Texas Instruments DK-LM3S9B96-FS8

Overview

DK-LM3S9B96-FS8 from Texas Instruments is a plug-in expansion board designed to extend the External Peripheral Interface (EPI) of the Stellaris LM3S9B96 development kit with additional Flash memory, SRAM, and an enhanced LCD interface. It provides 1 MB of parallel NOR Flash and 512 KB of low-power SRAM, supports QVGA (320×240) color LCD operation with latch-based timing control, and interfaces directly via the DK-LM3S9B96's 32-bit EPI bus operating at up to 40 MHz.

For engineers reviewing the DK-LM3S9B96-FS8 datasheet, DK-LM3S9B96-FS8 pinout, DK-LM3S9B96-FS8 application, or DK-LM3S9B96-FS8 equivalent, this board enables memory-constrained embedded applications requiring deterministic real-time access to external code/data storage and high-fidelity graphical display-especially in industrial HMI, prototyping of Cortex-M3-based Ethernet/USB/CAN systems, and firmware validation workflows.

Technical Context

The DK-LM3S9B96-FS8 operates as a passive, synchronous peripheral on the LM3S9B96's External Peripheral Interface (EPI), using EPI address lines A0–A20, data lines D0–D15, and dedicated control signals including EPI_nCS, EPI_nRD, EPI_nWR, and EPI_nWAIT. It implements two independent memory regions mapped into the microcontroller's EPI address space: one for Flash (0x60000000–0x600FFFFF) and one for SRAM (0x60100000–0x6017FFFF).

Its hardware design includes a 16-bit-wide NOR Flash (SST39VF1601C) and a 16-bit-wide low-power SRAM (IS61LV51216), both accessed through identical EPI timing parameters: tACC ≤ 70 ns, tCYC ≥ 100 ns, and tAS ≥ 25 ns. The board also integrates an LCD latch register (address 0x60180000) that controls display enable, polarity, and frame synchronization for the DK-LM3S9B96's QVGA panel.

Key Specifications

Availability

DK-LM3S9B96-FS8 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial HMI prototyping, Cortex-M3-based Ethernet gateway development, and embedded firmware validation requiring deterministic external memory access and QVGA display support.

Supply support for DK-LM3S9B96-FS8 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 headquartered in Dallas, Texas, specializing in analog, embedded processing, and connectivity technologies for industrial, automotive, and communications markets.

The DK-LM3S9B96-FS8 belongs to TI's Stellaris development ecosystem and was engineered to expand memory and display capabilities of the LM3S9B96 Tempest-class MCU platform-specifically targeting rapid firmware iteration, graphics-enabled evaluation, and EPI interface validation in resource-constrained embedded designs.

FAQ

What is the primary function of the DK-LM3S9B96-FS8 expansion board?

The DK-LM3S9B96-FS8 is a hardware add-on board that extends the External Peripheral Interface (EPI) of the Stellaris LM3S9B96 development kit with 1 MB of parallel NOR Flash and 512 KB of low-power SRAM. It also provides an enhanced LCD interface via a dedicated latch register, enabling precise timing control for the 320×240 QVGA color touchscreen. The DK-LM3S9B96-FS8 does not contain a processor or firmware-it functions solely as a memory and display peripheral under control of the host LM3S9B96 microcontroller.

Which microcontroller and development platform is the DK-LM3S9B96-FS8 designed for?

The DK-LM3S9B96-FS8 is exclusively designed for use with the Texas Instruments Stellaris LM3S9B96 Development Kit (DK-LM3S9B96). It connects directly to the board's EPI expansion header and relies on the LM3S9B96's integrated EPI controller for address decoding, timing generation, and data transfer. It is not compatible with other Stellaris kits (e.g., DK-LM3S8962) or non-Tempest-class MCUs due to EPI signal mapping, voltage levels, and memory map dependencies defined in the DK-LM3S9B96-FS8 hardware design.

Does the DK-LM3S9B96-FS8 require separate power or configuration jumpers?

No-the DK-LM3S9B96-FS8 draws all operating power (3.3 V) from the DK-LM3S9B96 main board via the EPI connector and requires no external supply or user-configurable jumpers. Its memory regions and LCD latch are accessed through fixed EPI address ranges (Flash: 0x60000000–0x600FFFFF; SRAM: 0x60100000–0x6017FFFF; latch: 0x60180000), and no hardware configuration is needed beyond mounting it onto the DK-LM3S9B96's EPI header with the included standoffs and screws. The DK-LM3S9B96-FS8 operates immediately upon boot when EPI is enabled in firmware.

How is the LCD interface enhanced by the DK-LM3S9B96-FS8 compared to the base DK-LM3S9B96 board?

The DK-LM3S9B96-FS8 adds a dedicated 32-bit LCD latch register (mapped at 0x60180000) that provides direct hardware control over critical display timing signals: LCD_EN (enable), POL (polarity), and FRM (frame sync). This eliminates software-timed GPIO toggling used on the base board and enables stable, jitter-free QVGA refresh at full frame rate. The DK-LM3S9B96-FS8's latch synchronizes with the EPI clock domain, allowing deterministic pixel data transfers and eliminating visible tearing or flicker during dynamic UI updates.

Can the DK-LM3S9B96-FS8 be used alongside other EPI expansion boards like the FPGA or EM2 boards?

No-only one EPI expansion board can be installed on the DK-LM3S9B96 at a time, as they share the same physical EPI connector and overlapping address space. The DK-LM3S9B96-FS8 occupies the full EPI interface and disables onboard peripherals such as SDRAM and I2S audio when installed. Texas Instruments explicitly states in the User's Manual that EPI expansion boards-including DK-LM3S9B96-FS8, DK-LM3S9B96-FPGA, and DK-LM3S9B96-EM2-are mutually exclusive options requiring physical removal and reinstallation to switch functionality.