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| Main features |
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Power:
Single voltage 12V also not stabilised 250mA (with audio amplifier in mute).
Video section:
Optimised for video-graphic animation.
VGA CRT/LCD output configurable with resolutions up to 1024x768.
Video output RGB 15/25 Khz with resolutions of 320x240 and 420x240.
All supported resolutions work at 65000 colours.
Alpha Blending function management (graphic objects trasparency).
In order
to lighten the work load of the processor a function has been installed on the hardware whic makes it possible to superimpose two image and calculate the result point accoding to the "alpha" color which determines the trasparency.
Web Server:
TCP/IP interface on board, it operates as a web Server.
Audio Section:
16 bit stereo audio with included a 10+10W audio amplifier.
Input/Output:
16 digital lines input and 16 lines output with a power driver. All the I/O are protected from eventual radio-electrical noise.
Memory of User Data:
64Mb of Flash Memory (Intel Strata Flash) – Expandable.
Serial BUS:
1 I2C Bus port to which it is possible to connect up to 255 peripherals.
2 RS232 ports - Output for the CC-TALK Bus.
System Clock:
Real Time Clock with backup battery -
Watch Dog Timer.
Non volatile memory:
256K FRAM (ferroelectric memory).
The FRAM memories present characteristics similar to the SRAM, and are therefore characterised by low access times both in writing as well as in reading, with the advantage of maintaining the data in memory even in the absence of supply. Using these interesting FRAM characteristics, the Merlino Board elegantly solves the problem related to the start-up of the programs in execution on the board, following a supply black-out. It is then possible to restart the software exactly from where it was interrupted.
Security:
Implementation of an architecture which reasonably protects it from eventul violation both of the software and hardware.
Optional Modules available:
Module for GSM/GPRS connections - GPS receptions module
USB Interface module - Bluetooth interface mosule
Touch Screen module
Case:
The "Merlin Board" is available in an elegant plastic box equipped whith a support which may be used to attach it to the wall.
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VGA Video Section |
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The Merlino Board offers the possibility of connecting both the CRT and the LCD monitor with resolutions ranging from the RGB 15Khz standards with 320x240 standards to the resolutions typical of the SVGA 1024x768 standard. Independently from the chosen resolution, 65000 colours are always available.
Particular attention has been paid to the optimization of the various video functions, which being managed directly in the synthesised hardware in the FPGA, relieve the processor from the functions relative to the video management. For this purpose, functions dedicated to the management of the video animations have been entered, as well as a function dedicated to the alpha blending, useful for carrying out video overlay or fading effects.
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Audio section |
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The audio section is provided with a class D audio amplifier, able to supply 10+10W stereo.
It is possible to verify, via the application software, the potential overheating of the power audio amplifier, thereby controlling shutdown of this function.
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Parallel Input/Output |
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22 entrance lines are available in TTL standard, all provided with a protection device from electrostatic disturbances, and 17 Outputs provided with power driver (ULN2003) to directly connect loads up to 550 mA for each of the outlets.
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Serial lines |
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Two standard RS232 ports, one I 2 C bus and for the version for the gaming market, a port in standard CC-Talk is available.
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The I2C Bus |
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On the I2C it is possible to connect up to 1024 (10-bit addressing) analogical and digital input devices on a bus presenting two lines which, if endowed with a I 2C bus extender (P82B715), can reach a maximum length of 400 mt.
Philips makes a great variety of I 2 C bus devices. Being nowadays a widespread standard, it has been adopted by many companies. Among the models supplied by Philips, there are various clocks/calendars (PCF8573, PCF8583), static RAM memories (PCF8570), EEPROM memories (PCF8582, 24C01), analogical/digital converters (PCF8591) and plenty more, choosing from a list containing approx 400 products.
With a PCF8574-type integrated circuit, it is possible to add 8 bi-directional ports to the Merlino Board.
It is possible to use up to 8 of this type of integrated circuit, thus obtaining a total of 64 input/output pressure feet, controlled through only two lines.
The Bit Rate on the I2C bus is approx 400Khz in fast-mode.
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LAN |
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The Merlino Board is provided with an integrated Web server, with a LAN TCP/IP interface.
It will then be possible to create HTML pages to be allocated in the board flash memory, which will enable creation of areas in which the values potentially acquired by the Merlino Board can be visualized.
The opportunity to intervene from a remote through the LAN network is thus offered. It will be possible to interact with the Merlino Board in order to activate or deactivate the outputs, to present information on video or create audio data.
Last but not least, there is also the possibility of updating even remotely, both the Merlino Board software and the audio video information it contains within the flash memories.
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Flash Memories |
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With regard to mass memory, it has been decided to install certain Intel Strata Flash, which offer interesting characteristics in terms of access time. In standard configurations, there are two Flash memories with a total of 32 Mb. On the latter, all the information relative to graphics, audio files and the program will be found.
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FRAM |
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An embedded system must succeed in ensuring that the application program is able to restart exactly from where it was interrupted, in the case of unexpected interruptions.
The normal program execution can be blocked due to a supply black-out or to an error in the code, which is unfortunately always possible.
In order to ensure all of this, the Merlino Board has adopted a truly elegant and innovative solution: the FRAM memories.
The FRAM are iron-electrical memories retaining the data written inside, even in the absence of supply.
The main differences between the FRAM and other solid-state memorization systems, such as for example the flash memories, apply to the case of the FRAM:
• Low access time in read/write
• The capacity of being re-written an extremely high number of times.
The Flash memories, on the other hand:
• During the write phase they are extremely slow (approx 10 mS), in fact for each piece of writing the entire block needs to be re-written.
• They cannot support an elevated number of writing cycles, typically 1 million cycles for the flash memories against 1 billion cycles for the FRAMs.
These features, together with the access in R/W times similar to those relative to the SRAM, have allowed us to install the FRAM memory directly on the processor bus.
In so doing, the end-user has the possibility of writing the critical variables concerning his actual application program, together with a flag variable to be verified each time the board is switched on, directly in FRAM.
An unexpected switching-off of the board can occur for one of the following reasons:
Black-out of the supply system
- Intervention of the system reset, recalled by the Watch Dog Timer, which activates itself in the case of unforeseen blockage of the application software
- Crash of the software due to a condition unforeseen in the code
In each of these events, the flag variable will be read, upon subsequent reset, in turn previously written in FRAM memory. Finding it enabled, the software will restart only after having loaded the previous state of critical variables in the memory, thus ensuring a reset of the program against the conditions prior to the crash.
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Watch Dog Timer |
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The FRAM chip includes a WDT inside, which ensures a greater reliability within the system. In fact, it consists of a timer which is entirely autonomous from the rest of the architecture and which must be zeroed by the application software. If the software, which may have been blocked due to an unexpected error, should not succeed in directing the WDT zeroing, the system would need to be rebooted.
Taking into account that the setting times of the Merlino Board are almost instantaneous and that in any case the program, thanks to the FRAM memories, would restart from where it had left off, the event of reset would bring about a minimum discomfort to the potential end-user.
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RTC |
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Within the FRAM there also is a clock to which it is possible to connect a buffer battery. Apart from the obvious functionality of indicating the time, it also offers the possibility of configuring alarms, which once activated will enable an IRQ.
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Custom instruction |
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A complex sequence of operations can be reduced to one instruction only, carried out in the hardware. By using the custom instructions, it is possible to implement a complex process or a time-critical process in one single cycle. Furthermore, through the logic stated in the custom instructions, it is even possible to access from outside the processor logic.
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Protection and Serialization |
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Another aspect taken into account in the design of the Merlino Board architecture concerns the protection of the user’s own work. For this purpose, a unique code is combined to each board lot. The programs compiled for the board with a determined code, will be unable to turn on the board with a different codification.
This solution was introduced to favour the companies adopting the Merlino platform in order to develop their actual application and are interested in offering its end-users the complete solution, both hardware and software. It will then not be possible for any software solution developed by another manufacturer to turn on boards other than those of their own manufacture.
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