NXP Semiconductors has announced its i.MX 91 applications processor family. Developing multi-market applications processors, the i.MX 91 family aims to deliver an optimised blend of the security, features, and energy-efficient performance required for the next generation of Linux-based Internet of Things (IoT) and industrial applications.
Emerging protocols such as Matter, the interoperable, secure connectivity standard for the future of the smart home, or the ISO 15118-20 standard for electric vehicle (EV) chargers, create inflection points for new product categories across IoT and industrial markets. These new products often rely on Linux, which provides the extensibility and ease of programming developers need for applications to evolve, extending product life. NXP’s i.MX 91 family enables developers to quickly create new Linux-based edge devices, such as home controllers, connected appliances, home entertainment, industrial scanning and printing, building control, EV chargers and medical platforms.
“Next-generation Linux devices based on the i.MX 91 applications processors will be high-performance, affordable, and secure solutions, enabling quicker and easier adoption of updated protocols or new standards as they are introduced. It provides engineers with an essential platform to add intelligence into traditional embedded and IoT systems, while also delivering scalability through the larger i.MX 9 series,” says Jim McGregor, principal analyst at TIRIAS Research.
As the entry point of the i.MX 9 series, the i.MX 91 family provides the extensibility and ease of programming that developers need for applications to evolve over time. Hardware and software commonality with the NXP i.MX 93 family provides additional platform options for scaling product lines that maximise re-use of development investments and decreases time to market.
“Our new i.MX 91 family will provide the foundation for thousands of new device classes, with its high performance, connectivity and EdgeLock secure enclave setting a new standard for Linux platforms across IoT and industrial applications. The i.MX 91 family enables the rapid development of platforms that may easily pivot into new markets and new applications, leveraging existing investments and streamlining product line updates,” says Charles Dachs, senior vice president and general manager, industrial and IoT edge, at NXP.
The i.MX 91 applications processor features an Arm Cortex-A55 running at up to 1.4 GHz; support for modern LPDDR4 memory to enable platform longevity and reliability; dual Gigabit Ethernet for gateway or multi-network segment support; dual USB ports; and the essential I/O for products in smart factory, smart home, smart office, medical device, metering, and cost-optimised system-on-module platforms.
An integrated EdgeLock secure enclave provides advanced security features, such as lifecycle management, tamper detection, secure boot, and a simplified path to certifications. These important security capabilities are easily accessed by the developers through NXP-provided security software enablement. This combination of security and manageability drives trust and longevity for platform designs that will be in the market for many years.
The i.MX 91 family is available with NXP’s power management solution, as part of the i.MX 93 family ecosystem. The evaluation kits and software packages for the i.MX 91 family integrate with NXP’s broad, scalable portfolio of wireless solutions. This includes the IW612, a monolithic tri-radio family that supports Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2 and 802.15.4. The IW612, focused on Matter, frees consumers from the restrictions of single-protocol ecosystems, allowing them to enjoy interoperability across different ecosystems and wireless network technologies.
Availability
NXP’s i.MX applications processors are available worldwide through distributors and eTailers. They are enabled by NXP software, a broad ecosystem of tools and software, and comprehensive support. To help ensure a stable supply of products for embedded designs, all i.MX 8 series and i.MX 9 series products are guaranteed for a minimum of 15 years of availability as members of the NXP product longevity programme.
NXP expects to enable select customers with i.MX 91 development platforms in 2H23 as part of the early access program. For more information, here.
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