Texas Instruments AM3715CUSA

Overview

AM3715CUSA from Texas Instruments is a Sitara™ ARM® Cortex™-A8 microprocessor with 1-GHz peak operation, 256KB L2 cache, POWERVR SGX graphics accelerator, and 423-pin s-PBGA (CUS) package. It integrates SDRAM controller, GPMC, USB OTG/host, McSPI, McBSP, MMC/SDIO, and HDQ/1-Wire interfaces - deployed in portable data terminals, automotive infotainment, and industrial HMI systems.

For engineers reviewing the AM3715CUSA datasheet, AM3715CUSA pinout, AM3715CUSA application, or AM3715CUSA equivalent, key selection considerations include its 45-nm process, adaptive core voltage (0.9–1.2 V), 188 GPIOs with multiplexing, SmartReflex™ AVS support, and compatibility with Linux/Android/WEC operating systems.

Technical Context

The AM3715CUSA implements an in-order, dual-issue, superscalar ARMv7-A architecture with TrustZone® security extensions, Thumb®-2 instruction set, and MMU enhancements. Its memory subsystem includes 32KB L1 instruction/data caches, 256KB unified L2 cache, 64KB on-chip SRAM, and 32KB ROM.

Graphics acceleration is handled by the POWERVR SGX core delivering up to 20 MPoly/sec via tile-based rendering and a universal scalable shader engine supporting OpenGLES 1.1/2.0 and OpenVG 1.0. The device supports dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) and SmartReflex™ Level 2 for real-time power optimization.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

AM3715CUSA uses a 423-ball s-PBGA (CUS) package with 0.65-mm ball pitch and no top-side balls. Pin functions are multiplexed across four quadrants (A–D); critical interfaces include SDRC, GPMC, USB OTG, McSPI, McBSP, MMC/SDIO, UARTs, I²C, HDQ, and GPIOs. Ball assignments are defined in TI SPRS616F Section 2.2.1 (CUS Pin Map).

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar ARM application processor applications.

Compared with AM3703CUSD and AM3358BZCZ100, the AM3715CUSA uniquely combines full-featured Cortex-A8 performance with dedicated SGX graphics - making it optimal for UI-rich embedded devices where display throughput and multimedia acceleration are design-critical.

Availability

AM3715CUSA is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for portable data terminals, automotive infotainment systems, and industrial human-machine interfaces requiring stable component supply and long-term lifecycle support.

Supply support for AM3715CUSA includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Texas Instruments is a global semiconductor company specializing in analog, embedded processing, and connectivity technologies with leadership in industrial, automotive, and communications markets.

The AM3715CUSA belongs to TI's Sitara™ ARM processor family, designed specifically for high-performance, low-power embedded applications requiring rich user interfaces, multimedia acceleration, and real-time peripheral control.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency of the AM3715CUSA?

The AM3715CUSA operates at up to 1 GHz under specified thermal and voltage conditions. This peak frequency is achieved using adaptive core voltage (0.9–1.2 V) and SmartReflex™ AVS. At lower frequencies (300/600/800 MHz), the AM3715CUSA maintains full functionality while reducing power consumption - a key advantage for thermally constrained applications like handheld medical devices. The AM3715CUSA datasheet specifies OPP (Operating Performance Point) voltages for each frequency tier.

Does the AM3715CUSA include graphics acceleration hardware?

Yes, the AM3715CUSA integrates a POWERVR SGX graphics accelerator capable of up to 20 MPoly/sec. It supports OpenGLES 1.1/2.0 and OpenVG 1.0 APIs for hardware-accelerated 2D/3D rendering and vector graphics. Unlike the AM3703CUSD variant, the AM3715CUSA includes this GPU - making it suitable for UI-intensive applications such as automotive dashboards and interactive kiosks where smooth animation and layered display composition are required.

What package type does the AM3715CUSA use?

The AM3715CUSA uses a 423-pin s-PBGA package with suffix CUS and 0.65-mm ball pitch. This package has no top-side balls and is distinct from the 515-pin CBP/CBC variants. Mechanical drawings and ball maps for the CUS package are provided in TI's SPRS616F datasheet, Sections 2.1 and 2.2.1. The CUS package offers a smaller footprint than CBP/CBC, benefiting space-sensitive designs like portable terminals and compact HMIs.

Which operating systems are supported on the AM3715CUSA?

The AM3715CUSA supports Linux, Android, and Windows Embedded CE - all available free of charge from Texas Instruments. Its ARMv7-A architecture with TrustZone® and NEON SIMD ensures compatibility with standard toolchains and middleware stacks. TI provides board support packages (BSPs), kernel patches, and graphics drivers optimized for the AM3715CUSA's POWERVR SGX and ISP subsystems - enabling rapid deployment in production-grade embedded systems.

How many general-purpose I/O pins does the AM3715CUSA provide?

The AM3715CUSA provides up to 188 general-purpose I/O pins, multiplexed with other peripheral functions (e.g., UART, I²C, McSPI). These GPIOs support configurable pull-up/down, drive strength, and interrupt capability. Their allocation is documented in the CUS pin map (SPRS616F Figure 2-14 through 2-17), where specific balls (e.g., gpio_112–gpio_129) are assigned to GPIO domains with voltage domain constraints (e.g., vdd_core, vdds_mem). This flexibility enables custom peripheral bridging and sensor interfacing in industrial applications.