8-, 16- and 32-bit MCUs/MPUs
Freescale Tower System
Modular development platform
Overview
The Freescale Tower System is a modular development 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 Freescale Tower System
Controller/Processor Module
(MCU/MPU)
• Tower MCU/MPU board
• Works stand-alone or in
Tower System
• Features integrated
debugging interface for
easy programming and
run control via standard
USB cable
Secondary Elevator
• Additional and secondary
serial and expansion bus
signals
• Standardized signal
assignments
• Mounting holes and
expansion connectors for
side-mounting peripheral
Tower Plug-In (TWRPI)
• Designed to attach to modules that have a
TWRPI socket(s)
• Adds features and functionality
• Swappable with other TWRPIs
• Examples include accelerometers, key pads,
touch pads, sliders and rotary touch pads
Primary Elevator
• Common serial and
expansion bus signals
• Two 2x80 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
Board Connectors
• Four card-edge
connectors
• Uses PCI Express
®
connectors
(x16, 90 mm/
3.5” long, 164 pins)
Peripheral Module
• Adds features and
functionality to your designs
• Interchangeable w ith other peripheral modules and compatible with all
controller/processor modules
• Examples include serial interface, memory, Wi-Fi
®
, graphical LCD, motor
control, audio, Xtrinsic sensing and high precision analog modules
Modular and Expandable
• Controller modules provide easy-to-use,
reconfigurable hardware
• Interchangeable peripheral modules
(including communications, memory and
graphical LCD) make customization easy
• Open-source hardware and standardized
specifications promote the development of
additional modules for added functionality
and customization
Tower System Modules
Controller/Processor Modules (8-, 16-, 32-bit)
• orks stand alone or as part of Tower System
W
• Features open source debugging interface
Peripheral Modules
freescale.com/Towerperipheral
• liminates the need to buy/develop redundant
E
hardware
• nables advanced development and broad functionality
E
freescale.com/Towercontroller
• Allows rapid prototyping
• rovides easy programming and run control via
P
standard USB cable
• an be re-used with all Tower System controller
C
modules
• nterchangeable peripheral modules: Serial, memory,
I
graphical LCD, prototyping, sensor
Tower Plug-Ins
freescale.com/TWRPI
Speeds Development Time
• Open source hardware and software allow
quick development with proven designs
• Integrated debugging interface allows for
easy programming and run control via
standard USB cable
• Designed to attach to any Tower System module
with a TWRPI socket(s)
• Swappable components
Elevator Modules
freescale.com/Towerelev
• Adds features and functionality with little investment
• Allows for design flexibility
• wo 2 x 80 connectors
T
• ower regulation circuitry
P
• rovides easy signal access and side-mounting board
P
(i.e. LCD module)
• rovides power to all boards
P
• Allows for customized peripheral module development
• llows easy expansion using PCI Express
®
connectors
A
(x16, 90 mm/3.5” long, 164 pins)
Cost Effective
• Interchangeable peripheral modules can
be re-used with all Tower System controller
modules, 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
• tandardized signal assignments
S
F
• our card-edge connectors available
Build Your Tower System in Three Steps or Less
Each assembled Tower System will accommodate:
• One controller/processor module
• Up to three peripheral modules
• One or more additional side mounting
peripheral modules
• Multiple Tower plug-ins (TWRPIs)
• Two elevator modules (or risers)
2. Choose peripheral modules and
desired Tower plug-ins (TWRPIs)
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 software platforms. Freescale,
along with a strong alliance network, offers
comprehensive solutions, including development
tools, debuggers, programmers and software.
Complimentary Software and Tools
• Freescale MQX™ RTOS, TCP/IP stacks,
file system, USB stacks and more*
• Freescale Linux
®
BSP*
• CodeWarrior Development Studio
• Processor Expert Software: Create,
configure, optimize, migrate and deliver
software components that generate source
code for Freescale silicon
• Freescale eGUI: Graphical LCD driver for
MCUs and eMPUs
* Visit freescale.com/software for a list of supported devices
1. Choose a controller/
processor module
3. Connect each module to the elevator boards
Multiple Power Options
The Freescale 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 modules to avoid contention on the
power rails. Although power can be supplied
through any module, power supplied through
the elevator modules takes precedence
1. Processor module
via debugger connection
2. Tower elevator
3. Peripheral module
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 Freescale
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,
Design Your Own
Interested in designing your own Tower
System module? View application note
AN4390 “Creating Your Own Tower Module”
for a complete guide to starting your board
design available at
freescale.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.
peripherals and world-class support and training.
A number of partners have developed modules
for the Tower System. 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
freescale.com/Tower.
Follow Tower Geeks on Twitter
twitter.com/towergeeks
Visit Freescale on Facebook
facebook.com/freescale
Watch the
Tower System
video here.
For a complete list of development kits and modules offered as part
of the Freescale Tower System, please visit
freescale.com/Tower
Freescale and the Freescale logo are trademarks of Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off. Xtrinsic is a trademark
of Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. ARM is a registered trademark of ARM Limited. Cortex-A8 is a trademark of ARM Limited.
All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. © 2012 Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
Document Number: TWRFS REV 16
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