Based on the mobileGT architecture and pin- and software-compatible with Freescale’s earlier MPC5200 processor, the new device offers 885 million instructions per second (MIPS) of processing power. It features a memory management unit-based architecture with double data rate memory support; a double precision floating point unit (FPU); integrated controller area network (CAN) and J1850 networking; integrated peripheral component interconnect (PCI), advanced technology attachment (ATA) and universal serial bus (USB) interfaces; up to three inter-IC sound ((I2S) interfaces, Ethernet, and multiple serial channels.

Freescale is offering the Media5200 development platform and Lite5200B evaluation board, as well as an expanded ecosystem of third-party support to facilitate application development. Wind River (www.windriver.com), a member of the mobileGT Alliance, said the MPC5200B is the first processor to be supported for their Platform for Automotive Devices (PAD).

The Media5200 development platform includes an integrated graphics system, a comprehensive multichannel audio subsystem, camera input and integrated GPS. It also provides integrated CAN and media-oriented system transport (MOST) networking.

“Increased public awareness about consumer electronics is helping expand the market beyond high-end vehicles,” said Anand Ramamoorthy, general manager of Freescale’s infotainment, multimedia and telematics business. The research firm Strategy Analytics estimates the global market for products such as in-car information systems, rear-seat entertainment and compressed audio players to be worth $23 billion in 2004. It’s predicted to double to $46 billion by 2011.

Ramamoorthy said the MPC5200B “can handle a multitude of simultaneous automotive infotainment tasks with horsepower to spare.” He added that the new processor hosts all applications on a single PowerPC core for efficient application execution and shorter development times. “Because all applications execute on a single core, features like front-seat navigation can work in tandem with rear-seat entertainment.”

He said the processor can handle audio jukebox applications and next-generation 3-D navigation systems and is capable of supporting audio compression decode/encode, as well as video decode. “These capabilities are particularly important as emerging technologies gain traction in the automotive industry. Soon, video decode for rear seat entertainment may be as important to consumers as audio compression and DVD playback are today.”