PowerQUICC(TM) Processors Integrate IEEE 1588(R) Time Synchronization Protocol
July 17 2006 - 7:00AM
Business Wire
Freescale Communications Processors Now Include Hardware to
Increase Time Synch Precision, Supported by Protocol Software From
IXXAT Freescale Semiconductor (NYSE:FSL) (NYSE:FSL.B) has teamed
with IXXAT, a leading supplier of industrial and automotive
communications solutions, to offer comprehensive IEEE 1588(R)
time-synchronization protocol solutions for PowerQUICC(TM)
communications processors built on Power Architecture(TM)
technology. To showcase this collaboration, IXXAT is demonstrating
the IEEE 1588 protocol running on the MPC8349E PowerQUICC II Pro
processor at the Freescale Technology Forum, July 24-27 in Orlando,
Fla. 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 IEEE 1588
protocol. "Freescale and IXXAT have worked together for several
years to support industrial protocols on ColdFire(R)
microcontrollers, local interconnect network (LIN) physical layer
devices, FlexRay(TM) 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 IEEE 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, president of IXXAT North
America. "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(TM) 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. Development
tools, services and software Customers may evaluate the IEEE 1588
solution by ordering the Freescale evaluation board, board support
package and CodeWarrior(R) development tools (free 30-day
evaluation software package) from Freescale at
www.freescale.com/powerquicc. IEEE 1588 PTP protocol software is
available from IXXAT at
http://www.ixxat.com/ieee_1588_stack_en,18393,5873.html. For
production use, the IXXAT IEEE 1588 protocol stack can be licensed
as full software source code to a product or product line. Source
code enables the user to customize the stack modules and interfaces
and to meet application-specific requirements. In addition, IXXAT
offers hardware and software development services for customers who
want to customize IEEE 1588 onto their Power Architecture
processor-based platform or to implement an entire solution or
product using this and other industrial protocols. IXXAT industrial
protocols solutions are widely used in a variety of systems from
industrial automation leaders such as B&R Automation, WAGO,
Lenze and Schneider Electric. For more information about the IXXAT
IEEE 1588 protocol software, contact Bill Seitz at IXXAT, Inc. at
603-471-0800, ext. 102 or email him at seitz@ixxat.com. About
Freescale Semiconductor Freescale Semiconductor Inc. (NYSE:FSL)
(NYSE:FSL.B) is a global leader in the design and manufacture of
embedded semiconductors for the automotive, consumer, industrial,
networking and wireless markets. Freescale became a publicly traded
company in July 2004. The company is based in Austin, Texas, and
has design, research and development, manufacturing or sales
operations in more than 30 countries. Freescale, a member of the
S&P 500(R), is one of the world's largest semiconductor
companies with 2005 sales of $5.8 billion (USD). www.freescale.com
-0- *T Reader Inquiry Response: Freescale Semiconductor P.O. Box
17927 Denver, CO 80217 USA *T Freescale(TM) and the Freescale logo
are trademarks of Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. All other product
or service names are the property of their respective owners. Power
Architecture(TM) is a trademark of the International Business
Machines Corporation in the United States, other countries, or
both. (C) Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. 2006.
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