Microchip SAMA7D65 MPU Features Arm Cortex-A7, Integrated DDR3L SiP, and Dual Gigabit Ethernet with TSN

Microchip has introduced the SAMA7D65 microprocessor unit (MPU) on a 1 GHz Arm Cortex-A7 core, both in System-on-Chip (SoC) and System-in-Package (SiP) form. The SiP version, SAMA7D65D2G, includes 2 GB DDR3L memory, which reduces board layout complexity by removing high-speed memory routing and increases overall power efficiency. The SAMA7D65 series is targeted for Human-Machine Interface (HMI) and connectivity applications in industrial, medical, and transportation markets.

These MPUs include MIPI DSI, LVDS display interfaces, and a 2D GPU to enable efficient graphics processing and high-resolution display output. Combining these features fulfills the needs of HMI systems with their requirement for responsive graphical performance and reliable display connectivity in embedded designs.

For communication, the MPUs feature dual Gigabit Ethernet with support for Time Sensitive Networking (TSN), allowing for deterministic, low-latency data transfer. This positions the SAMA7D65 series ideally for real-time industrial automation and building control applications based on synchronized, time-critical networking.

Microchip SAMA7D65 specifications:

• CPU:
  • Arm Cortex-A7 core @ up to 1GHz
  • Arm TrustZone, NEON, FPU
  • 32KB I-cache + 32KB D-cache, 256KB L2 cache
  • Embedded Trace Module with 16KB CoreSight ETB
  • Voltage and frequency scaling support
  • 64-bit generic timers
• GPU:
  • 2D graphics engine
  • No VPU, no NPU
• Memory:
  • SoC (SAMA7D6): External 16-bit DDR2/DDR3/DDR3L/LPDDR2/LPDDR3 support (up to 16Gb @ 533MHz)
  • SiP (SAMA7D65D1G/D2G): Integrated 1Gb (128MB) or 2Gb (256MB) DDR3L SDRAM
• Storage:
  • eMMC 5.1 (HS200/HS400)
  • SD 3.0 (SDR104)
  • 8-bit NAND (SLC/MLC) with ECC
  • Octal and Quad SPI interfaces
• Display:
  • WXGA/720p max LCD controller
  • Single-channel LVDS
  • 4-lane MIPI DSI
  • 8-bit serial RGB
• Audio:
  • 2x SSC (8-ch TDM), 2x I²S (TDM256)
  • 2x PDM mic inputs (up to 8 mics)
  • S/PDIF Tx/Rx
  • 4-ch stereo sample rate converter
• Networking:
  • 2x 10/100/1000 Ethernet MAC with TSN support
  • RMII/RGMII interfaces
• USB:
  • 2x USB High-Speed Devices
  • 3x USB High-Speed Hosts
  • 2x USB Type-C controllers
• I/O and expansion:
  • 6x 64-bit PIT timers, 2x 3-ch Timer Counters, 1x 4-ch PWM controller
  • 142x programmable I/Os
  • 2x Quad-SPI or 1x Octal-SPI
  • MIPI I3C interface
  • 11x FLEXCOM (USART/UART/I2C/SPI configurable)
  • 5x CAN-FD with timestamping
• Analog I/O:
  • 16x external + 3x internal ADC inputs
  • 4x external analog comparator (ACC) inputs
• Security:
  • 5KB secure backup SRAM with tamper protection
  • 256-bit backup register
  • 4x tamper pins with timestamp
  • TZAESB: Dual 128-bit AES for DDR/QSPI/SMC encryption
  • Secure RTC, SHA, AES, TDES, RNG, PUF
  • JTAG/SWD access control
• DMA and clocking:
  • 2x 32-channel DMA, 1x 8-channel memory DMA
  • 8x programmable clock outputs
• Power management:
  • Multiple power domains and modes
  • Internal LDOs for analog and PLLs
  • Backup mode with SRAM/DDR retention
  • Optimized for MCP16501/16502 PMICs
• Package: 343-ball BGA, 14x14x1.2mm, 0.65mm pitch

The SAMA7D65 microprocessor is supported by a range of tools and software, including the Linux4SAM platform for embedded Linux development and Microchip’s MPLAB X IDE for configuration and debugging. The MPUs are also compatible with Harmony V3, various Linux distributions, and the Ensemble Graphics Toolkit (EGT) for GUI development.

Microchip offers the EA89C15A Early Access development kit for evaluating and prototyping with the SAMA7D65 MPU, which features MIPI DSI and LVDS interfaces with 2D graphics, dual Gigabit Ethernet with TSN, and CAN-FD for developing connectivity, audio, and HMI applications. The MPU integrates advanced security features, including tamper detection, secure boot, secure key storage, TRNG, PUF, and hardware accelerators for AES and SHA. Designed for industrial and automotive environments, it supports graphical displays up to WXGA/720p. Preliminary documentation and resources are available on GitHub.

As of writing, the company doesn’t say anything about pricing or buying information for the SAMA7D65 Cortex-A7 MPU, but you can buy the SAMA7D65 Early Access Curiosity Board for $169.00 on the official Microchip products page. Further details on the chip are available on the product page and the press release.

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