NXP adds real time switch in i.MX94

NXP Semiconductors has launched a quad core microprocessor with a TSN real time switch for the first time.

The i.MX 94 family is the first from NXP with a 2.5G Ethernet TSN switch and up to four ARM Cortex-A55 cores capable of running Linux, 2 Cortex-M33 cores and 2 Cortex-M7 cores.

The chip is aimed at industrial control, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), telematics, industrial and automotive gateways, and building and energy control and was launched at electronic 2024 in Munich this week.

The integrated 2.5Gbit/s TSN switch enables highly configurable, secure communications with rich protocol support for both industrial and automotive applications.

An integrated functional safety island, along with configurable safety partition, to support IEC61508 SIL2 and ISO26262 ASIL-B compliance.

The i.MX 94 family includes the first i.MX applications processor to integrate a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet TSN switch which has been optimised for fast initialization and a number of low power modes. NXP’s real-time edge software supports a wide variety of industrial protocols from legacy implementations to the latest developments such as OPC-UA FX and OPC-UA PubSub. The software framework enables developers to combine real-time and application-level tasks running across the cores.

The i.MX 94 family supports traditional serial fieldbus protocols such as Profibus, Modbus, CANopen and IO-Link, as well as Ethernet-based real-time networking protocols, such as Profinet, EtherCAT, Ethernet/IP, CC-Link, and more.

The TSN implementation of these protocols, including AVB/TSN, Ethernet OPC-UA, Profinet Over TSN and more, are also supported for current and future industrial automation applications.

Hardware support for network virtualization supports software-defined networking, which is key to enabling complex, multicore use-cases based on open standards such as XDP and DPDK.

The i.MX 94 family is also NXP’s first applications processor to support post-quantum, public key cryptography, allowing it to withstand attacks by quantum computers, and manage security of equipment over a long lifecycle.

The integrated EdgeLock Secure Enclave (Advanced Profile) allows it to set the equipment and restore it to a trusted state at any time and provides advanced security capabilities, including secure boot, secure debug and secure update of the processor based on post-quantum cryptography without compromising performance. It also features runtime protections, such as expelling an attacker with automatic recovery to a trusted state, or EdgeLock 2GO key management.

For industrial TSN and automotive connectivity applications, the i.MX 94 incorporates EdgeLock Accelerator (Prime), a crypto-accelerator enabling fast boot, and real-time, high-speed message signing, authentication and encryption at 5G speeds for secure communications.

The i.MX 94 family provides support for security standards such as IEC 62443 and ISO 21434, as well as upcoming regulations such as the Cyber Resilience Act in Europe.

“Connectivity is more complex than ever before, and the i.MX 94 family is designed to help simplify that complexity. The i.MX 94 family delivers the high-performance edge processing needed for today’s industrial automation, as well as automotive telematics applications, with the advanced networking, security, safety, and AI capabilities needed to enable tomorrow’s innovations,” said Charles Dachs, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Industrial and IoT, NXP.

A variety of third-party purpose-built commercial operating systems such as QNX Neutrino and Green Hills Integrity are also available.

The i.MX94 also integrates the eIQ Neutron NPU with 0.5 TOPS of machine learning performance, enabling predictive maintenance and operator guidance in real time as well as defects scanning and machine diagnostics. The NPU provides highly adaptable and scalable security features by providing intrusion detection and protection with machine learning-assisted cybersecurity to keep critical systems and infrastructure safe from manipulation into the future.

A power management IC, the PF9455, was a co-developed and cost-optimized combination and the i.MX 94 also integrates with NXP’s broad, scalable portfolio of wireless solutions. This includes the IW612 tri-radio solution for industrial and IoT applications, designed to easily connect smart devices across protocols and ecosystems with support for WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2 and 802.15.4. It also includes the highly integrated automotive AW693 SoC with concurrent dual Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 to enable multiple secure connections within the car, supporting the transition to software-defined vehicles.

The i.MX 94 family is expected to begin sampling in Q1 2025.

NXP.com/iMX94