TS-4400

WARNING:

This manual is incomplete and is subject to change without notice while the TS-4400 is in development.

TS-4400

Product Page
Documentation
Schematic
Mechanical Drawing
FTP Path
Processor
300 MHz
Vortex86EX
X86 Architecture
Processor Page

Overview

The TS-4400 is a TS-SOCKET Macrocontroller Computer on Module designed for Intel x86 instruction set and DOS compatibility. The TS-4400 uses a DMP Vortex86EX processor on the TS-SOCKET platform to provide true real-time capabilities through the use of operating systems such as FreeDOS and FreeRTOS. The computing module provides a 300 MHz x86 CPU, bootable SD media socket, onboard BootROM (BIOS), 256 megabytes of RAM, and a 22K LUT XILINX FPGA.

Getting Started

The TS-4400, being a TS-SOCKET Macrocontroller, is not a standalone product. The module requires a baseboard to provide power and interface connections to the outside world. In this product manual, the TS-4400 module will be largely assumed as being paired with a TS-8551 development baseboard.

TS-8551 Mini-Manual

XXX TODO: This manual will be migrated into a full TS-8551-4400 manual of its own.

The TS-8551 is a product development baseboard designed to provide power and signal access to the TS-SOCKET macrocontroller it hosts. The baseboard provides direct signal access to all 200 pins of the TS-SOCKET Macrocontroller. The TS-8551 baseboard also provides common interfaces such as RS232 serial on a DB9 connector, USB 2.0 Type A, two Ethernet ports, USB OTG, and Technologic Systems' proprietary TS-SILO technology.

The TS-8551 has three mutually-exclusive power connector options: 5 VDC Barrel, 5 VDC screw terminal, and 8-28 VDC screw terminal. These power inputs are all controlled by a physical rocker switch. Note the TS-SILO function is on the "inside" power circuit, so while the rocker switch will interrupt external power, the TS-SILO will continue to power the system until its reserve runs out.

There are five physical jumpers on the TS-8551: SD Boot, No Charge, U-Boot, TS-4400, and SBC 5V On. When used in conjunction with the TS-4400, only the TS-4400 and No Charge jumpers are used.

The TS-4400 jumper provides the RTC VBAT signal to the CPU for software monitoring of the VBAT signal.

The No Charge jumper disables the TS-SILO functionality of the TS-8551 baseboard. This allows the system to be completely powered off instantly via the rocker switch, or by removing power from the SBC.

Connect USB Console

Console on the TS-4400 is provided from the micro USB port on the macrocontroller itself. The USB port presents itself to the host OS as a SiLabs USB to Serial adapter (Driver for most common OSes provided by SiLabs here. The serial transmissions are at 115200 baud, encoded with 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity, no flow control.

Powering up

The TS-4400 system on module requires a clean regulated 5 VDC from its host baseboard. All other power sequencing activities will be handled by the SoM and will take approximately 200 ms. Once power sequencing has completed, the SBC will begin its boot sequence.

Boot Sequence

At power-on, the TS-4400 will first access the BIOS binary on the 8MB Flash chip (on-board, or on the off-board TS-9459 if present and enabled). This execution takes 300-600 milliseconds, and passes control to the DOS kernel on the first available boot device, starting with SD media, then USB media, then finally the "A:\" drive, which is a 1.7 MB Virtual Diskette located in a reserved section of the 8MB Flash chip.

Coreboot & SeaBIOS

The TS-4400 uses a version of Coreboot and SeaBIOS provided by the processor manufacturer as its BIOS and bootstrap. This binary exists within the 8MB Flash accessed during the earliest part of the CPU power-on sequence, and requires just a couple hundred milliseconds to execute before passing control to the DOS kernel.

Cross Compiling and Development

Due to its use of the i386EX architecture, the TS-4400 is supported by many compilers and development environments. The preferred development environment for application programs on the TS-4400 is [| OpenWatcom 2]. This once paid development environment has been made free and open-source by its original developer, and subsequently ported and updated to work in the latest Microsoft OS (Windows 10 64bit as of this writing).

Accessing The FPGA

Most functionality on the TS-4400 is implemented through the Altera Cyclone FPGA. With that in mind, the first necessity toward unlocking the TS-4400's potential is the need to understand how to talk to the FPGA.

The FPGA is connected to the CPU via the PCI bus. The first thing to do when accessing the FPGA is issue a BIOS interrupt to discover the FPGA base address. This address is assigned by the BIOS at power-up and should not be hard-coded into application software.

The example code below demonstrates a simple method for determining the base address of the FPGA:

XXX TBD: Example code here.

FreeDOS Development

Using USB media formatted for DOS FAT, the FreeDOS installation boots without further modification. From this point it is possible to use a wide variety of common DOS utilities and applications. For expediency development should be done via an IDE and cross-compiler such as that offered by the OpenWatcom IDE suite.

Features

FPGA

The FPGA on the TS-4400 is an Altera Cyclone IV EP4CGX22 connected to the CPU via the PCI bus.

LEDs

The TS-4400 has one green LED near the micro USB port. This LED will illuminate when a USB cable is connected to the module and will cease illuminating when power to the SoM is turned off.

TS-SILO Supercapacitors

XXX TODO: This section needs a generic graphic or one dedicated to the TS-4400.

USB

XXX TODO: Is this a duplicate of section 7's USB section?

Specifications

MicroSD Connector

The microSD connector enables the module to access microSD media. In FreeDOS, this media is the default C:\ boot drive.

XXX TODO: Add detail about possible baseboard SD Boot jumper and boot order. Link to proper boot order section of wiki. Add detail about maximum SD media size for supported OSes.

MicroUSB Connector

The MicroUSB connector on the TS-4400 provides a serial console connection via the SiLabs management IC on the module. This serial port communicates at 115200 baud, 8 bit data, 1 stop bit, no parity, no flow control.

Power Connectors

Power to the TS-4400 is provided exclusively through the baseboard connection to the module via the CN1 and CN2 connectors. Only the 5 V power rails are inputs. All other power rails are outputs and should not be allowed any current until such time as the SBC has finished power sequencing upon application of 5V to the power input rail.

USB Ports

The TS-4400 provides signals for two USB 2.0 ports on the CN2 header. There is one micro USB port hosted on the module itself, which exclusively provides USB Serial console access.

Revisions and Changes

FPGA Changelog

Version	Description of changes
P.x	Prototype FPGA targeting TS-8551 baseboard.

Microcontroller Changelog

Version	Description of changes
P.x	Prototype

PCB Revisions

PCB Revision	Description of changes
Rev P.x	Prototype level x. Product under development.

Software Images

Version	Description of changes
P.x	Prototype image. Basic bootable FreeDOS and proof of concept FreeRTOS.

Product Notes

FCC Advisory

This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and if not installed and used properly (that is, in strict accordance with the manufacturer's instructions), may cause interference to radio and television reception. It has been type tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device in accordance with the specifications in Part 15 of FCC Rules, which are designed to provide reasonable protection against such interference when operated in a commercial environment. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause interference, in which case the owner will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.

If this equipment does cause interference, which can be determined by turning the unit on and off, the user is encouraged to try the following measures to correct the interference:

Reorient the receiving antenna. Relocate the unit with respect to the receiver. Plug the unit into a different outlet so that the unit and receiver are on different branch circuits. Ensure that mounting screws and connector attachment screws are tightly secured. Ensure that good quality, shielded, and grounded cables are used for all data communications. If necessary, the user should consult the dealer or an experienced radio/television technician for additional suggestions. The following booklets prepared by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) may also prove helpful:

How to Identify and Resolve Radio-TV Interference Problems (Stock No. 004-000-000345-4) Interface Handbook (Stock No. 004-000-004505-7) These booklets may be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402.

Limited Warranty

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