TI’s five modular 32-bit TMS320F28x DSC development kits jump-start digital power and embedded control applications

Making it easier to jump-start 32-bit based digital power and embedded control designs, Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) has announced five new experimenter and application-specific development kits for its TMS320F28x digital signal controllers (DSCs). The modular kits enable rapid prototyping of DSC based communications infrastructure, industrial and consumer applications with interchangeable processor card modules, or controlCARDs, Experimenter Kits with breadboard areas for full access to device signals, and application specific DC/DC and AC/DC Digital Power Developer’s Kits. To further reduce development time, each kit includes code examples and full hardware design details along with TI’s Code Composer Studio™ (CCStudio) 32 KB limited integrated development environment (IDE).

Modular controlCARDS and Experimenter Kits provide low cost access to 32-bit DSCs

By adopting the new TMS320C2000 controlCARDs, OEMs can rapidly build prototypes and even full production systems using the complete controller subsystem that comes on a small (90mm x 25mm) removable 100-pin DIMM form-factor card. Key analog, digital I/O signals and JTAG test pins are available through the controlCARD interface and only a 5V input is needed as all other power levels are provided on the board. The first two controlCARDs are based on the TMS320F28335 floating-point DSC (running at 150MHz with 512KB of flash memory) and the F2808 fixed-point DSC (at 100MHz and 128KB of flash memory).

Industrial and consumer applications see benefits of digital power with new kits
Digital control of power conversion systems results in lower overall cost through the consolidation of functions on to a programmable controller while enabling real time intelligent monitoring of load conditions, and improved system reliability and efficiency. Three new Digital Power Application Kits help bring these benefits to digital power management in communications infrastructure, industrial and consumer applications.

The Digital Power Experimenter’s Kit is designed for those new to software based digital power management by providing a high function development environment including a DC/DC motherboard using two TI digital non-isolated PowerTrain modules along with an F2808 controlCARD. The DC/DC board also includes a digital multi-meter and an active load that design engineers can use to perform transient response analysis and tuning. The Digital Power Experimenter’s Kit comes 32KB CCStudio IDE, a complete downloadable free software package that includes a working system and additional digital power instructional materials.

The DC/DC Digital Power Developer’s Kit targets multi-rail and multi-phase applications using a F28044 DSC based controlCARD to demonstrate the capabilities of the device as a 16-rail digital power controller. The DC/DC Developer’s kit includes a DC/DC motherboard using eight TI digital non-isolated PowerTrain modules useful for prototyping DC point-of-load power control in a wide range of equipments for industry, communications infrastructure and consumer electronics. The DC/DC Developer’s kit includes the 32 KB CCS IDE, and a complete, free downloadable software package.

The AC/DC Developer’s Kit is a complete, 80-Watt (max) rectifier development platform and uses a two-phase interleaved power factor correction (PFC) front end and a phase-shifted full-bridge secondary. The system is fully controlled by a single F2808 controlCARD and is useful for prototyping communications systems such as server farms and base stations, as well as telecom and consumer equipments. The AC/DC Developer’s Kit includes the 32KB CCS IDE and a complete, free downloadable software package.

Texas Instruments