Experience with TMS470?

[PeteS]

Hi all

I have to redesign a telematics unit in the not so distant future and
the TMS470R1Axx seems like a decent choice (I need the 2 CAN ports
amongst other things).

I'm specifically looking at
http://focus.ti.com/docs/prod/folders/print/tms470r1a288.html
and
http://focus.ti.com/docs/prod/folders/print/tms470r1a384.html

[The reason for redesign is partly cost, partly the wonderful RoHS
directive which means I simply can't get certain parts any more].

I like the fact there's a full toolchain (GNUARM) and even a free
RTOS(and yes, if we use it, we'll probably go for commercial support)
apart from the fact I already have a pretty high end JTAG debugger for ARM.

That said, I wondered what experience others have had with this family
of devices. There have been comments about the TI docs (and I've had my
share of digging on those) and any pointers here would be greatly
appreciated. I already scanned through the primary datasheet and found I
need to study multiple documents for each module, which is not a major
issue provided they together fully document the beast

Cross-posted to c.a.e and s.e.d. as I'm interested in any comments
anyone might have about this series.

Cheers

PeteS

 

[Pete Fenelon]

That said, I wondered what experience others have had with this family
of devices. There have been comments about the TI docs (and I've had my
share of digging on those) and any pointers here would be greatly
appreciated. I already scanned through the primary datasheet and found I
need to study multiple documents for each module, which is not a major
issue provided they together fully document the beast

TI's own compiler is.... so-so, and their docs use terminology gratuitously
different from standard ARM documentation. I don't like or trust Code
Composer as a debug environment (had plenty of problems getting it to
talk to dev kit).... and I find the interrupt controller on the
TMS470R1x rather inelegant. I recall having to jump through several
hoops to deal with the "Phantom Interrupt" problem.

That said, the last TMS470 I used was an FPGA implementation of
forthcoming silicon, and the 'real' kit might've improved.

I certainly wouldn't regard them as something I'd choose to use unless
there were overwhelming economic arguments in favour of them.

pete

 

[rickman]

Hi all

I have to redesign a telematics unit in the not so distant future and
the TMS470R1Axx seems like a decent choice (I need the 2 CAN ports
amongst other things).

I'm specifically looking at
http://focus.ti.com/docs/prod/folders/print/tms470r1a288.html
and
http://focus.ti.com/docs/prod/folders/print/tms470r1a384.html

[The reason for redesign is partly cost, partly the wonderful RoHS
directive which means I simply can't get certain parts any more].

I like the fact there's a full toolchain (GNUARM) and even a free
RTOS(and yes, if we use it, we'll probably go for commercial support)
apart from the fact I already have a pretty high end JTAG debugger for ARM.

That said, I wondered what experience others have had with this family
of devices. There have been comments about the TI docs (and I've had my
share of digging on those) and any pointers here would be greatly
appreciated. I already scanned through the primary datasheet and found I
need to study multiple documents for each module, which is not a major
issue provided they together fully document the beast

Cross-posted to c.a.e and s.e.d. as I'm interested in any comments
anyone might have about this series.

I don't have any experience with the TMS470 devices, but I have
considered them for designs. They tend to be some of the higher power
consumption and physcially large devices in the ARM community. This is
expected since they are designed for automotive use where size and
power are not so important.

You can see a comparison chart of a number of ARM7 devices at
www.gnuarm.com. Go to the Resources page and scroll down to ARM Chips
and click on "ARM Device Comparison Chart". You may find some that are
better suited or more popular. Atmel, Philips and ST Micro all have
ARM devices with 2 or more CAN controllers.