Building Automation System Controller Reference Design Using AM335x Based System in Package Part 1: Design Requirements and Baseboard Overview

Calvin Slater Climatec Contributing Editor

Part 1: Design Requirements and Baseboard Overview

Building Automation System Controllers are flexible, multi-purpose, freely programmable embedded devices that can be found in a variety of HVAC, lighting, and security applications within a building. These devices perform a variety of tasks including monitoring and control of chiller and boiler plants, pumps, valves, fans, lights, indoor air quality, electric metering, occupancy detection and access control. In many cases these devices are not application specific. A Building Automation System Controller being used on one piece of equipment can be reconfigured or reprogrammed to control something else that is completely different! The OSD335x family of System-in-Package products featuring the AM335x provides an excellent foundation for the design of an Open-Hardware Building Automation System Controller. This is the first of four in a series of technical application notes for building a reference design using the OSD335x-SM.

For more introductory background, please see the blog article Open-Hardware Building Automation System Controller Reference Design Using AM335x Based System in Package

Figure 1 Building Automation System Controllers are Found in Multiple Applications

Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Background
3. Idea for Open Hardware Building Automation System Controller
4. Board Features
5. Design Objectives
6. Board Layout
6.1 Eliminating the Need for a Separate SOM
6.2 Using the Octavo Systems OSD3358-SM-RED as a Reference
7. About our Guest Author
8. Revision History
 
A PDF version of this App Note can be found here.