VIA Technologies SOM-9X50-STK User manual

QUICK START GUIDE
VIA SOM-9X50-STK
Android 12.0 EVK
1.00-30012024

Copyright
Copyright © 2024 VIA Technologies Incorporated. All rights reserved.
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VIA Technologies makes no warranes, implied or otherwise, in regard to this document and to the products described in this document.
The informaon provided in this document is believed to be accurate and reliable as of the publicaon date of this document. However,
VIA Technologies assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of the informaon (including use or connecon of extra device/
equipment/add-on card) in this document and for any patent infringements that may arise from the use of this document. The informaon
and product specicaons within this document are subject to change at any me, without noce and without obligaon to nofy any
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VIA Technologies, Inc. reserves the right the make changes to the products described in this manual at any me without prior noce.
ii

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VIA SOM-9X50-STK Android 12.0 EVK Quick Start Guide
Revision History
Version Date Remarks
1.00 30/01/2024 Inial release

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VIA SOM-9X50-STK Android 12.0 EVK Quick Start Guide
Table of Contents
1. Introducon.................................................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 EVK Package Contents........................................................................................................................... 1
1.1.1 Firmware Folder Contents ............................................................................................................. 1
1.1.2 Document Folder Contents............................................................................................................ 1
1.1.3 Tool Folder Contents...................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Version Informaon and Supported Features....................................................................................... 2
2. Image Installaon .......................................................................................................................................... 3
2.1 Installing with the Fastboot Mode ........................................................................................................ 3
3. Hardware Funcons ....................................................................................................................................... 9
3.1 Using the Debug Console...................................................................................................................... 9
3.2 Changing the Kernel Debug Level ......................................................................................................... 9
3.3 Checking the BSP Version...................................................................................................................... 9
3.4 DVFS.................................................................................................................................................... 10
3.5 Display................................................................................................................................................. 10
3.6 Camera................................................................................................................................................ 10
3.7 MTK NeuroPilot AI APU Hardware Acceleraon................................................................................. 11

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VIA SOM-9X50-STK Android 12.0 EVK Quick Start Guide
1. Introducon
This Quick Start Guide provides an overview of how to boot the Android image for the VIA SOM-9X50 starter
kit and congure the supported hardware funcons in the build.
Note:
The VIA SOM-9X50 starter kit includes the VIA SOM-9X50 module and the VIA VAB-950 reference carrier board.
The VIA SOM-9X50-STK Android 12.0 EVK is developed based on the MediaTek Android 12.0 BSP, and it enables
the hardware features of the VIA SOM-9X50 starter kit.
1.1 EVK Package Contents
There are three folders in the package listed as below.
Firmware folder Descripon
VIA_SOM-9X50-STK_Android_12.0_EVK.zip Android evaluaon image
Document folder Descripon
VIA_SOM-9X50-STK_Android_12.0_EVK_Quick_Start_Guide.pdf Quick Start Guide
Tool folder Descripon
VIA_Android_USB_Driver.zip VIA USB driver
PsoeDetector_Image.apk Sample test program
1.1.1 Firmware Folder Contents
VIA_SOM-9X50-STK_Android_12.0_EVK.zip: Contains the precompiled Android image for evaluang the VIA
SOM-9X50 starter kit.
1.1.2 Document Folder Contents
VIA_SOM-9X50-STK_Android_12.0_EVK_Quick_Start_Guide.pdf: This Quick Start Guide provides an overview
on how to boot the Android image for the VIA SOM-9X50 starter kit and congure the supported hardware
funcons in the build.
1.1.3 Tool Folder Contents
VIA_Android_USB_Driver.zip: The VIA driver for ADB-over-USB.
PoseDetector_Image.apk: A sample program to test MTK NeuroPilot AI APU hardware acceleraon.

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VIA SOM-9X50-STK Android 12.0 EVK Quick Start Guide
1.2 Version Informaon and Supported Features
• Kernel version: 4.19.191
• Evaluaon image: Android 12.0
• Development based on MediaTek Android 12.0 BSP
• Supports eMMC boot
• Supports HDMI display
• Supports HDMI audio output
• Supports MIPI DSI capacive touch panel
−NuWhole 7" NT070R11-12ACR5 (1200 x 1920)
−Goodix I2C touch
• Supports COM1 as RS-232 mode (TX/RX) and COM as debug port
• Supports two 10/100Mbps Ethernet ports
• Supports MediaTek MT6358 Headphone and Mic-in
• Supports MediaTek MT7668 Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 5.0
• Supports VIA EMIO-2574 (SIM7600JC-H) 4G LTE mobile broadband miniPCIe module
• Supports MIPI CSI OV5648 camera module
• Supports MediaTek NeuroPilot AI APU hardware acceleraon

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VIA SOM-9X50-STK Android 12.0 EVK Quick Start Guide
2. Image Installaon
This secon explains the setup requirements for installing the Android evaluaon image on the VIA SOM-9X50
starter kit.
The precompiled images are provided in the "Firmware" folder.
2.1 Installing with the Fastboot Mode
Follow the steps below to install Android EVK image:
Step 1
Prepare the "fastboot tool" and install the "VIA USB driver" into your Windows 10 host machine.
To get the "fastboot tool" for Windows, please refer to the "SDK Plaorm Tools release notes" chapter on the
Android developer website hps://developer.android.com/studio/releases/plaorm-tools.
To install the "VIA USB driver", right-click "android_winusb" and select "Install".
Then click "Install" when the installer opens.
When the installer nishes, it will show a conrmaon message "The operaon completed successfully".

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VIA SOM-9X50-STK Android 12.0 EVK Quick Start Guide
Step 2
Connect the Windows 10 host machine and the VIA SOM-9X50 starter kit through the Micro USB 2.0 port using
the Micro USB cable.
Micro USB 2.0 port diagram
Step 3
On the VIA SOM-9X50 starter kit, set the two OS image jumpers (J7 and J5) to download mode as shown in the
diagram below.
OS image jumpers diagram
J5 and J7 Sengs Pin 1 Pin 2 Pin 3
Normal mode (default) Open Short Short
Download mode Short Short Open
OS image jumper sengs
Step 3
Plug in the AC-to-DC power adapter to power on the VIA SOM-9X50 starter kit.
If the EVK image is not installed, the VIA SOM-9X50 starter kit will stop at "fastboot: processing commands" as
shown in the debug console below. Proceed to step 4 directly.
Fastboot Mode
If the EVK image is already installed, use the following command to enter the Fastboot Mode on your Windows
10 host machine.
D:\platform-tools>adb shell reboot bootloader
Note:
Aer powering on the VIA SOM-9X50 starter kit, make sure the Windows 10 host machine detects it as an ADB
device.

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VIA SOM-9X50-STK Android 12.0 EVK Quick Start Guide
Step 4
Extract the VIA_SOM-9X50-STK_Android_12.0_EVK.zip le on your Windows 10 host machine.
To install the image, use the following command:
D:\VIA_SOM-9X50-STK_Android_12.0_EVK>set PATH=D:\platform-tools;%PATH%
D:\VIA_SOM-9X50-STK_Android_12.0_EVK>viaash.exe
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
VIAFlash version v2.0.0
(built: May 5 2023 10:03:44 UTC)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
To let this tool work well, please
ensure the system is under fastboot mode!
If yes, please press any key to continue.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>> The OS of images is "Android 12.0"
Sending 'preloader_a' (256 KB) OKAY [ 0.031s]
Writing 'preloader_a' OKAY [ 0.015s]
Finished. Total time: 0.105s
Erasing 'pgpt' OKAY [ 0.014s]
Finished. Total time: 0.023s
Sending 'pgpt' (17 KB) OKAY [ 0.026s]
Writing 'pgpt' OKAY [ 0.008s]
Finished. Total time: 0.078s
Sending 'logo' (3409 KB) OKAY [ 0.104s]
Writing 'logo' OKAY [ 0.083s]
Finished. Total time: 0.288s
Sending 'vbmeta_a' (4 KB) OKAY [ 0.025s]
Writing 'vbmeta_a' OKAY [ 0.007s]
Finished. Total time: 0.145s
Sending 'vbmeta_system_a' (4 KB) OKAY [ 0.026s]
Writing 'vbmeta_system_a' OKAY [ 0.006s]
Finished. Total time: 0.097s
Sending 'vbmeta_vendor_a' (4 KB) OKAY [ 0.026s]
Writing 'vbmeta_vendor_a' OKAY [ 0.006s]
Finished. Total time: 0.068s
Sending 'spmfw_a' (47 KB) OKAY [ 0.027s]
Writing 'spmfw_a' OKAY [ 0.008s]
Finished. Total time: 0.085s
Sending 'scp_a' (608 KB) OKAY [ 0.038s]
Writing 'scp_a' OKAY [ 0.022s]
Finished. Total time: 0.124s
Sending 'sspm_a' (481 KB) OKAY [ 0.036s]
Writing 'sspm_a' OKAY [ 0.018s]
Finished. Total time: 0.113s
Sending 'cam_vpu1_a' (1610 KB) OKAY [ 0.060s]
Writing 'cam_vpu1_a' OKAY [ 0.044s]
Finished. Total time: 0.185s
Sending 'cam_vpu2_a' (11973 KB) OKAY [ 0.284s]
Writing 'cam_vpu2_a' OKAY [ 0.268s]
Finished. Total time: 0.738s
Sending 'cam_vpu3_a' (135 KB) OKAY [ 0.029s]
Writing 'cam_vpu3_a' OKAY [ 0.012s]
Finished. Total time: 0.143s

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VIA SOM-9X50-STK Android 12.0 EVK Quick Start Guide
Sending 'lk_a' (834 KB) OKAY [ 0.043s]
Writing 'lk_a' OKAY [ 0.027s]
Finished. Total time: 0.147s
Sending 'dtbo_a' (8192 KB) OKAY [ 0.314s]
Writing 'dtbo_a' OKAY [ 0.193s]
Finished. Total time: 0.569s
Sending 'tee_a' (147 KB) OKAY [ 0.029s]
Writing 'tee_a' OKAY [ 0.011s]
Finished. Total time: 0.134s
Sending 'gz_a' (1230 KB) OKAY [ 0.051s]
Writing 'gz_a' OKAY [ 0.035s]
Finished. Total time: 0.157s
Sending 'boot_a' (32768 KB) OKAY [ 0.991s]
Writing 'boot_a' OKAY [ 0.720s]
Finished. Total time: 1.799s
Sending 'userdata' (115360 KB) OKAY [ 2.557s]
Writing 'userdata' OKAY [ 2.595s]
Finished. Total time: 6.556s
Erasing 'proinfo' OKAY [ 0.015s]
Finished. Total time: 0.026s
Erasing 'boot_para' OKAY [ 0.013s]
Finished. Total time: 0.022s
Erasing 'vbmeta_b' OKAY [ 0.012s]
Finished. Total time: 0.021s
Erasing 'vbmeta_system_b' OKAY [ 0.013s]
Finished. Total time: 0.022s
Erasing 'vbmeta_vendor_b' OKAY [ 0.013s]
Finished. Total time: 0.026s
Erasing 'spmfw_b' OKAY [ 0.013s]
Finished. Total time: 0.020s
Erasing 'scp_b' OKAY [ 0.012s]
Finished. Total time: 0.020s
Erasing 'sspm_b' OKAY [ 0.012s]
Finished. Total time: 0.024s
Erasing 'cam_vpu1_b' OKAY [ 0.012s]
Finished. Total time: 0.022s
Erasing 'cam_vpu2_b' OKAY [ 0.011s]
Finished. Total time: 0.026s
Erasing 'cam_vpu3_b' OKAY [ 0.012s]
Finished. Total time: 0.026s
Erasing 'para' OKAY [ 0.012s]
Finished. Total time: 0.021s
Erasing 'expdb' OKAY [ 0.014s]
Finished. Total time: 0.023s
Erasing 'frp' OKAY [ 0.012s]
Finished. Total time: 0.021s
Erasing 'nvcfg' OKAY [ 0.015s]
Finished. Total time: 0.027s
Erasing 'nvdata' OKAY [ 0.015s]
Finished. Total time: 0.026s

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VIA SOM-9X50-STK Android 12.0 EVK Quick Start Guide
Erasing 'md_udc' OKAY [ 0.014s]
Finished. Total time: 0.027s
Erasing 'metadata' OKAY [ 0.014s]
Finished. Total time: 0.023s
Erasing 'protect1' OKAY [ 0.013s]
Finished. Total time: 0.025s
Erasing 'protect2' OKAY [ 0.014s]
Finished. Total time: 0.026s
Erasing 'seccfg' OKAY [ 0.012s]
Finished. Total time: 0.021s
Erasing 'sec1' OKAY [ 0.014s]
Finished. Total time: 0.023s
Erasing 'nvram' OKAY [ 0.014s]
Finished. Total time: 0.023s
Erasing 'vendor_boot_a' OKAY [ 0.014s]
Finished. Total time: 0.024s
Erasing 'vendor_boot_b' OKAY [ 0.013s]
Finished. Total time: 0.022s
Erasing 'gz_b' OKAY [ 0.019s]
Finished. Total time: 0.028s
Erasing 'boot_b' OKAY [ 0.029s]
Finished. Total time: 0.036s
Erasing 'dtbo_b' OKAY [ 0.028s]
Finished. Total time: 0.041s
Erasing 'tee_b' OKAY [ 0.027s]
Finished. Total time: 0.040s
Erasing 'otp' OKAY [ 0.029s]
Finished. Total time: 0.038s
Erasing 'ashinfo' OKAY [ 0.029s]
Finished. Total time: 0.037s
Sending sparse 'super' 1/17 (131068 KB) OKAY [ 5.517s]
Writing 'super' OKAY [ 2.971s]
Sending sparse 'super' 2/17 (119664 KB) OKAY [ 4.096s]
Writing 'super' OKAY [ 2.727s]
Sending sparse 'super' 3/17 (131068 KB) OKAY [ 5.099s]
Writing 'super' OKAY [ 2.963s]
Sending sparse 'super' 4/17 (131068 KB) OKAY [ 4.726s]
Writing 'super' OKAY [ 2.910s]
Sending sparse 'super' 5/17 (131068 KB) OKAY [ 5.064s]
Writing 'super' OKAY [ 2.925s]
Sending sparse 'super' 6/17 (131071 KB) OKAY [ 5.399s]
Writing 'super' OKAY [ 6.783s]
Sending sparse 'super' 7/17 (131068 KB) OKAY [ 4.999s]
Writing 'super' OKAY [ 2.988s]
Sending sparse 'super' 8/17 (128332 KB) OKAY [ 4.900s]
Writing 'super' OKAY [ 2.901s]
Sending sparse 'super' 9/17 (131068 KB) OKAY [ 4.939s]
Writing 'super' OKAY [ 3.014s]
Sending sparse 'super' 10/17 (114828 KB) OKAY [ 4.555s]
Writing 'super' OKAY [ 2.583s]
Sending sparse 'super' 11/17 (114708 KB) OKAY [ 4.302s]
Writing 'super' OKAY [ 2.591s]
Sending sparse 'super' 12/17 (125472 KB) OKAY [ 4.897s]
Writing 'super' OKAY [ 3.672s]
Sending sparse 'super' 13/17 (131071 KB) OKAY [ 4.642s]
Writing 'super' OKAY [ 3.692s]
Sending sparse 'super' 14/17 (130412 KB) OKAY [ 4.707s]

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VIA SOM-9X50-STK Android 12.0 EVK Quick Start Guide
Writing 'super' OKAY [ 2.937s]
Sending sparse 'super' 15/17 (131068 KB) OKAY [ 4.713s]
Writing 'super' OKAY [ 2.929s]
Sending sparse 'super' 16/17 (118944 KB) OKAY [ 4.420s]
Writing 'super' OKAY [ 2.700s]
Sending sparse 'super' 17/17 (36460 KB) OKAY [ 1.390s]
Writing 'super' OKAY [ 0.864s]
Finished. Total time: 132.536s
Rebooting OKAY [ 0.003s]
Finished. Total time: 0.005s
=============================================
Finished. Re-Starting system ...
=============================================
D:\VIA_SOM-9X50-STK_Android_12.0_EVK>
Step 5
Unplug the AC-to-DC power adapter to power o the VIA SOM-9X50 starter kit.
Step 6
Set the two OS image jumpers (J7 and J5) back to the normal mode seng.
OS image jumper sengs
Step 7
Unplug the Micro USB cable, press the Power Buon for 2 seconds and release it to power on the VIA SOM-
9X50 starter kit.
When the boot process has completed, you will see the Android 12.0 desktop.

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VIA SOM-9X50-STK Android 12.0 EVK Quick Start Guide
3. Hardware Funcons
This secon explains how to enable and test the hardware funcons precompiled in the VIA SOM-9X50-STK
Android 12.0 EVK.
3.1 Using the Debug Console
Follow the steps below to use the debug console:
Step 1
Connect the host machine and the VIA SOM-9X50 starter kit through the COM connector labeled as "COM".
COM connector diagram
Step 2
Use a serial port communicaon program such as PuTTY or Tera Term to connect the debug console. Set the
console Baud Rate to "921600".
Step 3
Power on the VIA SOM-9X50 starter kit to iniate the boot process.
Step 4
When the VIA SOM-9X50 starter kit has completed boong, log in to the debug console.
3.2 Changing the Kernel Debug Level
To disable the kernel messages, modify the debug level using the following command:
console:/ # su
console:/ # echo 3 > /proc/sys/kernel/printk
3.3 Checking the BSP Version
To check the BSP version, use the following command:
console:/ # cat /proc/version

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VIA SOM-9X50-STK Android 12.0 EVK Quick Start Guide
3.4 DVFS
To verify the DVFS (Dynamic Voltage Frequency Scaling) funcon and list all the supported features, use the
following commands:
console:/ # ls -l /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/
total 0
-r--r--r-- 1 root root 4096 2020-04-06 06:34 affected_cpus
-r-------- 1 root root 4096 2020-04-06 06:34 cpuinfo_cur_freq
-r--r--r-- 1 root root 4096 2020-04-06 06:34 cpuinfo_max_freq
-r--r--r-- 1 root root 4096 2020-04-06 06:34 cpuinfo_min_freq
-r--r--r-- 1 root root 4096 2020-04-06 06:34 cpuinfo_transition_latency
-r--r--r-- 1 root root 4096 2020-04-06 06:34 related_cpus
-r--r--r-- 1 root root 4096 2020-04-06 06:34 scaling_available_frequencies
-r--r--r-- 1 root root 4096 2020-04-06 06:34 scaling_available_governors
-rw-rw---- 1 system system 4096 2010-01-01 00:00 scaling_governor
-rw-rw---- 1 system system 4096 2010-01-01 00:00 scaling_max_freq
-rw-rw-r-- 1 system system 4096 2010-01-01 00:00 scaling_min_freq
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 4096 2020-04-06 06:34 scaling_setspeed
console:/ #
To check the supported and current CPU frequency, use the following commands:
:~# cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_available_frequencies
1989000 1924000 1846000 1781000 1716000 1677000 1625000 1586000 1508000 1417000 1326000
1248000 1131000 1014000 910000 793000
:~# cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/cpuinfo_cur_freq
793000
3.5 Display
There is no need to set the display device. If you connect an HDMI display, HDMI output will be automacally
enabled aer boong. If you connect an LCD panel, LCD panel output will be automacally enabled aer
boong.
3.6 Camera
If a desired CSI camera module was connected correctly to the VIA SOM-9X50 starter kit before boong the
VIA SOM-9X50 starter kit, a "Camera" APK can be found on the Android desktop. Click to open it and test the
camera funcons.

11
VIA SOM-9X50-STK Android 12.0 EVK Quick Start Guide
If the CSI camera module was connected correctly before boong the VIA SOM-9X50 starter kit, but there is no
"Camera" APK on the Android desktop, navigate to "Sengs > System > Reset opons" and click "Erase all data
(factory reset)" to reboot. The "Camera" APK will be generated aer the system reboots.
3.7 MTK NeuroPilot AI APU Hardware Acceleraon
We recommend running the "PoseDetector_Image.apk" sample program for tesng MTK NeuroPilot AI APU
hardware acceleraon. To install the program, follow the steps below:
1. Copy the "PoseDetector_Image.apk" le to a USB drive and connect the USB drive to the VIA SOM-9X50
starter kit.
2. Next, navigate to "Files" and click on the USB drive's name to nd "PoseDetector_Image.apk" as shown
below. Double-click the program

12
VIA SOM-9X50-STK Android 12.0 EVK Quick Start Guide
3. When the program opens, it will display a dialog box as shown below. Click "Connue" to conrm.
4. Aer installaon, double-click "PoseDetector" to run the program.
5. Check the Pose Detecon inference me on the boom le corner of the program:
−If the inference me is less than 200ms, MTK NeuroPilot AI APU hardware acceleraon is enabled
and running correctly.
−If the inference me is greater than 200ms, MTK NeuroPilot AI APU hardware acceleraon is
disabled.

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