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AM5706: A few questions about connecting peripherals

Eric Meehan
Prodigy 20 points

Part Number: AM5706

Hello fellow TI developers,

I am working on a board using the AM5706 and I have a few questions about connecting the processor to other components of the board.

The board includes two WiFi modules - the Pulse Larson TWR0063 - which has four pins to connect to USB.  The module has a Linux driver that I believe should enable it as a WLAN interface within the OS (correct me if I'm wrong here).  Additionally, I would like to upgrade the RAM to 512Mb using the Alliance Memory AS6C connected to the GPMC interface.  Finally, I would like to add additional storage to the chip using the Micron MT29, which will add 128Gbit of memory to the processor, also over GPMC.

Here are my questions:

  • The MT29 has eight data input/output pins, and the AS6C has either eight or sixteen data pins depending on if it is using 8 or 16 bit addresses.  Given that the AM5706 has 16 data pins for GPMC and allows for synchronous usage, am I correct in surmising that I should be able to use these two modules over GPMC simultaneously?
  • Since the AM57 is a 32 bit processor, and I will be using two 8 bit memory units, will I run into problems if an application requires a 32 bit os?  
  • Once connected, will the AM57 recognize and utilize these chips on startup, or will additional configuration be required to make use of them?
  • Does the boot order include GPMC by default?  That is, if I flash the desired OS onto the MT29, will the AM57 boot that OS?

Thanks to anyone who replies, Texas Instruments provides excellent documentation and I appreciate the extra effort that goes into maintaining a forum for me to ask questions like this!

  • 0
    TI__Guru 50045 points

    Hi,

    Please find my comments to your questions.

    - It should be possible. But I am asking our HW expert to confirm. 

    - No. It won't be an issue. GPMC will do 4 reads of 8 bit data to get 32-bit data.

    - AM57 ROM code can boot from GPMC if connected to NOR flash or NAND flash device. Other types of devices won't be recognized by ROM code. You have to write your own driver.

    - Please refer to AM57 Technical Reference Manual "Initialization" chapter for detail. SYSBOOT pin configuration will set the device boot order for ROM code. You can select the SYSBOOT mode which allows ROM code to boot from GPMC NAND flash. ROM code typically loads a bootloader which then loads the OS.

    Regards,
    Stanley

  • 0
    TI__Genius 10180 points

    Eric,

    1.  Please direct TWR0063 questions to Pulse Electronics; their representatives will be better contacts to answer on their module driver features

    2.  To interface with two flash memories, you will need to define two separate chip select regions, and only one chip select can be active at any particular time

    3.  Architecture differences matter during compilation and linking stage.  Make sure to generate the binary based on the desired OS architecture; once that is done, the binary can be stored in flash memory like NOR/NAND

    4.  This will depend on the SW you plan to use.  You can reference our SW example codes and support here:  https://www.ti.com/product/AM5706?keyMatch=AM5706&tisearch=Search-EN-everything&usecase=GPN#design-development##software-development

    5.  Yes, GPMC boot mode is supported.  Please reference TRM section 33.2.4.5 Boot Peripheral Pin Multiplexing as well as 33.3.7 Memory Booting for more details.

    Have a great day!

    Best Regards,

    Shiou Mei