Freescale Tower System

Elevate your design to the next level

The Freescale Tower System is a modular development platform for 8-, 16- and 32-bit processors that enables advanced development through rapid evaluation and prototyping.  Featuring multiple development boards or modules, the Tower System provides designers with building blocks for entry-level to advanced application development.

Build Your System (3 steps or less)

• Choose a Processor (MCU/MPU) Module 
• Choose Peripheral Modules and Tower Plug-Ins (TWRPIs) 
  • Up to 3 peripheral modules per system 
  • One additional side-mounting peripheral modules 
  • Multiple TWRPIs
• Connect each module to the Elevator Boards

1. Processor (MCU/MPU) Module

Ex: TWR-MCF51CN (ColdFire V1 Ethernet Microcontroller)

TWR-MCF51CN  features:

• MCF51CN128 MCF51CN128    Microcontroller 
• Fast Ethernet Controller (FEC) 
• Mini-FlexBus External Bus Interface 
• 10/100 baseT Ethernet with DMA

Acts as the Tower System controller boardOne Microcontroller Module per each assembled kitWorks stand-alone or in Tower SystemFeatures new Open Source BDM (OSBDM) for easy programming and debugging  via miniB USB cable

Module is packaged with:

• Necessary cables 
• Interactive DVD with Quick Start Guide, lab tutorials, software

2. Peripheral Module

Ex: TWR-SER (Serial Peripheral Module)

TWR-SER features: 

• RS232 and RS485 
• Ethernet 
• CAN 
• USB 
• Provides added features and functionality 
• Examples include: Wi-Fi, Serial, Memory, Graphical LCD, Audio, Analog, Prototyping and more 
• Enables robust development when used with an associated MCU/MPU module 
• Can be combined and used with other microcontroller and peripheral modules in the Tower System 
• Up to three (3) Peripheral Modules and one (1) outer expansion module per each assembled kit

Module is packaged with:

• Necessary cables 
• Users Manual

3. Elevator Modules

Ex: TWR-ELEV (Elevator Boards)

Sold as a set of two Elevator boards 

• Connects up to four modules 
• Common serial and expansion bus signals

Outward facing side provides: 

• Access to all signals for probing, etc. 
• Two 2x80 connectors on backside for easy signal access and side-mounting board (e.g. LCD module) 
• Standardized signal assignments

Multiple power options with built in isolation:

• 5 V from miniB USB connector, regulated to 3.3 V 
• 3.3 V regulated from MCU/MPU module

Who is Tower System for?

The Embedded Developer

Eager to find complete hardware and software embedded solutions. Needs comprehensive prototyping solutions that can expedite time to market while reducing cost and learning curve.

The Student/Professor

Always on the go. Relies on scalable, low cost development tools and devices to keep his edge and keep his interest.

The Hobbyist

Master experimentalist. Always seeking community knowledge. Desires modular, build-it-yourself components and a team of people to explore with.

Freescale’s Microcontroller Enablement Bundle

+ Complimentary MQX

Accelerate your design success with complimentary RTOS, TCP/IP and USB stacks provided by Freescale MQX Software Solutions. Available on Freescale processors for more than 15 years, Freescale MQX Software Solutions offer a straightforward API with a modular architecture, making it simple to fine tune custom applications and scalable to fit most requirements. The combination of our market-proven Freescale MQX Software Solutions and silicon portfolio provides a streamlined and powerful platform by creating a comprehensive source for hardware, software, tools and services needs.

+ Tower System

• Open source hardware platform for prototyping application development 
• Modular, expandable and cost-effective development platform for 8/16/32-bit MCUs and MPUs 
• Rapid eval and prototyping with maximum HW reuse. 
• Supported by a diverse range of MCU and peripheral plug-in boards and a growing web community

+ CodeWarrior IDE

• Visual and automated framework to accelerate development time 
• Eclipse environment 
• Processor Expert code generation wizard 
• Build, debug and flash tools 
• Software analysis 
• Kernel-aware debug 
• Host platform support

Also see:

CodeWarrior

Freescale Community

New Technology