TI's position within its embedded product portfolio

The following diagram provides a general overview of TI's embedded product portfolio in terms of applications and performance.

It has a three-tiered structure, from bottom to top: "General-purpose low-power MCU," "Real-time control MCU/processor," and "Application Processor (MPU)."

Specifically, for entry-level users, there's the MSPM0 series based on Arm® Cortex®-M0+, and the MSPM33 series based on Arm Cortex-M33 with enhanced security and FPU.

Furthermore, the C2000™ series, with its C28x DSP core, handles motor control and ultra-high-speed loop control of digital power supplies. On the other hand, for applications requiring high general-purpose processing performance to run Linux® or Android™, based on Arm Cortex-A53 or Arm Cortex-A72, the Sitara™ MPU and Jacinto™ series, which utilize external DDR memory, are suitable.

The AM2x series is based on the Arm Cortex-R5F and is positioned between these other processors. It is a "high-performance real-time MCU/ processor that operates without DDR" that combines higher processing performance and communication bandwidth than MSPM0/MSPM33 and C2000, with higher real-time performance and a simpler power supply design than Sitara MPUs. It excels in applications that require both deterministic response and high processing power, such as industrial communications, motor control, and digital power supplies.

AM24x: Industrial communication and high-speed processing on a single chip (Representative product: AM2434)

The AM2434 is a lineup within the AM2x series specifically designed for "industrial communications" and "high-speed serial interfaces." In addition to a quad-core Arm Cortex-R5F (up to 800MHz), it features two PRU-ICSSGs supporting a wide range of industrial protocols including EtherCAT®, PROFINET®, EtherNet/IP™, TSN, and IO-Link®. High-speed I/O such as PCIe Gen2, USB 3.1, Gigabit Ethernet switching, OSPI/QSPI, MMC/SD, and 16/32-bit GPMC are also covered by a single chip, enabling configurations that reduce the need for external FPGAs or multiple chips.

The memory has up to 2MB of on-chip RAM and operates without external DDR in principle, but it has the flexibility to connect LPDDR4/DDR4 if needed. In terms of security, it features centralized control by DMSC-L, hardware encryption, and secure boot, and functional safety is compliant with TÜV SÜD certified IEC 61508 (Systematic SIL3 / Hardware SIL2). For the power supply design, TI's own PMICs such as LP8733/TPS65219 are being considered, and the power-up sequence can also be simplified.

Compared to other AM2x models, it stands out for its rich communication protocol options and comprehensive high-speed serial interface/GPMC capabilities, making it suitable for industrial network applications such as servo drives, remote I/O, PLCs, industrial gateways, and motor control with communication capabilities.

AM2434 Functional Block Diagram

Source: Datasheet AM2434 https://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/am2434.pdf

AM26x: Real-time performance for motor control and digital power supply (Representative models: AM2612, AM2634, AM263P4)

The AM26x family features a product lineup that prioritizes pin compatibility, ranging from cost-conscious entry-level lines to high-performance lines. Even within the same AM26x family, there are differences in core count, frequency, and the scale of built-in analog/PWM, allowing users to choose according to their performance requirements and budget. Note that GPMC is included in the AM2612/AM2634, but not in the AM263P4.

The AM2612 is a dual-core Arm Cortex-R5F (up to 500MHz) MCU positioned as the entry-level model in the AM26x family. It supports lockstep operation and features 1.5MB of on-chip RAM. With a TMU (trigonometric function accelerator), built-in 2x PRU-ICSS, CAN-FD, USB 2.0, and 16-bit GPMC, it can handle both communication and control.

Compared to the AM2634 and AM263P4, it has a more compact CPU core count and built-in analog resources, but its 500MHz high-speed operation and pin compatibility make it suitable for applications where board size and cost should be kept down. It supports multiple RTOSs such as FreeRTOS, ThreadX, and Zephyr, and can also be designed for functional safety aiming for IEC 61508 SIL-3. It is mainly suitable for small inverters, remote I/O, cost-conscious servo control, and digital power supplies. The PMIC is said to be a candidate such as TI's genuine TPS650362-Q1.

AM2612 Functional Block Diagram

Source: Datasheet AM2612 https://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/am2612.pdf

The AM2634 is the standard high-performance line of the AM26x family, featuring a quad-core Arm Cortex-R5F (up to 400MHz). It boasts up to 2MB of on-chip RAM, enabling real-time control without external DDR. In Enhanced Analog configuration, it includes up to five 12-bit SAR ADCs, up to 32 EPWMs, up to 10 ECAPs, up to 3 EQEPs, and up to 2 SDFMs, providing comprehensive peripheral functions necessary for motor control and digital power supplies. Depending on the model, PRU-ICSS may be available, and it also includes a Gigabit Ethernet switch, OSPI/QSPI, SD/SDIO, four CAN-FDs, and a 16-bit GPMC.

Compared to the AM2612, it has more cores and analog/PWM resources, while lacking the built-in flash memory and resolver interface of the AM263P4. Therefore, it is suitable for standard applications such as motor control, inverters, and digital power supplies where high real-time control performance is required while keeping costs down. Security features include HSM, secure boot, and encryption, and functional safety design aiming for IEC 61508 SIL-3/ISO 26262 ASIL-D is also possible. The PMIC is a candidate such as TI's own TPS653850A-Q1.

AM2634 Functional Block Diagram

Source: Datasheet AM2634 https://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/am2634.pdf

The AM263P4 is the flagship of the AM26x family of quad-core Arm Cortex-R5F (up to 400MHz) MCUs. It features up to 3MB of on-chip RAM, with the option of 8MB of OSPI Flash (Flash-in-Package) in the package as needed. Based on the AM2634, it adds large-capacity RAM and built-in Flash, a TMU (trigonometric function accelerator), resolver support, and eight CAN-FD ports, making it suitable for high-performance motor control systems.

Compared to the AM2634, it features a larger internal memory capacity and greater convenience due to integrated flash memory. Compared to the AM2612, it has abundant ADC/PWM resources and a resolver interface. Therefore, it is suitable for high-performance applications that require large-capacity data processing and high-fidelity position detection, such as industrial motor drives, robot controllers, AC servos, and digital power supplies. The TI genuine TPS653860-Q1 is considered as a candidate for the PMIC.

AM263P4 Functional Block Diagram

Source: Datasheet AM263P4 https://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/am263p4.pdf