AM4378: LVDS/Ethernet gateway

Marcel Kunz

Other Parts Discussed in Thread: AM4378

Hi all

For a new PCB design we are looking for a fast LVDS / Ethernet data Gateway. Instead of using a FPGA SoC device the Sitara AM437x Processors might be a good option.

So, is there a good and direct connect LVDS signals to the processor, implement a user protocol and do processing?

Specs:
two LVDS pairs with embedded clock, up and down communication (two LVDS Links), line frequency ~200MHz
user defined protocol, Ser/des, balanced signals

Is there a reference design or app note to start with?

Do I need to connect to the display port or are there any dedicated GPIOs?

Best regards

over 7 years ago

0 Biser Gatchev-XID over 7 years ago

TI__Guru**** 393215 points

Can you please give more details? What do you need LVDS for? Display, Ethernet, or both?

0 Marcel Kunz over 7 years ago in reply to Biser Gatchev-XID

Prodigy 85 points

The TI ARM Core acts as a data gateway to transfer LVDS data packets to Gigabit Ethernet and reverse. The LVDS protocols will be user defined and on the Ethernet with regular TCP/IP. The two LVDS links (up and down) has a user defined line frequency (max 200 MHz), embedded clock and is connected to a remote device with LVDS input (no Display).

The ARM CPU should capture LVDS signals (data), manipulate the data and transfer it over TCP/IP to a regular PC. >> Gateway

The LVDS HW connection, pins (GPIO?), LVDS signal balancing, frequency generation are the unknown points.

Best regards

0 Biser Gatchev-XID over 7 years ago in reply to Marcel Kunz

TI__Guru**** 393215 points

Hi Marcel,

Sorry, Ethernet over LVDS is not a supported use case on Sitara devices.

0 Marcel Kunz over 7 years ago in reply to Biser Gatchev-XID

Prodigy 85 points

So, there is no option to connect LVDS signals on the Sitara CPUs?

0 Biser Gatchev-XID over 7 years ago in reply to Marcel Kunz

TI__Guru**** 393215 points

Only on the LCD parallel interfaces.

0 sivak over 7 years ago in reply to Marcel Kunz

TI__Genius 9655 points

Marcel

Could you reach out to the local TI FAE? We want to understand your requirements more. We cannot support direct LVDS signals bridge to Ethernet on AM4378, but we would like to understand the requirements better to be able to propose a solution for you.

Regards, Siva

0 Marcel Kunz over 7 years ago in reply to sivak

Prodigy 85 points

Dear Siva
I was not able to find the local AE for Switzerland on you web page. Please can you forward this use case for a processor (e.g. Sitara) to have full support. Or is there a link where I can follow?

Regards Marcel

0 sivak over 7 years ago in reply to Marcel Kunz

TI__Genius 9655 points

We're working on this issue offline.

Regards, Siva

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AM4378: LVDS/Ethernet gateway