Texas Instruments OMAP3525DCBCA

Overview

OMAP3525DCBCA from Texas Instruments is a 515-pin s-PBGA applications processor featuring an ARM Cortex-A8 core (up to 720 MHz), a C64x+ DSP core (up to 520 MHz), and integrated IVA2.2 multimedia acceleration. It supports Linux, Android, and Windows CE, and delivers hardware-accelerated video encode/decode, camera ISP, display subsystem with dual LCD/TV output, and SmartReflex power management - deployed in portable media players and digital video cameras.

For engineers reviewing the OMAP3525DCBCA datasheet, OMAP3525DCBCA pinout, OMAP3525DCBCA application, or OMAP3525DCBCA equivalent, key selection criteria include its 515-ball CBC-package pin compatibility, discrete memory interface (no POP), absence of PowerVR SGX graphics (vs. OMAP3530), and confirmed support for BT.656/BT.601 camera input, S-Video/NTSC/PAL output, and MMC/SDIO v2.0 interfaces.

Technical Context

The OMAP3525DCBCA implements a heterogeneous dual-core architecture: the ARM Cortex-A8 handles OS execution and application logic under ARMv7, while the C64x+ DSP offloads real-time imaging, audio, and video processing via dedicated EDMA channels and L1/L2 memory hierarchy. Its IVA2.2 subsystem integrates programmable video accelerators for H.264/MPEG-4 encode/decode and JPEG compression.

System-level integration includes a 256-KB L2 cache, 112-KB ROM, 64-KB on-chip SRAM, GPMC for NAND/NOR/SRAM, SDRC for LPDDR/SDRAM, three high-speed MMC/SDIO controllers, five McBSPs (two with sidetone), four McSPI ports, USB OTG + multiport host, and dual 10-bit DACs for composite video output - all managed by SmartReflex AVS for adaptive voltage scaling.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

OMAP3525DCBCA uses a 515-ball s-PBGA package (CBC variant) with 0.5-mm pitch on top, 0.4-mm pitch on bottom. This package omits POP interface pins and supports full GPMC (8 chip-selects, 4 wait pins), unlike CUS. Pin functions are multiplexed across 188 GPIOs, with dedicated balls for SDRC, GPMC, MMC, McBSP, McSPI, USB, UART, I²C, DAC, and debug interfaces.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with OMAP3530DCBB, OMAP3525DCBCA removes PowerVR SGX to reduce cost and power, making it optimal for non-3D media and imaging applications; versus i.MX535CJM8A, it integrates analog video and camera interfaces that avoid external components but trades off raw CPU clock speed and DDR bandwidth.

Availability

OMAP3525DCBCA is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for portable media players, digital video cameras, and point-of-sale terminals requiring stable component supply, long-lifecycle support, and industrial-grade temperature operation.

Supply support for OMAP3525DCBCA 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 leader specializing in analog, embedded processing, and connectivity solutions for industrial, automotive, and consumer markets.

The OMAP3525 is part of TI's OMAP™ 3 family, designed specifically for portable multimedia and imaging devices requiring balanced CPU/DSP performance, low-power video acceleration, and integrated analog I/O - targeting Android/Linux-based handhelds with camera and display subsystems.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency of the ARM Cortex-A8 core in OMAP3525DCBCA?

The ARM Cortex-A8 core in OMAP3525DCBCA operates at up to 720 MHz under recommended conditions. This frequency is validated for commercial and extended temperature grades and enables efficient execution of Android 2.x and Linux kernel workloads while maintaining thermal compliance in handheld enclosures. The actual sustained frequency depends on SmartReflex AVS settings and board-level thermal design.

Does OMAP3525DCBCA support PowerVR SGX graphics acceleration?

No, OMAP3525DCBCA does not include the PowerVR SGX graphics accelerator. That feature is exclusive to the OMAP3530 variant. OMAP3525DCBCA retains full IVA2.2 video acceleration (encode/decode, JPEG, resize) and display subsystem capabilities but omits 3D rendering hardware - reducing silicon area, power consumption, and bill-of-materials cost where OpenGL ES is not required.

What camera interfaces are supported by OMAP3525DCBCA?

OMAP3525DCBCA supports parallel BT.601 (8-bit) and BT.656 (10-bit) camera interfaces directly through its integrated ISP. It accepts raw CMOS/CCD sensor output with embedded sync (HS/VS/FLD), processes it with hardware demosaic, white balance, and gamma correction, and outputs preview or encoded frames via EDMA to memory - eliminating need for external image preprocessor ICs.

What memory types does the GPMC interface of OMAP3525DCBCA support?

The GPMC in OMAP3525DCBCA supports NOR flash, NAND flash (with Hamming ECC), SRAM, pseudo-SRAM, and FPGA/CPLD glueless interfacing. It provides eight chip-select pins (gpmc_ncs0–gpmc_ncs7), four wait inputs, and flexible protocol control - enabling boot from NAND, firmware storage in NOR, and expansion memory mapping without external logic.

Is OMAP3525DCBCA pin-compatible with OMAP3530DCBB?

OMAP3525DCBCA (CBC package) and OMAP3530DCBB (CBB package) share identical pin counts (515) and ball pitch (0.5 mm top / 0.4 mm bottom), but differ in pin assignments and signal availability - e.g., CBB supports POP interface and has different UART/McBSP muxing. They are not drop-in replacements; PCB redesign is required to migrate between them due to incompatible pin maps and feature enablement.