NXP packs wireless and wired connectivity into a single OrangeBox 

Wireless and wired connectivity within a vehicle, including V2X (vehicle to everything), secure car access, radio and Wi-Fi technologies, are integrated into a single connectivity domain controller.

The OrangeBox development platform simplifies access to integrated connectivity technologies through one software platform to reduce costs and streamline development, said NXP.

OrangeBox integrates a variety of NXP wireless technologies, from broadcast radio, Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth, to secure car access with Ultra-Wideband (UWB) and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and 802.11p-based V2X. It is a single, security- enhanced, modular development platform that provides a unified interface between the vehicle’s gateway and its wired and wireless technologies for V2X communications.

OrangeBox unifies current and emerging external wireless interfaces, for infotainment to advanced safety features, for example, into a single, security-enhanced connectivity domain controller, which connects to the secure vehicle gateway through NXP high-speed Ethernet. It is designed to reduce effort for development teams, while optimising the movement of data across multiple communication interfaces. Importantly, it also enables consistent security protection to be applied to all data traffic entering the car and eases the deployment of V2X and cloud applications such as over-the-air (OTA) updates for software-defined vehicles.

Designed as a modular platform, OEMs and Tier 1s can use OrangeBox to adapt to regional requirements for cellular connectivity and V2X and enable in-field updates to keep up with changing technologies, said NXP.

“By consolidating automotive wireless technologies into a centralised domain controller with a high- speed connection to the vehicle gateway, we are creating a single pathway for the vehicle to seamlessly connect to the rest of the world,” said Dan Loop, vice president and general manager for automotive edge processing, NXP. “Not only can this help to reduce costs and streamline development, it addresses a critical piece of the puzzle for data-enriched vehicles that require centralised, secure connectivity,” he added.

The central processor of the OrangeBox is an i.MX 8XLite applications processor running a unified Linux-based software platform to manage the automotive wireless connectivity. There is an NXP Gbit Ethernet connection to the central vehicle gateway to allow other automotive systems to access integrated wireless connectivity.

The OrangeBox automotive development platform is expected to be available in the first half of 2023. 

http://www.nxp.com

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Keysight introduces automated assessment for 5G smartphones

Enhancements to Keysight Technologies’ Nemo Device application test suite include automation and AI. The result enables wireless service providers and application developers to accelerate the assessment of smartphone users’ real-world interactions with native applications.

The use of mobile applications is fuelling growth in native mobile apps on smart phones to access digital content, engage on social media platforms and to participate in online games. They are gaining in popularity because they offer an optimal and customised experience compared to mobile web browsers, said Keysight Technologies.

“Service providers and mobile app developers need a reliable way to verify the real end-user experience of accessing over-the-top (OTT) applications from a smartphone connected to the cellular network,” explained Matti Passoja, head of Nemo Wireless Solutions at Keysight. The company has combined in-house software technology to create an automated app test method that uses real applications to provide accurate insights into the network performance, even under the most complex and dynamic circumstances, he added.

Keysight leveraged AI, machine learning (ML) and automation, using data captured by a native mobile app (i.e., not simulated data traffic), to create the device test app method. According to the company, this delivers a more accurate assessment of an end-user’s interaction with the same mobile app. The application test automation method enables wireless service providers to rapidly optimise 5G network performance to improve quality of experience (QoE) for smartphone users accessing OTT services and social media applications, including Facebook Messenger, Microsoft Teams, Snapchat, TikTok and Zoom.

The automated test app method is one of three complementary test methods available within Keysight’s Nemo Device Application Testing Suite. Depending on the type of the mobile application and the key performance indicators, a specific test method is used in combination with a companion Nemo field test. Nemo testing suite users receive a comprehensive, realistic and flexible 5G network performance validation and end-user QoE assessment.

Keysight’s Nemo test tools capture real measurement data in the field for real-time or post-process analysis. These test tools include Nemo Outdoor 5G NR Drive test, Nemo Backpack Pro 5G In-Building Benchmarking and Nemo Network Benchmarking.

http://www.keysight.com

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IAR Systems supports Si-Five RISC-V for automotive

Support for SiFive’s automotive products by IAR Systems continues with the IAR Embedded Workbench for RISC-V for the SiFive Automotive E6-A and S7-A series. These processors address automotive applications such as infotainment, connectivity and ADAS. 

The development toolchain helps embedded software developers make full use of the energy efficiency, simplicity, security and flexibility that RISC-V offers, said IAR Systems.

RISC-V uses a single instruction set architecture (ISA) across all product offerings which increases code portability and can contribute to reduced cost and time-to-market for automotive applications. The SiFive automotive processor families feature options that enable both area and performance optimisation for different integrity levels such as ASIL B, ASIL D or mixed criticalities with split-lock, in line with ISO26262. 

SiFive’s E6-A series is aimed at a variety of real-time, 32-bit applications, from system control to hardware security modules (HSMs) and safety islands, and of course standalone in microcontrollers. The S7-A series is a 64-bit, high-performance real-time core for SoCs with performant safety islands, requiring both low latency interrupt support and the same 64-bit memory space visibility as the main application CPUs.

IAR Embedded Workbench for RISC-V is a complete development toolchain including the IAR C/C++ Compiler and comprehensive debugger. Customers can generate compact-sized code for automotive applications because the tools come with a comprehensive safety offering. The functional safety edition of IAR Embedded Workbench for RISC-V is certified by TÜV SÜD according to the requirements of functional safety standards including ISO 26262 and IEC 61508. To ensure code quality for automotive applications, the seamlessly integrated C-STAT tool for static code analysis proves code alignment with industry standards like MISRA C:2012, MISRA C++:2008 and MISRA C:2004.

“IAR Systems is a proactive member of the RISC-V community. Our close relationship with SiFive enables us to provide support for their latest CPU IP”, said Anders Holmberg, CTO of IAR Systems. 

Customers using IAR Embedded Workbench for RISC-V benefit from IAR Systems’ guaranteed support for the sold version for the duration of the support contract, validated service packs, and regular reports of known deviations and problems. 

http://www.iar.com

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Taiwan Semiconductor offers alternative source for automotive-grade LDO regulators

Integrated AEC-Q100 qualified low dropout regulators (LDOs) require minimal external parts count and are offered in four configurations in heat-spreading SOP-8EP and TSSOP-14EP packages by Taiwan Semiconductor.

The TQL8xx family offers manufacturers a reliable alternative source for the critical linear regulators used in battery-driven automotive functions, including dashboard, cluster, climate control, fuel pump and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). The regulators are suited for secondary supply applications where a regulated output is essential during very low-cranking voltage conditions. 

They are designed for stability in automotive battery-connect applications. They maintain two per cent accuracy over a wide range of input voltages and a full operating temperature range of -40 to +125 degrees C. They are offered in models with fixed outputs of 3.3V or 5.V and feature typical dropout voltages of 70 to 80mV at IO=100mA.  

The TQL8xx family’s four package configurations are the SOP-8EP package with ignition enable pin (only), the SOP-8EP-package with enable, reset and watchdog output; and reset threshold adjustment, the TSSOP-14EP package with enable, reset and watchdog output and reset threshold adjustment, finally there is the TSSOP-14EP package with enable, watchdog monitor input; watchdog output, reset threshold adjustment and program timing adjustment.

The AEC-qualifies devices are manufactured in-house and provide a viable alternate source for high-demand devices, commented Sam Wang, Taiwan Semiconductor’s vice president, products. 

Available design resources include comprehensive datasheets and spice models for each component in the series.

Taiwan Semiconductor’s expanded product portfolio includes trench Schottky’s, MOSFETs, power transistors, LED driver ICs, analogue ICs and ESD protection devices. Production facilities are located in China and Taiwan. They are fully compliant with current automotive and environmental standards such as IATF16949, ISO9001 and ISO14001.

Taiwan Semiconductor products are used in an array of applications in the electronics industry including automotive, computer, consumer, industrial, telecomms and photovoltaic. 

http://wwwtscus.com

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