Tag Archives: coldfire

Toast ColdFire Controller Board Developments

Several developers are working with the FreeIO.org Toast board. The big problem is the difficulty and expense involved with hand building the boards from parts built in small quantities. There are still plans to design a PC/104 form factor version of the Toast board, although this will not be done until there a consensus that the electronic design is completely correct.

Toast ColdFire Controller Board Version 1.01

Toast version 1.01 is ready for release and will be posted shortly. The only physical change to the board layout is the new footprint for U10, to improve manufacturability. Four of the five boards from the first batch have been sent out to developers and users, and feedback will be incorporated in version 1.02. So far, there have been no schematic changes required.

Toast ColdFire Controller Board Test and Software Progress

Two prototypes of the Toast ColdFire Control Board have been built, and preliminary hardware tests are complete. The BDM port works and the flash memory can be programmed through that port using the P&E Micro software and BDM cable. The pictures have been updated to show the serial number 2 prototype, which has two ethernet controllers on it. This particular prototype is being sent off this week to Andreas Schuldei who has graciously volunteered to help with porting uClinux to the board. There will be minor changes to the VHDL code appearing this week in order to support two ethernet controllers. The link is on the Toast ColdFire Controller Board page.

Layout/Route of Toast ColdFire Controller Board Released

The Toast ColdFire Control Board circuit board files have been released. Manufacture of the first articles is under way. The schematic and printed circuit board CAD files are being released for both the GNU/Linux and Wxx platforms using the Eagle 4.03 CAD system. As usual, the design and all of its files are released under GPL. The link is on the Toast ColdFire Controller Board page.

Preliminary Design Files for Toast ColdFire Controller Board Released

The Toast ColdFire Control Board preliminary design files have been released. This work-in-progress is a control board based on the Motorola MCF5307 ColdFire processor, and includes provisions for up to 4 megabytes of flash memory, 16 megabytes of SDRAM, 10/100BaseT ethernet, two serial ports, real time clock, and a PC/104 expansion bus. The schematic is complete and being reviewed, and the printed circuit board layout has begun.

Biscuit ColdFire Embedded Control Board Processor Type Changed

After considerable deliberation, it was decided to change the processor for the Biscuit board to a Motorola MCF5272. This device has several devices built in which will simplify use of the processor in embedded “ethernet appliance” applications. The deciding factor was the built in 10/100 Mbs ethernet MAC. The MCF5272 documentation is even more thorough than usual for Motorola.