STMICROELECTRONICS has released new automotive microcontrollers that promise to enhance the safety of smart vehicles.
The new SPC57 microprocessors build on the 32-bit Power Architecture SPC5 microprocessor platform, targeting cost-sensitive automotive systems that must meet stringent safety requirements up to the highest ISO26262 ASIL-D Automotive Safety Integrity Level.
The new microcontrollers are system-on-chip (SoC) devices designed to meet the challenges of entry-level vehicle safety-critical applications, including airbags, ABS (Anti-lock Braking Systems) in cars and motorcycles, power steering, and DC/DC converters/inverters for Hybrid/Electric Vehicles.
With increasing integration of electronic and digital technology in cars and other automotive applications, it is essential that key functions are protected against random failures – even a single cosmic ray can flip a bit in a memory cell, potential causing failure.
ST’s SPC57 devices are specifically designed to address this challenge, by controlling vehicle functions like steering and braking to the highest levels of safety compliance, while providing low-cost development paths.
"Safety is a key driver of developments in the automotive industry and therefore also of the underlying semiconductor technology that is making cars safer and greener," said Luca Rodeschini, Director Strategic Business Development and Microcontroller Business Unit, Automotive and Discrete Product Group, STMicroelectronics.
The SPC57 family is built with 55nm automotive technology, and has clock speeds up to 80MHz. It is also supported by a full-featured, low-cost tool chain that is compatible with the existing development infrastructure of current Power Architecture devices, enabling rapid development of new cost-effective, safety-critical automotive systems.