Overview
The conga-Mini family of modules use the NXP i.MX 8M Mini processor, which is focused on delivering an excellent video and audio experience, combining media-specific features with high-performance processing optimized for low-power consumption. The processor contains one Cortex-M4 core and a Cortex-A53 cluster consisting of one, two, or four ARMv8-A cores rated at a maximum of 1.8 GHz (depending on module variant). The Linux system use the ARMv8-A cores, the M4 core is not enabled in the default configuration.
Additional computing resources and peripherals:
Class | Overview |
|---|---|
Video* | LCDIF, 2D and 3D graphics accelerators, video decoding and encoding units, MIPI-CSI, and MIPI-DSI |
Audio | I2S, AC97, TDM and S/PDIF |
Security | secure boot, cipher acceleration and DRM support |
Peripherals | Large set of those that are commonly used in consumer/industrial markets including (but not limited to) USB 2.0, PCIe, and Ethernet |
\) Note that only one display can be driven by the modules using the processor*
Note 1: For list of available peripherals on a particular module see the relevant module-specific section
Note 2: More information about the processor can be found in the i.MX 8M Mini Applications Processor Reference Manual
Software Support
The list of supported operating systems currently includes GNU/Linux built using the Yocto system and Android.
Both systems use the u-boot as a bootloader.
For building of the operating system image is required a Linux Host Machine running a Ubuntu based system (multiple versions will work and can be used; for every supported Yocto and Android image we list the version that was used by congatec, as a reference).
The software provided by congatec can be found on the congatec Git server (https://git.congatec.com/arm-nxp/imx8-family).
The Git package can be on the Ubuntu system installed and configured as follows:
| Code Block | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
$ sudo apt-get install git-core
$ git config --global user.email "youremail"
$ git config --global user.name "Your name" |
Yocto
System build
The provided Yocto system is based on the NXP version for the iMX8 processors (for more information see the i.MX Yocto Project User's Guide). Updates made are to support module-specific features and peripherals; the version provided by congatec can be found at https://git.congatec.com/arm-nxp/imx8-family. Instructions how to build the Linux image can be found here.
Software development
Software can be developed either in the Linux system running on module itself or a cross-development environment can be set on the Linux Host Machine.
Instructions how to include development tools in the target Linux image and instructions how to build, install and use a separate SDK for the Linux Host Machine are present together with the instructions for the particular Yocto Linux build.