Carrier module from Micro/sys, as well as
the Rapid Prototyping System (RPS) AM1
and FM1 modules from iMN MicroControl.
A complete list of partner-developed
modules is available at freescale.com/
Tower.

Design Your Own

Follow Tower Geeks on Twitter


twitter.com/towergeeks

Interested in designing your own Tower


System board? View application note

Visit Freescale on Facebook

AN4390 Creating Your Own Tower Module

facebook.com/freescale

for a complete guide to starting your board


design available at freescale.com/Tower.

Watch the Tower System video here.

For a complete list of development kits and modules offered as part


of the Freescale Tower System, visit freescale.com/Tower
Freescale, the Freescale logo, CodeWarrior, Processor Expert and Xtrinsic are trademarks of Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., Reg.
U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off. Tower is a trademark of Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. All other product or service names are the property of
their respective owners. ARM and Cortex are registered trademarks of ARM Limited (or its subsidiaries) in the EU and/or elsewhere.
All rights reserved. 2012, 2014 Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
Document Number: TWRFS REV 17

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