Optimal for Audio, Healthcare, Building Automation, and Motor Control

NXP Semiconductors has unveiled the i.MX RT series, a crossover solution that minimizes costs while simultaneously meeting superior performance and technology integration requirements.

The i.MX RT crossover processor maintains the superior performance and functionality of application processors while being easier to use than conventional microcontrollers and capable of performing deterministic operation in real time. Optimal application areas for i.MX RT include audio subsystems, consumer and healthcare, home and building automation, industrial computing, motor control, and power conversion.

The new crossover processor delivers a rich user experience (graphics, display, and audio) through high-level integration while simultaneously reducing system-level costs. With high-density SRAM and integrated DC-DC included, the i.MX RT delivers unprecedented price-to-performance value. Equipped with fast and secure external memory interfaces, there is no need to use embedded flash, thereby significantly reducing product costs and flash programming expenses.

EEMBC President Markus Levy stated, "Embedded designers are under pressure to balance performance and cost in their end products. i.MX RT represents remarkable progress in both performance and cost aspects, and is the result of NXP's practical understanding of market needs and resulting innovation. Through this innovative approach, NXP will transform thousands of embedded designs going into IoT applications."

The i.MX RT1050 is the highest-performance ARM Cortex-M7 based device that operates in real time while possessing application processor-level functionality. At 600MHz it is more than 50% faster than other Cortex-M7 products, and more than twice as fast as conventional Cortex M4 products. This superior performance combined with the Cortex-M7 core has enabled interrupt latency to be reduced to 20 nanoseconds. This is the lowest level among all ARM Cortex-based products worldwide. Additionally, integration of 512KB of TCM (Tightly Coupled Memory) SRAM ensures excellent real-time IoT application core performance.

Using an integrated DC-DC converter enables 2-4 times faster active power efficiency (CoreMark/mA) compared to third-party MCU solutions without requiring an external PMIC. The i.MX RT1050 achieves 110 mA/MHz (full operation), boasting 2-3 times superior performance compared to competing Cortex-M7 based MCUs.

The i.MX RT1050 provides enhanced GUI and HMI functionality along with various external memory interface options, further expanding design flexibility. Additionally, secure embedded design can be achieved through AES-128, HAB (High Assurance Boot), and on-the-fly QSPI flash encryption.

Geoff Lees, Senior Vice President and General Manager of NXP Microcontrollers, stated, "RT boasts overwhelming performance superior to any product currently on the market. Through this product, customers can implement application-level performance while maintaining their current toolchain and ecosystem. Additionally, LPC (low pin count) serial flash is much easier to program in the supply chain compared to various large package MCUs. Watch us—the race toward GHz Cortex-M has just begun."