8 ,16 and 32-bit
MCUs/MPUs
Tower System Development
Board Platform
The Tower
®
System is an evaluation board platform for 8-, 16- and 32-bit MCUs and MPUs
that enables advanced development through rapid prototyping. Featuring more than fifty
development boards or modules, the Tower System provides designers with building blocks
for entry-level to advanced MCU development.
THE TOWER SYSTEM
Tower Plug-In (TWRPI)
•
Designed to attach to boards that have
a TWRPI socket(s)
Adds features and functionality
Swappable with other TWRPIs
Examples include accelerometers, key pads,
touchpads, sliders and rotary touchpads
Controller/Processor Board
(MCU/MPU)
•
•
•
Tower MCU/MPU board
Works standalone or in
Tower System
Features integrated debugging interface
for easy programming and run control via
standard USB cable
•
•
•
Primary Elevator
•
•
•
•
•
Common serial and expansion
bus signals
Two 2 x 80 connectors on back
side for easy signal access
and side-mounting board (LCD
Module)
Power regulation circuitry
Standardized signal assignments
Mounting holes
Size
•
Fully assembled Tower System is
approx. 3.5” H x 3.5” W x 3.5” D
Secondary Elevator
•
•
•
Additional and secondary serial and
expansion bus signals
Standardized signal assignments
Mounting holes and expansion
connectors for side-mounting peripheral
Board Connectors
•
•
Four card edge connectors
Uses PCI Express
®
connectors
( x16, 90 mm/3.5” long, 164 pins)
Peripheral Board
•
•
•
Adds features and functionality to
your designs
Interchangeable with other peripheral boards and
compatible with all controller/processor boards
Examples include serial interface, memory, Wi-Fi
®
,
graphical LCD, motor control, audio, sensors and
high-precision analog boards
MODULAR AND EXPANDABLE
Controller boards provide easy-to-use,
reconfigurable hardware
TOWER SYSTEM MODULES
Controller/Processor Modules (8-, 16-, 32- bit)
www.nxp.com/Towercontroller
• Works standalone or as part of Tower
System
• Features open source debugging interface
• Allows rapid prototyping
• Provides easy programming and run control via
standard USB cable
Interchangeable peripheral boards
(including communications, memory and
graphical LCD) make customization easy
Open source hardware and standardized
specifications promote the development
of additional boards for added
functionality and customization
• Can be re-used with all Tower System
controller boards
• Interchangeable peripheral boards: serial,
memory, graphical LCD, prototyping, sensor
Peripheral Modules
www.nxp.com/Towerperipheral
• Eliminates the need to buy/develop
redundant hardware
• Enables advanced development and
broad functionality
SPEEDS DEVELOPMENT TIME
Open source hardware and
software allow quick development
with proven designs
Tower Plug-Ins
www.nxp.com/TWRPI
• Designed to attach to any Tower System
board with a TWRPI socket(s)
• Swappable components
• Adds features and functionality with little
investment
• Allows for design flexibility
Elevator Modules
www.nxp.com/Towerelev
• Two 2 x 80 connectors
• Power regulation circuitry
• Standardized signal assignments
• Four card-edge connectors available
• Provides easy signal access and side-mounting
board (i.e., LCD board)
• Provides power to all boards
• Allows for customized peripheral board
development
• Allows easy expansion using PCI Express
®
connectors (x16, 90 mm/3.5" long, 164 pins)
Integrated debugging interface allows
for easy programming and run control
via standard USB cable
COST EFFECTIVE
Interchangeable peripheral boards can be
re-used with all Tower System controller
boards, eliminating the need to purchase
redundant hardware for future designs
Enabling technologies like LCD, Wi-Fi,
motor control, serial and memory
interfacing are offered off-the-shelf at
a low cost to provide a customized
enablement solution
software platforms. Together with our
strong alliance network, we offer
comprehensive solutions, including
development tools, debuggers,
programmers, and software.
Our proprietary MQX™ RTOS, TCP/IP
stacks, file system, USB stacks and more*
SOFTWARE ENABLEMENT
AND SUPPORT
The increasing complexity of industrial
applications and expanding functionality
of semiconductors are driving embedded
developers toward solutions that require
the integration of proven hardware and
Linux
®
BSP*
CodeWarrior Development Studio
Processor Expert software configuration
tool: Create, configure, optimize, migrate
and deliver software components that
generate source code for our proprietary
silicon
COMPLIMENTARY SOFTWARE
AND TOOLS
Proprietary eGUI: Graphical LCD driver for
BUILD YOUR TOWER SYSTEM IN THREE STEPS OR LESS
Each assembled Tower System will accommodate:
MCUs and eMPUs
One controller/
processor board
Up to three
peripheral boards
One or more
additional side
mounting
peripheral boards
Multiple Tower
plug-ins (TWRPIs)
1. Choose a controller/
processor module
2. Choose peripheral
boards and desired
Tower plug-ins
(TWRPIs)
3. Connect each module
to the elevator boards
Two elevator boards
(or risers)
* Visit www.nxp.com/software for a list of supported devices
MULTIPLE POWER OPTIONS
The Tower System can be powered entirely
over a USB cable via a host PC or USB wall
power adaptor. Alternatively, power can be
supplied to the Tower System via a screw
terminal on the primary elevator.
Protection circuitry is built into all Tower
System boards to avoid contention on
the power rails. Although power can be
supplied through any module, power
supplied through the elevator modules
takes precedence.
3. Peripheral board
1. Processor module
via debugger connection
2. Tower elevator
All power connectors are standard
USB connectors that can be powered
by a USB host/hub or an AC-to-DC
adapter with a USB cable.
EXAMPLE CONFIGURATIONS
+
TWR-MCF5225x
TWR-SENSOR-PAK
+
TWR-SER
+
TWR-ELEV
=
SENSORS
SOLUTION
+
TWR-K40X256
TWR-LCD
+
TWR-AUDIO
+
TWR-ELEV
=
MULTIMEDIA
SOLUTION
+
TWR-K60N512
TWR-WIFI
+
TWR-MEM
+
TWR-ELEV
=
WI-FI
SOLUTION
+
TWR-S08JE128
TWR-PROTO
+
TWR-SER
+
TWR-ELEV
=
MEDICAL
PROTOTYPING
SOLUTION
+
TWR-56F8257
TWR-MC-LV3PH
+
TWR-SER
+
TWR-ELEV
=
MOTOR
CONTROL
SOLUTION
PARTNER MODULES
Tap into a powerful ecosystem of technology
alliances for building smarter, better connected
solutions. Designed to help you shorten your
design cycle and get your products to market
faster, these technology alliances provide you
with access to rich design tools, peripherals and
world-class support and training.
A number of partners have developed modules
for the Tower System development board
platform. Some examples include the i.MX515
ARM
®
Cortex
®
-A8 Tower Computer Module
and StackableUSB™ I/O Device Carrier module
from Micro/sys, as well as the Rapid Prototyping
System (RPS) AM1 and FM1 modules from iMN
MicroControl.
A complete list of partner-developed modules
is available at
www.nxp.com/Tower.
DESIGN YOUR OWN
Interested in designing your own Tower
System board? View application note AN4390
“Creating Your Own Tower Module” for a
complete guide to starting your board design
available at
www.nxp.com/Tower.
TOWER GEEKS ONLINE COMMUNITY
TowerGeeks.org
is an online design engineer
community that allows members to interact,
develop designs and share ideas. Offering a
direct path to explore and interact with other
engineers designing with the Tower System,
TowerGeeks.org
is a great way to discuss
your projects, post videos of your progress,
ask questions through the forum and upload
software. With updates through Twitter and
Facebook, it’s easy to get involved.
Follow Tower Geeks on Twitter
www.twitter.com/towergeeks
Visit us on Facebook
www.facebook.com/nxpsemi
Watch the
Tower System
video here.
www.nxp.com/TOWER
© 2012, 2014–2015 Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
CodeWarrior, Processor Expert and Tower are trademarks of Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm.
Off. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. ARM and Cortex are registered
trademarks of ARM Limited (or its subsidiaries) in the EU and/or elsewhere. All rights reserved.
Document Number:
TWRFS REV 18
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