NXP Semiconductors i.MX 8ULP User manual

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i.MX 8ULP EVALUATION KIT
i.MX 8ULP EVALUATION KIT
Based on i.MX8ULP Applications Processor

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GET TO KNOW THE EVALUATION KIT BASED ON THE i.MX8ULP
APPLICATIONS PROCESSOR
Figure 1: Main interfaces of i.MX 8ULP EVK
DC JackDC Jack Audio JackAudio Jack
II22S HeaderS HeaderPowerPower
switchswitch Debug PortDebug Port
USB Type-CUSB Type-C
HDMHDM
ConnectorConnector 10/100M10/100M Ethernet RJ45Ethernet RJ45
miniSASminiSAS
ConnectorConnector M.2 Key-E WIFI/M.2 Key-E WIFI/ BT(Bottom)BT(Bottom)
AntennaAntenna
(Bottom)(Bottom)
ArduinoArduino
InterfaceInterface
(Bottom)(Bottom)
PMICPMIC
II22C HeaderC Header
LPDDR4LPDDR4
CANCAN
HeaderHeader
RESET &RESET &
ON/OFFON/OFF
JTAGJTAG
ConnectorConnector
TamperSwitchTamperSwitch
User ButtonsUser Buttons
Octal SPIOctal SPI
pSRAMpSRAM
eMMCeMMC
RGB LEDRGB LED
i.MX8ULPi.MX8ULP
Octal SPI NorOctal SPI Nor
ADC/DACADC/DAC
HeaderHeader
Li-ion BatteryLi-ion Battery
ConnectorConnector
Parallel EPDCParallel EPDC
ConnectorConnector
Octal SPI NorOctal SPI Nor
MIPI-DSIMIPI-DSI
ConnectorConnector
(Bottom)(Bottom)

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i.MX 8ULP EVALUATION KIT
ABOUT THE EVALUATION KIT BASED ON i.MX8ULP
The Evaluation Kit (EVK) based on
the i.MX 8ULP introduces developers
to the i.MX 8ULP applications
processor.
The EVK enables HDMI output for
simple out-of-the-box bring up but
allows reconfiguration for MIPI
displays.
The EVK is designed as System-On-
Module (SOM) board that connects
to an associated baseboard. The
SOM provides 2 GB LPDDR4, 32 MB
Octal SPI Nor flash on RTD, 64 MB
Octal SPI Nor flash on APD, 8MB
Octal SPI pSRAM on RTD, 32 GB
eMMC and an NXP PCA9460A
power management IC (PMIC).
The baseboard provides additional
capabilities, including an M.2 Key-E
slot for Wi-Fi/ Bluetooth based on
NXP IW416, an audio codec, multiple
sensors, a 10/100M ethernet RJ45
connector, a miniSAS connector for
camera, a parallel EPDC connector,
two USB 2.0 OTG with Type C con-
nectors, an HDMI connector, and an
alternate MIPI display connector.
Additionally, the EVK facilitates soft-
ware development with the ultimate
goal of faster time to market through
the support of both Linux®OS and
Android®rich operating systems, as
well as FreeRTOSTM.
Hardware design files, tools and
Board Support Packages (BSPs) for
Linux®and Android®are available
at www.nxp.com/iMX8ULPEVK.

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FEATURES
The following features are available with
the EVK based on the i.MX8ULP applica-
tions processor:
• i.MX 8ULP applications processor with
dual 800MHz Arm®Cortex®-A35 core
and a 216MHz Arm®Cortex®-M33
core
• 2 GB LPDDR4 DRAM, up to 533 MHz
• 32 MB Octal SPI Nor flash on RTD
• 64 MB Octal SPI Nor flash on APD
• 8MB Octal-SPI pSRAM on RTD
• 32 GB eMMC
• miniSAS connector for camera
• 10/100M ethernet RJ45 connector
• M.2 Key-E slot for WIFI/BT
• 2x USB Type-C connector
• HDMI Output connector
• MIPI-DSI connector
• CAN header
• 3.5 mm audio stereo headphone jack
• Parallel EPDC connector
• Tamper detect switch
• Li-ion battery socket
• User buttons
• RGB LED
• JTAG 10-pin 1.27 mm connector
• Arduino connector
• Debug port for Arm®Cortex®-A35/
M33 core via USB micro-B connector
• Sensors including:
–Accelerometer / Gyroscope
–Precision pressure sensor

HOW TO GET STARTED
Table 1 — Unpacking the Kit
The evaluation kit is shipped with the items listed in Table 1. Ensure the items are available in
the i.MX8ULP Evaluation Kit.
ITEM DESCRIPTION
SOM board SOM board with i.MX 8ULP applications processor, LPDDR4, PMIC,
Octal SPI NOR flash, Octal SPI pSRAM and eMMC
Base Board Peripherals and connectivity board
Documentation Quick Start Guide
Power Supply Output: 5 V/5 A, Plug: 2.1 mm x 5.5 mm
USB Cable USB cables (micro-B to standard-A and type-C to standard-A)
Table 1: Contents of the i.MX8ULP Evaluation Kit
Table 2 — Download Software and Tools
Download installation software and documentation under
ITEM DESCRIPTION
Documentation • Schematics, layout and Gerber files
• Quick Start Guide
Software
development tools
• Linux®and Android®BSPs
• FreeRTOSTM SDK
Demo images Copy of the latest Linux and Android BSP images that are available to program
on to the eMMC
Table 2: Download Software and Tools Contents
This section describes how to use the evaluation kit and the required
accessories to develop applications using the evaluation kit.
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i.MX 8ULP EVALUATION KIT

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1Connect USB
Debug Cable
Connect the micro-B end of the supplied
USB cable into debug port J17 on the
base board. Connect the other end
of the cable to a PC acting as a host
terminal. If needed, the serial to USB
drivers can be found at https://www.
ftdichip.com/FTDrivers.htm
Four COMs can be found in your PC.
One is for A35 debug UART, another is
for M33 debug UART, and please ignore
the other two COMs.
Open the terminal window (i.e., PuTTY
or Tera Term) and apply the following
configuration:
• Baud rate: 115200
• Data bits: 8
• Stop bit: 1
• Parity: None
2Connect
Power Supply
Connect the plug of the 5V power supply
to the DC power jack P1 on the base
board and slide power switch SW10 to
ON, then green LED (POWER OK) D33 on
the base board light up. When power is
connected to the EVK, it will automatically
begin the boot sequence.
SETTING UP THE SYSTEM

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i.MX 8ULP EVALUATION KIT
BOOT PROCESS FOR LINUX IMAGE
Boot Process
• Change SW5 on the base board to 1000_0000 (from MSB to LSB, 1-ON and
0-OFF) to boot from the eMMC0, as shown in Figure 2. After the board images
are programmed and the boot switches are correctly configured, the system is
ready to run.
• Power on the EVK board. During the boot process, the operating system status
information will be scrolling on the terminal window of the PC (if connected).
• When the boot process is complete, the Linux®operating system splash screen
will be displayed via HDMI connector.
• To work from the terminal window on the host PC, press ‘Enter’ at the terminal
window to get the command prompt. Account name: root, password none.
For details on running FreeRTOS™ on Arm®Cortex®-M33 core, please visit
www.nxp.com/iMXtools.
• Run “NXP Demo Experience” application to explore the preinstalled demos.
The NXP Logo is displayed on the top left-hand corner of screen, as shown in
Figure 3, start the demo launcher by clicking this logo. Refer to user guide
for details — https://www.nxp.com/docs/en/user-guide/DEXPUG.pdf.
Figure 2: SW5 setting for internal boot mode Figure 3: NXP Demo Experience

DIP SWITCH CONFIGURATION
BOOT MODE D1
(LSB) D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 (MSB)
Boot From Fuses XXXXXXOFF OFF
Serial Downloader X* XXXXXON OFF
A35-eMMC/ M33-SPI
NOR OFF ON OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF ON
A35- SPI NOR/ M33-SPI
NOR OFF ON OFF OFF OFF ON OFF ON
Single Boot-eMMC OFF OFF X X OFF OFF OFF ON
Single Boot-SPI NOR OFF OFF X X OFF ON OFF ON
A35-eMMC/M33-SPI
NOR (LP Boot) ON XOFF OFF OFF OFF OFF ON
A35- SPI NOR/M33-SPI
NOR (LP Boot) ON XOFF OFF OFF ON OFF ON
*: Set to OFF when the fuse [BT_FUSE_SEL] is not blown.
Table 3: i.MX8ULP EVK DIP switch configuration (SW5 on BB)
Table 3 shows the switch configuration of boot mode for i.MX8ULP EVK.
Single Boot-eMMC is chosen as default.
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BUTTON FUNCTIONS
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i.MX 8ULP EVALUATION KIT
ITEM DESCRIPTION
SW6
ON BB
Evaluation kit ON/OFF button
• Short press and long press will only generate an interrupt. The usage
can be defined by upper software.
• Prolonged depress (>5 sec) will force an immediate hardware shutdown.
• If board is in the SHUTDOWN state, short press of the button will restart
(boot) the system.
• If board is in the STANDBY state, short press of the button will bring
the system out of standby (resume operations, no boot).
SW1
ON BB
Evaluation kit RESET button
• Prolonged depress (>8 sec) will reset the system and begin a boot sequence.
SW2/3
ON BB
Evaluation kit switch
• SW defined. SW2 connected to PTF7 and SW3 connected to PTF30.
SW7/8
ON BB
Evaluation kit switch
• SW defined. SW7 connected to PTB13 and SW8 connected to PTB12.
Table 4: i.MX8ULP EVK board button operations
Table 4 shows the functions of the push buttons and switches on the board.

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RK055HDMIPI4MA0
5.5-INCH TFT 720 x 1280 PIXELS PANEL
MINISASTOCSI
MIPI-CSI CAMERA MODULE
Use this LCD display for display and
touchscreen support.
Use this MIPI-CSI camera module for machine
vision, video streaming and recording.
IMXEBOOKDC5
6-INCH E-PAPER PANEL DAUGHTER CARD
Use this panel for e-paper display and touchscreen support.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Do more with Accessory Boards