3.2.1 Processor Power Supplies

The SAMA7D6 Series is a high-performance Arm® Cortex®-A7 CPU-based embedded microprocessor (MPU) targeting HMI and connectivity applications in the home/building, industrial and appliance markets.

The SAMA7D6 Series is delivered with a comprehensive development suite that includes a mainline Linux® distribution and the Microchip MPLAB® X/Harmony software framework.

Running at up to 1 GHz, the device offers support for multiple memories, such as 16-bit DDR2, DDR3, DDR3L, LPDDR2, LPDDR3, octal/quad SPI and e.MMC Flash. It integrates various display interfaces, including MIPI DSI, LVDS and 8-bit serial RGB, a dual 10/100/1000 Ethernet MAC and an I3C controller.

The SAMA7D6 Series features connectivity options such as five CAN-FD and three high-speed USB interfaces and embeds advanced security functions, such as PUF, secure boot, secure key storage and high-performance crypto accelerators for AES, SHA, RSA and ECC.

The power management unit IC (MCP16502) provides all power supplies required by the SAMA7D6 Series MPU:

  • 1.15V ... 1.25V for the CPU power rail (VDDCPU)
  • 1.15V for the core power rail (VDDCORE)
  • 3.3V for I/Os, oscillators, LDO input and digital power rails (VDDUTMI, VDDIOP0, VDDIOP1, VDDQSPI0, VDDQSPI1, VDDSDMMC0, VDDSDMMC2, VDDIN33)
  • 2.5V for analog rail and MIPI D-PHY (VDDANA, VDDDPHY). This rail is provided by the embedded LDO output (VDDOUT25).

Decoupling capacitors are placed close to the MPU power pins to stabilize the voltage rails.

Figure 3-9. SAMA7D6 Series MPU Power Decoupling