The **TS-7Z-R** (often associated with the Technologic Systems / TS-7000 series) is a high-performance, industrial-grade System-on-Module (SoM) or Single Board Computer based on the **Xilinx Zynq-7000 All Programmable SoC**. This hardware is unique because it combines a traditional ARM processor with an FPGA fabric on a single chip, allowing for both high-level software execution and low-level hardware acceleration. --- ### 1. Core Processing Architecture The heart of the TS-7Z-R is the **Zynq-7000 SoC**, which splits tasks between two main sections: | Component | Type | Description | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **PS (Processing System)** | Dual ARM Cortex-A9 | Handles the OS (Linux), networking, and high-level logic. | | **PL (Programmable Logic)** | Artix-7 FPGA | Handles real-time I/O, custom IP cores, and high-speed DSP. | ### 2. Key Electronic Specifications The board is designed for industrial reliability, featuring high-density connectors and robust power management. * **Memory:** Typically equipped with **512MB to 1GB DDR3 RAM** shared between the FPGA and ARM cores. * **Storage:** Includes **eMMC Flash** (usually 4GB+) for the OS and a microSD slot for expandable storage. * **Networking:** Gigabit Ethernet support via an onboard PHY connected to the PS. * **Power Input:** Designed for wide-range industrial voltage inputs (typically 5V DC). --- ### 3. Connectivity & I/O Interface The TS-7Z-R breaks out the Zynq's capabilities through high-density expansion headers. #### Hardware Interfaces: 1. **High-Speed Serial:** Support for USB 2.0 OTG and Gigabit Ethernet. 2. **Industrial Bus:** CAN Bus, RS-232, and RS-485 interfaces. 3. **FPGA I/O:** Dozens of GPIO pins directly linked to the FPGA fabric, allowing for custom protocols (e.g., PWM, encoder chips, or specialized sensors). 4. **Analog:** Integrated XADC (Xilinx Analog-to-Digital Converter) for monitoring internal voltages and external signals. --- ### 4. Software & Development Environment Because of its hybrid nature, development involves two distinct paths: ```c // Example: Accessing FPGA registers from Linux C code #define FPGA_BASE_ADDR 0x40000000 int main() { int fd = open("/dev/mem", O_RDWR | O_SYNC); unsigned int *fpga_ptr = mmap(NULL, 0x1000, PROT_READ|PROT_WRITE, MAP_SHARED, fd, FPGA_BASE_ADDR); // Writing to a custom FPGA register *fpga_ptr = 0x01; return 0; } ``` * **OS Support:** Primarily runs **Debian Linux** or specialized Real-Time OS (RTOS). * **FPGA Toolchain:** Requires **Xilinx Vivado** for hardware synthesis and bitstream generation. --- ### 5. Common Use Cases * **Motor Control:** Using the FPGA for high-frequency PWM and the ARM for the control UI. * **Data Acquisition:** High-speed sampling of sensors via FPGA fabric with data logging in Linux. * **Edge Computing:** Running lightweight AI/ML models on the ARM core with hardware acceleration in the PL.