Motorola's 32-bit Reference Design Simplifies Development of Fingerprint Recognition Systems

Reference Design Provides Software and Tools to Integrate MCF5249 ColdFire(R) Microprocessor With Fingerprint Sensors for Security Applications

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov 4, 2002 -- The growing market for fingerprint recognition devices is spurring manufacturers to find ways to cut costs, simplify design and bring products to market faster. Used in an increasing number of security applications such as ATM machines, door entry, desktop access, airports and gun safety locks, fingerprint recognition technology demands power and reliability from its underlying microprocessor core. A new fingerprint recognition reference design being introduced by Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) meets all these requirements, making it easier for designers to incorporate the proven 32-bit ColdFire MCF5249 microprocessor (MPU) into biometric devices.

Second in a series of application-specific reference designs based on Motorola's ColdFire architecture, this design includes application notes, design schematics and software.

The market for biometric devices - implementing technologies that identify a person by physiological or behavioral characteristics - is growing as governments, corporations and individuals place more emphasis on security. The total market for biometric revenues, including law enforcement and large-scale public sector usage, is expected to grow to $2 billion by 2005, according to New York- based biometric consulting firm International Biometric Group (IBG), LLC. As one of the primary forms of biometrics, fingerprint recognition is used in diverse applications including PC/network access, e-commerce, cell phones, car entry and security checkpoints.

"Motorola has a long history supporting security technologies from surveillance cameras to bar code scanners and biometric devices," said Dr. Franz Fink, general manager for Motorola's 32-bit embedded controller division. "Our goal with this reference design is to eliminate months of painstaking design and help security companies get their products to market faster."

Fingerprint recognition works by comparing a fingerprint scan against a database of previously stored fingerprint templates. These systems can be stand-alone for restricted access areas or networked with many scanning areas and a central hub of information, such as in an airport. At the most basic level, the systems include a sensor, a microprocessor, a user interface, and a memory to store the templates.

The reference design provides a detailed explanation of methods for connecting the fingerprint sensor to the ColdFire MCF5249 MPU. The design includes initialization and driver software, as well as Acter AG's fingerprint recognition software, which manufacturers can license directly from Acter AG. The ColdFire MPU also comes equipped with interfaces for various memory types including SDRAM, Flash, hard disk and smart memory, which allow the design to be implemented using different template storage methods.

ColdFire MPU Fingerprint Recognition Reference Design Features Based on the ColdFire MCF5249 integrated microprocessor, the reference design is offered to enable customers to lower costs and decrease time-to- market for fingerprint recognition applications. The MCF5249 MPU is ideal for any application that requires significant control processing for file management, signal processing and data buffering, as does a fingerprint recognition device and/or system.

Key features of the ColdFire MCF5249 Microprocessor include:

-- 125 (Dhrystone 2.1) MIPS at 140 MHz
-- 96 Kbyte Static Random Access Memory (SRAM)
-- Enhanced Multiply and Accumulate (eMAC) unit
-- 8Kbyte instruction cache
-- Hardware integer divide unit
-- Industry-leading debug module offering both background and real-time capability
-- Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM) controller
-- Two independent UARTs
-- Two I2C interfaces
-- Queued Serial Peripheral Interface (QSPI)
-- 12-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC)
-- Two independent 16-bit timers
-- 16-bit general purpose I/Os
-- Flash media interface
-- IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) Interface
-- Low power consumption: 1.8V core, 3.3V I/O
-- 160-pin MAPBGA package

The fingerprint recognition reference design features several free reference materials:

-- Descriptive explanation of methods for interfacing a fingerprint sensor to the MCF5249 processor
-- Initialization and driver software
-- Design schematics and an applications note detailing hardware development

The fingerprint recognition software is not free and can be licensed directly from Acter AG.

About ColdFire Integrated Microprocessors
The variable-length RISC ColdFire architecture is designed to give Motorola customers greater flexibility to lower memory and system costs. ColdFire cores combine the architectural simplicity of conventional 32-bit RISC with memory saving, variable-length instruction sets. Because instructions can be 16-, 32- or 48-bits long, code is packed tighter in memory resulting in better code density than traditional 32- and 64-bit RISC machines. More efficient use of on-chip memory reduces bus bandwidth and the external memory required, which can result in lower system cost. The ColdFire product portfolio offers a versatile mix of performance, price, integration and debugging capabilities for embedded systems designers, and is supported by a wide variety of development tools from Motorola and independent suppliers.

Price and Availability
The documentation, driver and example system software for the ColdFire MCF5249 MPU fingerprint recognition reference design is available now for download from Motorola's website. This service, free to registered users, can be accessed by visiting www.motorola.com/ColdFire.

The M5249C3 evaluation platform, available for purchase from Motorola for a suggested retail price of $649 (USD), provides an excellent foundation upon which to implement the reference design.

About Motorola
As the world's #1 producer of embedded processors, Motorola's Semiconductor Products Sector creates DigitalDNA(TM) system-on- chip solutions for a connected world. Our strong focus on wireless communications and networking enables customers to develop smarter, simpler, faster and synchronized products for the person, work team, home and automobile. Motorola's worldwide semiconductor sales were $4.9 billion (USD) in 2001. www.motorola.com/semiconductors

Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) is a global leader in providing integrated communications and embedded electronic solutions. Sales in 2001 were $30 billion. For more information, please visit: www.motorola.com

MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners.