January 2021

Press Release
PicoCore™MX8MP

New PicoCore™ Module (35 x 40 mm) from F&S Elektronik Systeme GmbH
The i.MX 8M Plus from NXP rounds off the i.MX8M CPU range.

The PicoCoreMX8MP is characterized by its small size (35 x 40mm) and makes the board the ideal partner for compact devices. Special features are 2x Gigabit LAN, LVDS/MIPI-DSI/HDMI, 2x camera interface, CAN, and of course Machine Learning. The module is characterized by very good multimedia functions and, thanks to its reliability, is ideally suited for machine learning, industrial IoT, and medical applications.

Starting with the i.MX8M Nano CPU and continuing with the i.MX8M Mini CPU, the i.MX 8M Plus CPU from NXP rounds off the i.MX8M CPU range.

The processor consists of a dual or quad ARM® Cortex®-A53 core with up to 1.8GHz, plus a Cortex®-M7 core for real-time processing with 800MHz. The processor also features a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for machine learning. The i.MX 8M Plus features video encode (including h.265) and decode, 2D/3D graphics acceleration, and various audio and voice functionalities. Display interfaces include LVDS, MIPI-DSI, and HDMI, a high-performance graphics unit (2D/3D), USB 3.0, and CAN-FD, to name just a few.
As another heterogeneous embedded multi-core application processor, the i.MX8M Plus CPU combines high-performance computing, energy efficiency, enhanced system security, and embedded security, which is needed to drive the growth of fast-growing edge node computing, streaming multimedia, and machine learning applications.
The PicoCoreMX8MP has sufficient memory (max. 8GB RAM and max. 32GB eMMC Flash). The module offers many interfaces on the 2x 100-pin plug connectors. The PicoCoreMX8MP has max. 2x Gigabit Ethernet (opt. RGMII), 802.11 ac/a/b/g/n WLAN, BT 5.0 LE, 1x USB Host 2.0/3.0, 1x USB Device OTG 2.0/3.0, max. 2x CAN, max. 4x UART, max. 4x I2C, max. 2x SPI and Audio Line In/ Out/ Mic/ Headphone/ I2S. The Dual Image Signal Processor enables max. 2x MIPI-CSI camera interfaces. Besides, RTC, max. 4x PWM, SPDIF, ESAI, SAI, and SSI are available.
Besides Secure Boot (protection of the system against manipulation and protection of the software against decryption), there is also an optional additional security chip for the module available. The customer can program the certificates himself, alternatively, F&S offers this as a service.
A MIPI-DSI interface with four lanes or 1-2 LVDS interfaces with four lanes, or an LVDS interface with eight lanes, as well as DVI is available for display control. Touch panels can be connected externally via I2C.
The operating system adapted for the PicoCoreMX8MP is Linux. Linux Buildroot or Yocto supports all interfaces, thus ensuring easy software development without extensive hardware knowledge. FreeRTOS is available for controlling the real-time core M7.
For an easy start of development, we offer a ready-to-run PicoCore™MX8MP Starter Kit including board, baseboard, display, cables, and access to documentation and software. The software provided includes the board support package and the toolchain for Bare Metal or FreeRTOS.

Since 2018, the PicoCORE™ COM product family has been offered by F&S Elektronik Systeme. In the meantime, 7 PicoCore modules with NXP CPUs are available, with more to follow in 2021. The PicoCore™MX8MP can be purchased directly from F&S Elektronik Systeme or one of the worldwide distribution partners.

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