All, I think I may have at least an initial solution. Cortex-Ax processors are the "application processors" that are used in tablets, etc. I went to the ARM site for Coretex-A development boards - http://www.arm.com/support/university/development-platforms/cortex-a8-development-platforms.php
The first one they mention is the BeagleBone. It uses an AM3359 - http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/am3359.pdf - which has a General Purpose Memory Controller: – General-Purpose Memory Controller (GPMC) • Flexible 8-Bit and 16-Bit Asynchronous Module Memory Interface with up to Seven Chip – Controls the Entry and Exit of Stand-By and • Uses BCH Code to Support 4-, 8-, or 16-Bit – Responsible for Sleep Sequencing, Power • Uses Hamming Code to Support 1-Bit ECC The BeagleBone exposes this GPMC interface - here is an example - http://engineersofthecorn.blogspot.ca/2012/06/faux-gpmc-interfacing-with-beaglebone.html So you could EITHER create a "bit-banged" S-100 interface OR use this GPMC interface. http://www.adafruit.com/datasheets/BBB_SRM.pdf http://www.adafruit.com/products/1876 Andrew On Tuesday, August 26, 2014 10:37:52 AM UTC-7, monahanz wrote: > > Greg, thank you for the tips. Your experience is most helpful. While I > will keep looking I would really value any further suggestions you may > gather over the weekend. > Sound like the ARM9 is the way for us to go. The two things that are > putting me off on the Toradex units, first they are overseas (but > apparently have a distribution center in Seattle) possibly getting units > could be difficult, also looking at the specks of the support board -- it > appears quite complex. One basic question, how different are the > various differently named ARM9's for example they say there's is a "NVIDIA > Tegra 3 quad-core Cortex-A9". Is that one more complex to program than > others or are they all the same, > > In the ideal world I would like a mini-board with the following > parameters:- > > Easy connector attachment to an S100 board which acts as a support board > for the 'chip' > Clear documentation of I/O lines > At least 30 or so GPIO lines we could use to control the S100 bus when the > ARM CPU is in master mode. > A windows based IDE interface to program the CPU and download software. > The capability of running a Linux system on the "chip". > The unit is available in single unit quantities. > > I never thought of the Auto industry, good idea, thanks > Please see if you can slice time to take a look see at candidates this > weekend. > Thanks > > > John > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] <javascript:> [mailto: > [email protected] <javascript:>] On Behalf Of G. Beat > Sent: Monday, August 25, 2014 11:32 PM > To: [email protected] <javascript:> > Subject: RE: [N8VEM-S100:5041] ARM CPU on the S100Bus-II > > If an ARM processor is desired, then you start with ARM's roadmap. > For example, here is the ARM7 web page. > Two notable observations: > First, main headline on page is about migration, and second is advice to > not use for new designs. > http://www.arm.com/products/processors/classic/arm7/index.php > > So, we scratch ARM7, since N8VEM users would desire a longer processor > life (supported Linux version, etc.) and not immediate extinction. > > That leaves the ARM9 and the ARM11. > > The ARM11 is popular with mobile phones, a range of SoCs and various OEM > products. > The ARM9 has been most successful, so far, and has replaced the ARM7 for > entry designs. > > The "who" takes a bit longer to sort out, and involves more than hardware > mfg. > > You may laugh, but one "bell-weather" that I routinely check is the > automotive industry, especially last 20 years. > The reason is longevity of support for successful implementations. > > Freescale is the old Motorola Texas/Arizona processor/IC/transistor > division, and the Motorola auto fabrication/car module engineering & > assembly was bought by another company. > > Freescale has an ARM9 series, but I have not looked at it. > I do note that Ubuntu (Linux) dropped support at 10.10 for Freescale i.MX > (ARM9). > That is the wildcard ... OS support and the software development community > support (earlier comments along same line). > > Labor Day weekend may permit more time for research. > > greg > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "N8VEM-S100" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected] <javascript:>. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "N8VEM-S100" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
