networkZONE Products for the week of July 24, 2006
Freescale Semiconductor Says…
PowerQUICC Processors Integrate IEEE 1588 Time Synchronization Protocol
Freescale communications processors now include hardware to increase time synch precision, supported by protocol software from IXXAT
Freescale Semiconductor has teamed with IXXAT to offer comprehensive IEEE 1588 time-synchronization protocol solutions for PowerQUICC communications processors built on Power Architecture technology.
Target applications for the IEEE 1588 protocol include time-sensitive telecommunication services, which require precision time synchronization between communicating nodes. IEEE 1588 is used in industrial network switches, which synchronize sensors and actuators over a single wire distributed control network to control an automated assembly process. The protocol also is used in powerline networks, which synchronize across large-scale distributed power grid switches to enable smooth transfer of power. Test/measurement devices, which must maintain accurate time synchronization with devices under test in many different operating environments, are also a prime application for the 1588 protocol.
"Freescale and IXXAT have worked together for several years to support industrial protocols on ColdFire microcontrollers, local interconnect network (LIN) physical layer devices, FlexRay communication controllers and other processors built on Power Architecture technology," said Glenn Beck, industrial segment manager for Freescale's Digital Systems Division. "This collaboration around PowerQUICC processors leverages our strong relationship with IXXAT to serve industrial customers who need higher performance to support the 'Ethernet everywhere' trend. It also benefits telecom and networking customers who are rapidly adopting 1588 time synchronization, as well as the flood of other applications migrating from 8-bit controllers to highly integrated 32-bit controllers."
"By working together, IXXAT and Freescale are addressing a common complaint among industrial automation users -- that an Ethernet interface is too expensive to be used on a lower resolution device, such as a pressure transducer," said Bill Seitz, IXXAT's director of North American sales and marketing. "IXXAT and Freescale plan to change this viewpoint by offering a pre-configured, commercial off-the-shelf solution for a range of PowerQUICC processors. This is an important benefit considering that even the lowest cost sensors can implement a lower-speed millisecond-level PowerQUICC processor while still operating in a high-performance, nanosecond-level synchronized network."
IXXAT's IEEE 1588 protocol support for PowerQUICC II Pro processors represents the first in a series of IXXAT protocol offerings planned for the PowerQUICC family. The protocol is planned to be available for Freescale processors with QUICC Engine technology, such as the MPC8360E PowerQUICC II Pro family.
Freescale's QUICC Engine technology and enhanced triple-speed Ethernet controller (eTSEC) are the first PowerQUICC communications interfaces to optimize IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol (PTP) in hardware. These new interfaces time-stamp Ethernet packets at the physical/datalink layer the instant they enter or leave the device. This results in the highest possible timing accuracy for PowerQUICC devices that implement the increasingly popular IEEE 1588 protocol. QUICC Engine technology and eTSEC are included in a wide range of PowerQUICC devices designed to meet low-to-high performance, power and price targets for applications that connect devices through Ethernet.
EN-Genius Says . . .
Freescale's support for the IEEE 1588 distributed timing specification in its PowerQUICC line should give it a foot in the door in its quest to move out of the telcom rack and onto the shop floor, operating room, or battlefield. The introduction of IXXAT's 1588 protocol software and the IP cores that support enhanced timing performance are the first steps in their strategy to provide more support for industrial-strength protocols used in machine and building controls, medical, automotive, aerospace applications and give the QUICC architecture more traction in these markets.
IEEE 1588 was a great place to start since remote synchronization is a key function in distributed systems. The protocol has small footprint requirements both in terms of silicon and software so it's practically a no-cost item once it's implemented. Even without the on-chip hardware assist, this simple scheme can achieve microsecond-level precision using only 1% of a 300-MHz e300 core.
For applications that will need nanosecond-level timing, Freescale is embedding a small amount of hardware logic to their 8358/8360 processor family that time stamps a packet at the data link layer (as soon as it hits the processor's pin). This eliminates any propagation delay and varability involved with software-based solutions and is expected to yield timing resolution of a few nanoseconds.
This will enable an easy, inexpensive way to synchronize sensors, processing, test and measurement systems, and handling equipment. Since it's already being used in power line networks for synchronizing generating equipment, a 1588-enabled controller could find lots of applications in distributed-generation environments which tie small-scale wind and solar systems to the central power grid. Back inside the telecom world, this capability should come in handy for providing time synchronization in wireless base stations.
Although the PowerQUICC architecture was developed originally for telecom/networking applications, the industrial/embedded space has become so networking-oriented that it's a pretty natural fit here. While they won't displace the tiny 8- and 16-bit controllers that occupy the bottom of the embedded ecosystem, they pack enough raw compute power and flexible I/O make them a good value for more complex applications. Freescale's support of IEEE 1588 and other industrial protocols should help overcome some of the natural resistance that designers and equipment companies have to changing platforms, but I expect that it will take several years of persistent effort to crack this rather diffuse and conservative market. Of course, they enjoy a significant advantage because of their many other embedded industrial computing products so I'll predict that if they do have the guts to remain committed and continue to roll out the right products and tools, the PowerQUICC line will eventually earn its rightful chunk of the market.
More information on IEEE 1588 is available.
Freescale's 1588-enabled 8360 PowerQUICCIIs will sample in September 2006. Pricing will start at $44 in 10-k piece lots.
MPC8360 and MPC8358 Product Summary
IXXAT IEEE 1588 Software
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