Luminary Micro announces the Stellaris Intelligent 3.5-inch Landscape Display Module and RDK

Luminary Micro announces the Stellaris Intelligent 3.5-inch Landscape Display Module and RDK

New module provides OEMs a shortcut to add a sleek, customized user interface to practically any industrial system

AUSTIN, TX, USA – November 4, 2008 Luminary Micro, creators of the award-winning Stellaris family of ARM Cortex-M3-based microcontrollers (MCUs), today announced the new Stellaris Intelligent 3.5-inch Landscape Display Module (MDL-IDM-L35) and Reference Design Kit (RDK-IDM-L35). Based on the feature-rich Stellaris LM3S1958 microcontroller, the new intelligent display module combines a complete QVGA landscape-oriented touch-screen user interface with several serial, digital, and analog connectivity options for easy implementation as a Human Machine Interface (HMI) touch display panel in an embedded control device. Software development for the RDK-IDM-L35 is simplified by using Luminary Micro’s comprehensive StellarisWare Peripheral Library and Graphics Library in conjunction with ARM development tools from ARM tools partners.

Offered both as a volume production module and a complete, open-tooled reference design, the MDL-IDM-L35 module provides OEMs with the freedom to choose how to go to production: (1) through volume procurement and integration of the cost-effective MDL-IDM-L35 module unit, or (2) by using the complete MDL-IDM-L35 hardware and software design files and RDK-IDM-L35 reference design kit as a jump-start to a customer-tailored Stellaris-based design. Stellaris Intelligent Display Modules are well-suited for building access controllers and security systems, intelligent white goods and home appliances, thin clients, and factory automation applications.

“Many industrial OEMs indicate a strong desire to enhance current products and systems with a rich, graphical user interface, but have refrained due to perceived design complexity and high cost,” said Jean Anne Booth, Chief Marketing Officer at Luminary Micro. “The low-cost MDL-IDM-L35 simplifies these complexities with a freely-licensed hardware design and with Luminary Micro’s royalty-free StellarisWare Graphics and Peripheral Libraries to customize the look, feel and desired control capabilities of the module.”

MDL-IDM-L35: Cost-effective Touch-screen Module with Multiple Connectivity Options

Featuring a 3.5-inch landscape-oriented QVGA 16-bit color LCD resistive touch panel display with white LED backlight, the compact Luminary Micro Stellaris MDL-IDM-L35 takes full advantage of the vast connectivity features included in the integrated Stellaris LM3S1958 microcontroller. In addition to the LM3S1958 microcontroller’s integrated 256K of single-cycle Flash memory and 64K of single-cycle SRAM, the Intelligent Display Module also includes 168K of display buffer memory and a microSD card slot for image and data storage. The module offers separate UART serial ports for RS-232 and TTL signal levels, and peripherals include four analog measurement inputs, 16 digital I/O lines, and a PWM-controlled magnetic buzzer. The module can be powered through the 5 V DC jack, 5 V Terminal block, or 5 V Serial header.

Software for the Intelligent Display Module includes the StellarisWare Graphics Library and StellarisWare Peripheral Driver Library. The libraries provide an easy C/C++ applications programming interface that generates graphical elements for the IDM and controls the peripherals found on the LM3S1958 MCU. The Stellaris Graphics Library supports basic graphical primitives (lines, circles, rectangles, and text rendering), widgets (push buttons, check boxes, radio buttons, sliders, text or image canvas elements), and special utilities that allow users to render personal fonts, convert image files, and add 3-D buttons to their application. The software support also includes software drivers for the touch screen, the SD Card interface, the sound capability, and the analog inputs.

The Reference Design Kit for the MDL-IDM-L35 Intelligent Display Module (RDK-IDM) includes the MDL-IDM-L35 with metal standoffs, a USB-to-TTL cable to simultaneously power the board and connect to the LM3S1958 Stellaris microcontroller via UART0, a debug adaptor that allows connection to the 10-pin JTAG interface on the MDL-IDM-L35 with a standard 20-pin ARM JTAG debugger, and CD containing all the module design information.

Having It All: Rapid Time-To-Market and Cost-Effective Volume Production with Open-Tooled Solutions

Just like all Stellaris Modules, the new Stellaris MDL-IDM-L35 module supports rapid time-to-market with cost-effective volume production price points. Luminary Micro supports very high volume applications by “open-tooling” each module: all the module design information is openly available, NRE- and royalty-free, for use and modification on any Stellaris-based design. Available module design information includes schematics, BOM, Gerber files, software source code, and documentation.

Pricing and Availability

The Stellaris Intelligent 3.5-inch Landscape Display Module is available immediately through Luminary Micro’s global sales channel (www.LuminaryMicro.com/sales) and online:

• USD 185 Stellaris Intelligent 3.5-inch Landscape Display Module (MDL-IDM-L35) (qty 1) (www.LuminaryMicro.com/products/mdl-idm-l35.html)

• USD 219 Stellaris Intelligent 3.5-inch Landscape Display Reference Design Kit (RDK-IDM-L35) (qty 1) (www.LuminaryMicro.com/products/rdk-idm-l35.html)

About Luminary Micro and Stellaris

Luminary Micro, Inc. designs, markets and sells ARM Cortex-M3-based microcontrollers (MCUs). Austin, Texas-based Luminary Micro is the lead partner for the Cortex-M3 processor, delivering the world’s first silicon implementation of the Cortex-M3 processor. Luminary Micro’s introduction of the award-winning Stellaris family of products provides 32-bit performance for the same price as current 8- and 16-bit microcontroller designs, providing entry-level pricing at $1.00 for an ARM technology-based MCU. Stellaris mixed-signal microcontrollers contain specialized capabilities for applications in energy, security, and connectivity markets. With the world’s largest selection of ARM-based microcontrollers, Luminary Micro’s Stellaris family allows for standardization that eliminates future architectural upgrades or software tools changes. Stellaris and the Luminary Micro logo are registered trademarks, and StellarisWare is a trademark of Luminary Micro, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. All other brands or product names are the property of their respective holders.

Luminary Micro Company Contact:

Jean Anne Booth / CMO / +1.512.917.3088 mobile / +1.512.279.8801 office / JeanAnne.Booth@luminarymicro.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it