The TI AM437x high-performance processors are based on the ARM Cortex-A9 core.

The processors are enhanced with 3D graphics acceleration for rich graphical user interfaces, as well as a coprocessor for deterministic, real-time processing including industrial communication protocols, such as EtherCAT, PROFIBUS, EnDat, and others. The devices support high-level operating systems (HLOS). Linux^® is available free of charge from TI. Other HLOSs are available from TI’s Design Network and ecosystem partners.

These devices offer an upgrade to systems based on lower performance ARM cores and provide updated peripherals, including memory options such as QSPI-NOR and LPDDR2.

The processors contain the subsystems shown in the Functional Block Diagram, and a brief description of each follows.

The processor subsystem is based on the ARM Cortex-A9 core, and the PowerVR SGX™ graphics accelerator subsystem provides 3D graphics acceleration to support display and advanced user interfaces.

The programmable real-time unit subsystem and industrial communication subsystem (PRU-ICSS) is separate from the ARM core and allows independent operation and clocking for greater efficiency and flexibility. The PRU-ICSS enables additional peripheral interfaces and real-time protocols such as EtherCAT, PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, PROFIBUS, Ethernet Powerlink, Sercos, EnDat, and others. The PRU-ICSS enables EnDat and another industrial communication protocol in parallel. Additionally, the programmable nature of the PRU-ICSS, along with their access to pins, events and all system-on-chip (SoC) resources, provides flexibility in implementing fast real-time responses, specialized data handling operations, custom peripheral interfaces, and in off-loading tasks from the other processor cores of the SoC.

High-performance interconnects provide high-bandwidth data transfers for multiple initiators to the internal and external memory controllers and to on-chip peripherals. The device also offers a comprehensive clock-management scheme.

One on-chip analog to digital converter (ADC0) can couple with the display subsystem to provide an integrated touch-screen solution. The other ADC (ADC1) can combine with the pulse width module to create a closed-loop motor control solution.

The RTC provides a clock reference on a separate power domain. The clock reference enables a battery-backed clock reference.

The camera interface offers configuration for a single- or dual-camera parallel port.

Cryptographic acceleration is available in all devices. All other supported security features, including support for Secure boot, debug security and support for Trusted execution environment is available on HS (High-Security) devices. For more information about HS devices, contact your TI sales representative.