Microchip Technology AT91CAP9A-NA-UWB-EK

Overview

AT91CAP9A-NA-UWB-EK from Atmel is a development kit for the ARM926EJ-S-based CAP9A customizable microcontroller, integrating an Altera Stratix II FPGA (500K ASIC gate equivalent) and supporting 1.8V/3.3V memory options. It includes motherboard, mezzanine, and memory extension boards for parallel hardware/software co-development targeting embedded control, industrial automation, and custom logic prototyping.

For engineers reviewing the AT91CAP9A-NA-UWB-EK datasheet, AT91CAP9A-NA-UWB-EK pinout, AT91CAP9A-NA-UWB-EK application, or AT91CAP9A-NA-UWB-EK equivalent, this kit enables early functional validation of metal-programmable ASIC designs before silicon tape-out, with full USB, Ethernet, SD/MMC, CAN, audio, and LCD-Touch interface support.

Technical Context

The AT91CAP9A-NA-UWB-EK implements a fixed ARM926EJ-S microcontroller core paired with a reconfigurable FPGA fabric for user-defined logic emulation. Its architecture supports real-time hardware/software co-simulation at near-operational speeds using on-board peripherals including DBGU serial, AC97/I2S audio codecs, and 100BASE-T Ethernet PHY.

This kit uses a standardized motherboard shared across CAP family kits, with variant-specific mezzanine (CAP9A) and memory extension boards. The FPGA is configured via JTAG and supports partial reconfiguration, enabling iterative logic updates without full system reset.

Key Specifications

Availability

AT91CAP9A-NA-UWB-EK is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial automation prototyping, embedded HMI development, and custom logic validation requiring stable component supply and long-term toolchain continuity.

Supply support for AT91CAP9A-NA-UWB-EK 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

Atmel Corporation (now part of Microchip Technology) is a semiconductor manufacturer specializing in microcontrollers, FPGA-integrated SoCs, and embedded development tools for industrial, automotive, and consumer applications.

The CAP product family was designed to bridge ASIC development risk by combining hardened ARM cores with high-density FPGA fabric - enabling pre-silicon functional verification and rapid iteration of custom logic blocks.

FAQ

What is the primary purpose of the AT91CAP9A-NA-UWB-EK development kit?

The AT91CAP9A-NA-UWB-EK is a complete hardware platform for developing and validating custom logic implementations on the CAP9A customizable microcontroller. It allows engineers to emulate metal-programmable ASIC behavior using its integrated Altera Stratix II FPGA before committing to final silicon, reducing time-to-market and design risk. The AT91CAP9A-NA-UWB-EK supports full co-development of firmware and hardware logic in parallel.

Does the AT91CAP9A-NA-UWB-EK include all required boards for operation?

Yes, the AT91CAP9A-NA-UWB-EK includes three essential boards: the common CAP motherboard, the CAP9A mezzanine board (featuring the ARM926EJ-S core and Stratix II FPGA), and a memory extension board supporting either 1.8V or 3.3V memory configurations. No additional baseboards are needed to begin development with the AT91CAP9A-NA-UWB-EK.

Which FPGA configuration tools are supported for the AT91CAP9A-NA-UWB-EK?

The AT91CAP9A-NA-UWB-EK uses an Altera Stratix II FPGA programmed via JTAG using standard Quartus II software. Configuration bitstreams can be loaded directly through the onboard JTAG header, and partial reconfiguration is supported for iterative logic updates. The AT91CAP9A-NA-UWB-EK does not require proprietary toolchains beyond standard Altera development environments.

Can the AT91CAP9A-NA-UWB-EK be used for CAN bus development?

Yes, the AT91CAP9A-NA-UWB-EK includes a dedicated CAN bus interface on the motherboard, enabling direct connection to CAN networks for protocol testing, node simulation, and embedded control validation. This interface is accessible through standard CAN transceiver circuitry and is fully supported in Atmel's CAP9A software drivers and example projects for the AT91CAP9A-NA-UWB-EK.

Is the LCD display on the AT91CAP9A-NA-UWB-EK touchscreen-enabled?

Yes, the AT91CAP9A-NA-UWB-EK integrates a 3.5-inch QVGA (320×240) LCD with a resistive touch panel and dedicated touch screen controller. Drivers and calibration utilities are provided in the CAP9A software suite, allowing immediate GUI development and human-machine interface testing without external components. The display is fully operational out-of-box with the AT91CAP9A-NA-UWB-EK.