I.MX
Encyclopedia
The i.MX range is a family of Freescale Semiconductor
proprietary microprocessor
s for multimedia applications based on the ARM architecture
and focused on low-power consumption. The i.MX application processors are SoC
s (System-on-Chip), that integrate many processing units into one die, like the main CPU, a video processing unit and a graphics processing unit for instance. The i.MX products are qualified for automotive, industrial and consumer markets. Most of them are guaranteed for a lifetime of 10 to 15 years.
Many devices use i.MX processors, such as Ford Sync
, Amazon Kindle
, Sony Reader
, some Logitech Harmony remote controls and Squeezebox radio, some Toshiba Gigabeat
mp4 players. The i.MX range was previously known as the "DragonBall MX" family, the fifth generation of DragonBall
microcontrollers. i.MX originally stood for "innovative Multimedia eXtension".
The i.MX solutions comprise of hardware (processors and development boards) and software optimized for the processor.
architecture (ARM926EJ-S), designed in CMOS 90 nm process.
The high-end member of the family, i.MX258, integrates a 400 MHz ARM9 CPU platform + LCDC (LCD controller) + security block and supports mDDR-SDRAM at 133 MHz.
(PMU) and a stereo audio codec within the silicon. This unique integration removes the need for external power management chip and audio codec chip.
architecture (ARM1136JF-S mainly), designed in CMOS 90 nm process.
ES 1.1) + IPU
+ security block
It supports mDDR-SDRAM at 133 MHz.
It supports mDDR-SDRAM at 133 MHz.
The high-end member of the family, i.MX357, integrates an 532 MHz ARM1136 CPU platform (with Vector Floating Point unit, L1 caches and 128KB L2 cache) + 2.5D GPU (OpenVG
1.1) + IPU
+ security block
It supports DDR2-SDRAM at 133 MHz.
or automotive infotainment) and the i.MX50 family (eReaders). It is designed in CMOS 65 nm process.
Unit, L1 caches and 256KB L2 cache) + multi-format HD 720p decode / D1 encode hardware video codecs (VPU, Video Processing Unit) + 3D GPU (OpenGL ES 2.0) + 2.5D GPU (OpenVG 1.1) + IPU
+ security block.
It especially supports DDR2 SDRAM
at 200 MHz.
The family was launched in 2009.
. It is dedicated for eReaders. Launched in 2010, it integrates the E INK display controller within the silicon to save both BOM cost and space on the PCB
.
It especially supports LP-DDR2 SDRAM at 400 MHz.
solo, dual or quad cores. It is designed in CMOS 40 nm process.
i.MX6 Solo, Dual and Quad were announced in January 2011, during Consumer Electronics Show
in Las Vegas.
s (BSP), common across all i.MX nodes, consists of kernel optimization, hardware drivers and unit tests. The company also provides a portfolio of multimedia Codecs (ARM and Video processing unit accelerated). The i.MX solution also includes middleware with reuse of open source frameworks like multimedia framework plugins, power management, security/DRM or graphics (OpenGL/OpenVG).
All software solutions for i.MX are publicly available on the company website.
environment.
On the i.MX51 family, the reference user interface is Ubuntu
. The last Ubuntu version supported is 10.04.1 (still available on mirrors). Ubuntu dropped the "official" i.MX51 family support since version 10.10.. Since Ubuntu 11.10 support for the i.MX53 Quickstart board is available as a preinstalled desktop or server SD card.
The OpenEmbedded
Linux distribution supports several i.MX platforms.
Commercial Linux support is available from companies like MontaVista
, Wind River Systems
and Mentor Graphics
.
running on the i.MX515 processor. The company has not disclosed any further plans about Chromium or Chrome.
s and software solutions running on the i.MX processors, such as Trinity Convergence
, Adeneo, Thundersoft, Intrinsyc
, Wind River Systems
, QNX
, Green Hills
and Mentor Graphics
.
In February 2010, Freescale demoed the SABRE platform for eReaders, based on i.MX515.
Many more reference boards are mentioned and supported through the Freescale i.MX community website.
These include:
Freescale Semiconductor
Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. is a producer and designer of embedded hardware, with 17 billion semiconductor chips in use around the world. The company focuses on the automotive, consumer, industrial and networking markets with its product portfolio including microprocessors, microcontrollers,...
proprietary microprocessor
Microprocessor
A microprocessor incorporates the functions of a computer's central processing unit on a single integrated circuit, or at most a few integrated circuits. It is a multipurpose, programmable device that accepts digital data as input, processes it according to instructions stored in its memory, and...
s for multimedia applications based on the ARM architecture
ARM architecture
ARM is a 32-bit reduced instruction set computer instruction set architecture developed by ARM Holdings. It was named the Advanced RISC Machine, and before that, the Acorn RISC Machine. The ARM architecture is the most widely used 32-bit ISA in numbers produced...
and focused on low-power consumption. The i.MX application processors are SoC
System-on-a-chip
A system on a chip or system on chip is an integrated circuit that integrates all components of a computer or other electronic system into a single chip. It may contain digital, analog, mixed-signal, and often radio-frequency functions—all on a single chip substrate...
s (System-on-Chip), that integrate many processing units into one die, like the main CPU, a video processing unit and a graphics processing unit for instance. The i.MX products are qualified for automotive, industrial and consumer markets. Most of them are guaranteed for a lifetime of 10 to 15 years.
Many devices use i.MX processors, such as Ford Sync
Ford Sync
Ford SYNC is a factory-installed, integrated in-vehicle communications and entertainment system that allows users to make hands-free telephone calls and control music and other functions using voice commands...
, Amazon Kindle
Amazon Kindle
The Amazon Kindle is an e-book reader developed by Amazon.com subsidiary Lab126 which uses wireless connectivity to enable users to shop for, download, browse, and read e-books, newspapers, magazines, blogs, and other digital media...
, Sony Reader
Sony Reader
The Sony Reader is a line of e-book readers manufactured by Sony. It uses an electronic paper display developed by E Ink Corporation, is viewable in direct sunlight, requires no power to maintain a static image, and is usable in portrait or landscape orientation.Sony sells e-books for the Reader...
, some Logitech Harmony remote controls and Squeezebox radio, some Toshiba Gigabeat
Gigabeat
The Gigabeat is a line of digital audio players by Toshiba.-Gigabeat:The Gigabeat was first called the MobilPhile and later renamed to Gigabeat. It contained a monochrome LCD with blue backlighting, and a 5 GB removable PCMCIA hard drive. Its case was made of aluminum, and battery life is...
mp4 players. The i.MX range was previously known as the "DragonBall MX" family, the fifth generation of DragonBall
Freescale DragonBall
Motorola/Freescale Semiconductor's DragonBall, or MC68328, is a microcontroller design based on the famous 68000 core, but implemented as an all-in-one low-power solution for handheld computer use...
microcontrollers. i.MX originally stood for "innovative Multimedia eXtension".
The i.MX solutions comprise of hardware (processors and development boards) and software optimized for the processor.
i.MX1x series
Launched in 2001/2002, the i.MX1x series is based on the ARM920T architecture.- i.MX1 = 200 MHz ARM920T
- i.MXS = 100 MHz ARM920T
- i.MXL = 150-200 MHz ARM920T
i.MX2x series
The i.MX2x series is a family of processors based on the ARM9ARM architecture
ARM is a 32-bit reduced instruction set computer instruction set architecture developed by ARM Holdings. It was named the Advanced RISC Machine, and before that, the Acorn RISC Machine. The ARM architecture is the most widely used 32-bit ISA in numbers produced...
architecture (ARM926EJ-S), designed in CMOS 90 nm process.
i.MX21 family
The i.MX21 family is designed for low power handheld devices. It was launched in 2003.- i.MX21 = 266 MHz ARM9 platform + CIF VPU (decode/encode) + security
- i.MX21S = 266 MHz ARM9 platform + security
i.MX27 family
The i.MX27 family is designed for videotelephony and video surveillance. It was launched in 2007.- i.MX27 = 400 MHz ARM9 platform + D1 VPU (decode/encode) + IPUDigital image processingDigital image processing is the use of computer algorithms to perform image processing on digital images. As a subcategory or field of digital signal processing, digital image processing has many advantages over analog image processing...
+ security - i.MX27L = 400 MHz ARM9 platform + IPU + security
i.MX25 family
The i.MX25 family was launched in 2009. It especially integrates key security features in hardware.The high-end member of the family, i.MX258, integrates a 400 MHz ARM9 CPU platform + LCDC (LCD controller) + security block and supports mDDR-SDRAM at 133 MHz.
- i.MX258 (industrial) = 400 MHz ARM9 platform + LCDC (with touch screen support) + security
- i.MX257 (consumer/industrial) = 400 MHz ARM9 platform + LCDC (with touch screen support)
- i.MX253 (consumer/industrial) = 400 MHz ARM9 platform + LCDC + security (no touch)
- i.MX255 (automotive) = 400 MHz ARM9 platform + LCDC (with touch screen support) + security
- i.MX251 (automotive) = 400 MHz ARM9 platform + security
i.MX23 family
The i.MX233 processor, launched in 2009, integrates a Power Management UnitPower Management Unit
The Power Management Unit is a microcontroller that governs power functions of digital platforms. This microchip has many similar components to the average computer, including firmware and software, memory, a CPU, input/output functions, timers to measure intervals of time, as well as analog to...
(PMU) and a stereo audio codec within the silicon. This unique integration removes the need for external power management chip and audio codec chip.
- i.MX233 (consumer) = 454 MHz ARM9 platform + LCD Controller (with touch screen support) + Pixel Pipeline + security + Power Management Unit + audio codec. Provided in 128LQFP or 169 BGA packages.
i.MX28 family
The i.MX28 family was launched in 2010. It especially integrates key security features in hardware, an ADC and the power management unit. It supports mDDR, LV-DDR2, DDR2-SDRAM at 200 MHz.- i.MX287 (industrial) = 454 MHz ARM9 platform + LCDC (with touch screen support) + security + power management + dual CAN interface + dual Ethernet
- i.MX286 (industrial) = 454 MHz ARM9 platform + LCDC (with touch screen support) + security + power management + dual CAN interface
- i.MX285 (automotive) = 454 MHz ARM9 platform + LCDC (with touch screen support) + security + power management + dual CAN interface + dual Ethernet
- i.MX283 (consumer/industrial) = 454 MHz ARM9 platform + LCDC (with touch screen support) + security + power management
- i.MX281 (automotive) = 454 MHz ARM9 platform + security + power management + dual CAN interface + single Ethernet
i.MX3x series
The i.MX3x series is a family of processors based on the ARM11ARM architecture
ARM is a 32-bit reduced instruction set computer instruction set architecture developed by ARM Holdings. It was named the Advanced RISC Machine, and before that, the Acorn RISC Machine. The ARM architecture is the most widely used 32-bit ISA in numbers produced...
architecture (ARM1136JF-S mainly), designed in CMOS 90 nm process.
i.MX31 family
The i.MX31 was launched in 2005. It integrates a 532 MHz ARM1136 CPU platform (with vector floating point unit, L1 caches and 128KB L2 caches) + VGA encode unit (VPU) + 3D GPU (OpenGLOpenGL
OpenGL is a standard specification defining a cross-language, cross-platform API for writing applications that produce 2D and 3D computer graphics. The interface consists of over 250 different function calls which can be used to draw complex three-dimensional scenes from simple primitives. OpenGL...
ES 1.1) + IPU
Digital image processing
Digital image processing is the use of computer algorithms to perform image processing on digital images. As a subcategory or field of digital signal processing, digital image processing has many advantages over analog image processing...
+ security block
It supports mDDR-SDRAM at 133 MHz.
- i.MX31 (consumer/industrial/automotive) = 532 MHz ARM1136 platform + VPU + 3D GPU + IPU + security
- i.MX31L (consumer/industrial/automotive) = 532 MHz ARM1136 platform + VPU + IPU + security
i.MX37 family
The i.MX37 processor is designed for Portable Media Players. It was launched in 2008.- i.MX37 (consumer) = 532 MHz ARM1176 CPU platform + D1 VPU (multiformat D1 decode) + IPU + security block
It supports mDDR-SDRAM at 133 MHz.
i.MX35 family
The i.MX35 family is the replacement of i.MX31. It was launched in 2009.The high-end member of the family, i.MX357, integrates an 532 MHz ARM1136 CPU platform (with Vector Floating Point unit, L1 caches and 128KB L2 cache) + 2.5D GPU (OpenVG
OpenVG
OpenVG is a standard API designed for hardware-accelerated 2D vector graphics. It is aimed primarily at mobile phones, media and gaming consoles such as the PlayStation 3, and other consumer electronic devices. It will help manufacturers create flashier user interfaces that are less dependent on...
1.1) + IPU
Digital image processing
Digital image processing is the use of computer algorithms to perform image processing on digital images. As a subcategory or field of digital signal processing, digital image processing has many advantages over analog image processing...
+ security block
It supports DDR2-SDRAM at 133 MHz.
- i.MX357 (consumer/industrial) = 532 MHz ARM1136 CPU platform + 2.5D GPU + IPU + security
- i.MX353 (consumer/industrial) = 532 MHz ARM1136 CPU platform + IPU + security
- i.MX356 (automotive) = 532 MHz ARM1136 CPU platform + 2.5D GPU + IPU + security
- i.MX355 (automotive) = 532 MHz ARM1136 CPU platform + IPU + security
- i.MX351 (automotive) = i.MX355 with no LCD interface
i.MX5x series
The i.MX5x series is based on the ARM Cortex A8 core. It comprises 2 families: the i.MX51 family (high-end multimedia devices like smartbookSmartbook
A smartbook was a class of mobile device that combined certain features of both a smartphone and netbook computer, promoted in 2009 and 2010....
or automotive infotainment) and the i.MX50 family (eReaders). It is designed in CMOS 65 nm process.
i.MX51 family
The high-end member of the family, i.MX515, integrates an 800 MHz ARM Cortex A8 CPU platform (with NEON co-processor, Vector Floating PointFloating Point
Floating Point is an album by John McLaughlin, released in 2008 through the record label Abstract Logix. The album reached number fourteen on Billboards Top Jazz Albums chart....
Unit, L1 caches and 256KB L2 cache) + multi-format HD 720p decode / D1 encode hardware video codecs (VPU, Video Processing Unit) + 3D GPU (OpenGL ES 2.0) + 2.5D GPU (OpenVG 1.1) + IPU
Digital image processing
Digital image processing is the use of computer algorithms to perform image processing on digital images. As a subcategory or field of digital signal processing, digital image processing has many advantages over analog image processing...
+ security block.
It especially supports DDR2 SDRAM
DDR2 SDRAM
DDR2 SDRAM is a double data rate synchronous dynamic random-access memory interface. It supersedes the original DDR SDRAM specification and has itself been superseded by DDR3 SDRAM...
at 200 MHz.
The family was launched in 2009.
- i.MX515 (consumer/industrial) = 800 MHz ARM Cortex A8 platform (600 MHz for industrial) + HD VPU + 3D GPU + 2.5D GPU + IPU + security
- i.MX513 (consumer/industrial) = 800 MHz ARM Cortex A8 platform (600 MHz for industrial) + HD VPU + IPU
- i.MX512 (consumer/industrial) = 800 MHz ARM Cortex A8 platform (600 MHz for industrial) + IPU
- i.MX516 (automotive) = 600 MHz ARM Cortex A8 platform + HD VPU + 3D GPU + 2.5D GPU + IPU + security block
- i.MX514 (automotive) = 600 MHz ARM Cortex A8 platform + 3D GPU + 2.5D GPU + IPU + security block
i.MX50 family
The i.MX508 processor is the result of Freescale collaboration with E InkE Ink
E Ink is a specific proprietary type of electronic paper manufactured by E Ink Corporation, founded in 1997 based on research started at the MIT Media Lab...
. It is dedicated for eReaders. Launched in 2010, it integrates the E INK display controller within the silicon to save both BOM cost and space on the PCB
Printed circuit board
A printed circuit board, or PCB, is used to mechanically support and electrically connect electronic components using conductive pathways, tracks or signal traces etched from copper sheets laminated onto a non-conductive substrate. It is also referred to as printed wiring board or etched wiring...
.
It especially supports LP-DDR2 SDRAM at 400 MHz.
- i.MX508 (consumer) = 800 MHz ARM Cortex A8 platform + 2.5D GPU + Pixel Pipeline + E INK display controller.
i.MX53 family
i.MX535 was announced in June 2010. It is said to ship in the first quarter of 2011.- i.MX535 (consumer) = 1 GHz ARM Cortex A8 platform + Full HD VPU (1080p decode) + 3D GPU + 2.5D GPU + IPU + security
- i.MX536 (automotive) = 1 GHz ARM Cortex A8 platform + Full HD VPU (1080p decode) + 3D GPU + 2.5D GPU + IPU + security
- i.MX534 (automotive) = 1 GHz ARM Cortex A8 platform + 3D GPU + 2.5D GPU + IPU + security
i.MX6x series
The i.MX6x series is the latest addition to the Freescale i.MX portfolio, based on the ARM Cortex A9ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore
The ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore is a 32-bit multicore processor providing up to 4 cache-coherent Cortex-A9 cores, each implementing the ARM v7 instruction set architecture.-Features:Key features of the Cortex-A9 core are:...
solo, dual or quad cores. It is designed in CMOS 40 nm process.
i.MX6 Solo, Dual and Quad were announced in January 2011, during Consumer Electronics Show
Consumer Electronics Show
The International Consumer Electronics Show is a major technology-related trade show held each January in the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Not open to the public, the Consumer Electronics Association-sponsored show typically hosts previews of products and new...
in Las Vegas.
i.MX6 Solo family
- i.MX6 solo = 1.2 GHz ARM Cortex A9 platform + Full HD VPU (1080p decode) + 3D/2.5D GPU + 2D GPU + IPU + security
i.MX6 Dual/Quad families
- i.MX6 Dual = 1.2 GHz ARM Cortex A9 dual cores platform + dual Full HD VPU (1080p decode) + 3D GPU + 2.5D GPU + 2D GPU + 2xIPU + security
- i.MX6 Quad = 1.2 GHz ARM Cortex A9 quad cores platform + dual Full HD VPU (1080p decode) + 3D GPU + 2.5D GPU + 2D GPU + 2xIPU + security
Software solutions
Freescale proposes a layered approach of software with selection of software components optimized for its chips. The i.MX board support packageBoard support package
In embedded systems, a board support package is implementation specific support code for a given board that conforms to a given operating system...
s (BSP), common across all i.MX nodes, consists of kernel optimization, hardware drivers and unit tests. The company also provides a portfolio of multimedia Codecs (ARM and Video processing unit accelerated). The i.MX solution also includes middleware with reuse of open source frameworks like multimedia framework plugins, power management, security/DRM or graphics (OpenGL/OpenVG).
All software solutions for i.MX are publicly available on the company website.
Linux
Freescale i.MX development kits include a Linux software stack with a Gnome MobileGNOME Mobile & Embedded Initiative
The GNOME Mobile & Embedded Initiative , also known as GNOME Mobile, is an initiative for developing and promoting the use of the GNOME platform in mobile devices...
environment.
On the i.MX51 family, the reference user interface is Ubuntu
Ubuntu (operating system)
Ubuntu is a computer operating system based on the Debian Linux distribution and distributed as free and open source software. It is named after the Southern African philosophy of Ubuntu...
. The last Ubuntu version supported is 10.04.1 (still available on mirrors). Ubuntu dropped the "official" i.MX51 family support since version 10.10.. Since Ubuntu 11.10 support for the i.MX53 Quickstart board is available as a preinstalled desktop or server SD card.
The OpenEmbedded
OpenEmbedded
OpenEmbedded is a software framework to create Linux distributions aimed for, but not restricted to, embedded devices. The build system is based on BitBake recipes, which behave similar to Gentoo's ebuilds....
Linux distribution supports several i.MX platforms.
Commercial Linux support is available from companies like MontaVista
MontaVista
MontaVista Software is a software developer that develops embedded Linux system software, development tools, and related software. Its products are targeted at other corporations developing embedded systems such as automotive electronics, communications equipment, mobile phones, and other...
, Wind River Systems
Wind River Systems
Wind River Systems, Inc. is a company providing embedded systems, development tools for embedded systems, middleware, and other types of software. The company was founded in Berkeley, California in 1981 by Jerry Fiddler and David Wilner. On June 4, 2009, Wind River announced that Intel had bought...
and Mentor Graphics
Mentor Graphics
Mentor Graphics, Inc is a US-based multinational corporation dealing in electronic design automation for electrical engineering and electronics, as of 2004, ranked third in the EDA industry it helped create...
.
Android
In February 2010, Freescale launched an Android platform for the i.MX5x family.Chromium
In early 2010 Freescale demoed Chromium OSChromium OS
Chromium OS is the open source development version of Google Chrome OS.Chrome OS's source code was released on November 19, 2009 under the same BSD license as Chromium OS.-User interface:...
running on the i.MX515 processor. The company has not disclosed any further plans about Chromium or Chrome.
Real-time OS
Freescale has a range of partners providing real-time operating systemReal-time operating system
A real-time operating system is an operating system intended to serve real-time application requests.A key characteristic of a RTOS is the level of its consistency concerning the amount of time it takes to accept and complete an application's task; the variability is jitter...
s and software solutions running on the i.MX processors, such as Trinity Convergence
Maxim Integrated Products
Maxim Integrated Products is a publicly traded company that designs, manufactures, and sells analog and mixed-signal semiconductor products. Maxim develops integrated circuits for the industrial, communications, consumer, and computing markets....
, Adeneo, Thundersoft, Intrinsyc
Intrinsyc
Intrinsyc provides software for creating handheld products including mobile handsets, smart phones, GPS devices and embedded systems. Intrinsyc's customers are device makers, service providers and silicon vendors.- Soleus :...
, Wind River Systems
Wind River Systems
Wind River Systems, Inc. is a company providing embedded systems, development tools for embedded systems, middleware, and other types of software. The company was founded in Berkeley, California in 1981 by Jerry Fiddler and David Wilner. On June 4, 2009, Wind River announced that Intel had bought...
, QNX
QNX
QNX is a commercial Unix-like real-time operating system, aimed primarily at the embedded systems market. The product was originally developed by Canadian company, QNX Software Systems, which was later acquired by Canadian BlackBerry-producer Research In Motion.-Description:As a microkernel-based...
, Green Hills
Green Hills Software
Green Hills Software is a privately owned company that builds operating systems and development tools for embedded systems. The company was founded in 1982 by Dan O'Dowd and Carl Rosenberg...
and Mentor Graphics
Mentor Graphics
Mentor Graphics, Inc is a US-based multinational corporation dealing in electronic design automation for electrical engineering and electronics, as of 2004, ranked third in the EDA industry it helped create...
.
Reference designs
In January 2010, Freescale announced the first platform of its Smart Application Blueprint for Rapid Engineering (SABRE) series. It is a smartbook (tablet form factor with 7" touch screen resistive), running on i.MX515.In February 2010, Freescale demoed the SABRE platform for eReaders, based on i.MX515.
Many more reference boards are mentioned and supported through the Freescale i.MX community website.
These include:
- i.MX23EVK
- i.MX25PDK
- i.MX28EVK
- MX37PDK
- i.MX35PDK
- i.MX51EVK
- i.MX53 Quick Start Board 3×3 inch board with VGA, audio, serial, 2× USB2 Host, 1× USB OTG, SATA and SD Card
See also
- ARM architectureARM architectureARM is a 32-bit reduced instruction set computer instruction set architecture developed by ARM Holdings. It was named the Advanced RISC Machine, and before that, the Acorn RISC Machine. The ARM architecture is the most widely used 32-bit ISA in numbers produced...
- List of Freescale Microcontrollers
- Freescale (Motorola Semiconductor division until 2004)
- SmartbookSmartbookA smartbook was a class of mobile device that combined certain features of both a smartphone and netbook computer, promoted in 2009 and 2010....
- eBook reader
- Automotive infotainmentIn car entertainmentIn-Car Entertainment, , is a collection of hardware devices installed into automobiles, or other forms of transportation, to provide audio and/or audio/visual entertainment, as well as automotive navigation systems...