Qormino® is an ultra-compact, 64-bit multi-core, NXP QorIQ™ processor based module integrating DDR SDRAMs for high performance, communication intensive applications. Designed to aid fast time to market, it solves the thorny problem of premature product obsolescence. Thankfully, Qormino is supplied from e2v’s SLiM™ expert inventory management program, offering prolonged supply up to 15 years. Embedded designs based on Qormino are guaranteed an extended time-in-market.
Qormino® filling a gap in the embedded processor market
If it’s your task to deliver high performance computing in challenging environments, especially in high reliability and industrial markets, the pace of technology advancement is doing you no favours. However, advanced electronics firm e2v, think they have a solution that eliminates some design complexities, provides access to the best of contemporary embedded processing whilst assuring you guaranteed long term product supply.
Qormino®, holds the key to this treasure trove of potential. It is a specialised embedded processor solution from proven high reliability component specialists, e2v. The module combines the benefits of a powerful NXP QorIQTM quad-core communications processor teamed with optimized DDR3L SDRAMs for a fast turn design, all contained in an ultra-compact, modular form factor. Furthermore, e2v through its managed obsolescence program (SLiMTM), provides an all-important ‘time-in-market’ guarantee, so sorely missing from other high performance embedded solutions.
Powerful communication processing and peripherals
Absorbing the feature list for QorIQ T1 series is a major undertaking in itself. These powerful NXP processors have already captured the imagination of a broad spectrum of commercial system designers by virtue of their shear breadth of features, low power, scalability and common pin-outs.
As system on chips (SOCs) go, the QorIQ family has communication processing needs pretty much sewn up. On its initial launch, the T1040 was the first 64-bit multi-core processor to boast an integrated GigE switch. The inclusion of a DDR3 memory controller and a full suite of peripherals rounds out a comprehensive feature set. Surely it was only a matter of time before someone smart would see a benefit to packaging these key components in an ultra-tiny substrate. This is exactly what e2v have done.
Taking up less than a quarter of the area of a credit card, the Qormino provides a 50 % space reduction
over alternatives (see figure 2).
Those strongly attracted to the QorIQ, based on its SWaP (Size, Weight and Power) benefits may still have concerns over some practical limitations. Two issues invariably emerge – both centre on the critical DDR memories needed to maintain high core performance. The first concerns practical DDR SDRAM interfacing (especially over a wide temperature range) given tiny timing and noise margins. The second is guarding against product obsolescence when key ICs are subject to consumer fads and short lived supply cycles. Handily, Qormino solves both these problems.
The DDR SDRAM interface challenge
DDR SDRAM provides a dense and fast local data memory to augment the core processor’s on-chip caches for data handling. As such, DDR SDRAM ultimately places a maximum limit on the processing capabilities of the QorIQ core.
DDR memory control design proves far from trivial. Each memory block of a DDR3 chip is daisy chained to the next. On the plus side, this helps ensure that memory data lines are properly terminated. On the downside, a time skew is introduced between each block which must be countered by a specially modified memory controller using a technique called levelling.
One can quickly appreciate the raw challenge of optimal DDR3 timing design by understanding the timing skew specifications. Skew between DQS (data queue strobe) and DM (data mask) signals is specified as a maximum of ±10 picoseconds – that’s a tiny 1 trillionth of a second! At the PC board level, that works out as a mere 50 mils (or 1.27mm) of trace length difference on an FR4 PCB. That’s a real challenge to meet with today’s fine pitch PCBs. How helpful then that Qormino eliminates this entirely by including the DDR3 memory on the module. The current Qormino applies 1GB of DDR3L SDRAM, the dual voltage DDR3 variants which operate from either 1.5 or 1.35V supply and can sustain up to 1600 MT/s.
Managed obsolescence planning
As illustrated by figure 3, memory developments have easily outpaced successive processor generations, which in turn have outpaced system development and life time cycles in certain markets. Competitive pressures force SDRAM vendors to focus on rapid migration to further die shrinks to maintain profitability. Products quickly reach end of life (EOL) and disappear from market. Long-term focused customers face continual re-design headaches driven purely by external market forces. In the gap between embedded processor choice and the paired memory lies a major supply chain problem.
Designed for long term product availability, Semiconductor Lifecycle Management (SLiMTM) at e2v is a program focused solely on supporting clients eager to find a stock management system that extends product availability over the project lifetimes demanded by sophisticated customers including governments. SLiM provides a minimum of fifteen years of component supply security. Though semiconductor supply chains are agile, they remain highly profit focused and are designed to support consumer product cycles that run between 6 to 18 months in duration. Aerospace, military and even some industrial programs can ill afford strategic silicon disappearing that quickly; especially when end customers demand component spares and maintenance supplies that must remain available for as long as twenty years.
The SLiM program functions around four primary capabilities:
Centrally managed, secured supply of original manufacturer’s components
Protected wafer bank stores, matched to customer’s lifetime demand profile
Vendor accredited, final manufacturing (package and test) capabilities
Trusted re-engineering and re-design capabilities to pre-empt supply chain weaknesses
The benefits arising from SLiM include:
Guaranteed supply longevity
Prevention against counterfeiting
Improved supply integrity – sole supplier
Significantly reduced supply cost risk
Qormino offers a brand new approach to rapid, low risk embedded design without the traditional headaches of managing the separate, disconnected processor and memory supply chains.
Qormino availability
e2v announced in summer 2016 the initial sampling of its first Qormino family member, the QT10A featuring the QorIQ T1040 teamed with 1 GB DDR3L SDRAM. Fully qualified military and industrial grade versions with lead finish options are set for full production in the third quarter of 2017. Moreover, e2v expect to be sampling other members of the NXP T1 series processors including the T1020/2 & T1042 later this year.
As accredited partners, e2v are committed to a Qormino roadmap tracking developments in NXP’s processor family. Future options will also expand the amount of DDR SDRAM provisioned, matching specific needs of each individual processor.
Speed up and SLiM down your embedded designs
Qormino has eliminated two key risks when selecting complex core processors and memory components used in long lifecycle projects across military, aerospace, medical and even industrial markets. Customers alleviate supply chain risks associated with the strategic processors and the DDR memories with which they are teamed. Long term module availability is guaranteed under e2v’s proven SLiM program.
Furthermore, users don’t have to involve themselves with the complex memory design, saving significant time and effort. They obtain a SDRAM memory system guaranteed over the operating temperature range of the module. The tiny real estate demands of the Qormino substrate means designers can simply drop it onto their board design to instantly access the myriad SWaP benefits of QorIQ processors.
So finally, a highly capable communication processor is paired with optimal memory and supplied as a single, guaranteed component. Now even the most risk averse projects can rapidly deploy QorIQ safe in the knowledge they have access to a secured supply chain from a trusted, advanced electronic supplier like e2v.interfaces and USB and Gigabit Ethernet ports. ADLINK’s world-class technical support ensures convenient accessibility to our team of highly skilled customer hardware and software support engineers. Our support team is expertly trained and knowledgeable in the applications and concerns of our military customers.
