TriCore C library adds functional safety for VX toolset

A new C library introduced by Tasking simplifies development according to ISO 26262. The TriCore Qualified C Library (QClib) for the VX toolset simplifies the development of automotive software with regard to functional safety, said the company.

Software library qualification is required by functional safety standards because the library code is incorporated into the application and installed on the target device. A faulty library can jeopardise the functional safety of the application. Both a qualified compiler and a qualified C library must be used for the development of software that must meet functional safety requirements according to standards such as ISO 26262 or IEC 61508.

The TriCore Qualified C Library is a full-featured ISO C library that provides approximately 600 functions. Of these, about 200 functions are suitable for use in ASIL-D software, the remaining functions are qualified for use in lower level ASIL or QM software. The library can be integrated easily into existing projects, interfacing with third party operating systems, and enables the use of printf-style debugging and logging, explained Tasking.

The QClib comes with a safety manual in both human readable (pdf) and machine readable (ReqIF) formats. The ReqIF format makes it possible to automatically import the guidelines from the safety manual into the user’s requirements management system. The structure of the ReqIF file is such that all safety requirements are uniquely identifiable and allows reuse and sharing of safety analyses performed by different development teams, as well as (partial) reuse of safety analyses performed on different versions of the QClib product.

Using the Qualified C Library reduces the cost and lead time of safety related software and reduces product liability risks, claimed Tasking. The library is specifically designed for use in embedded systems and is highly optimised in terms of code size, execution speed, and accuracy of mathematical functions.
The TriCore Qualified C Library is available immediately.

Tasking provides development tools, safety and security-oriented embedded software development tools for multi-core architectures. The company is headquartered in Munich, Germany.

Its development tools are used by automotive manufacturers and suppliers, as well as in adjacent markets around the world, to realise high-performance applications in safety-critical areas.

The Tasking Embedded Software Development solutions provide an ecosystem for the entire software development process. Each Tasking compiler is designed for a certain architecture and meets the specific requirements of an industry, including automotive, industrial, telecommunications and datacomms.

http://www.tasking.com  

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Alliance Memory combines NAND flash and eMMC controller in FPGA package

Compliant With JEDEC eMMC v5.1, the ASFC16G31M-51BIN integrates NAND flash memory with an eMMC controller and flash transition layer (FTL) management software in a single 11.5 mm by 13 mm 153-ball FBGA package. The 16Gbyte industrial grade device is available from Alliance Memory.

The device for solid-state storage in consumer, industrial, and networking applications features boot operation, replay protected memory block (RPMB), device health report, field firmware updates, power-off notification, enhanced strobe features for faster and more reliable operation, write levelling, high-priority interrupt (HPI), secure trim / erase and high-speed HS200 and HS400 modes. The ASFC16G31M-51BIN is also backwards-compatible with eMMC v4.5 and v5.0. 

The eMMC can be used in smart watches, tablets, digital TVs, set-top boxes, VR and AR headsets, digital cameras, CCTV, surveillance, automation, PoS systems and emerging embedded applications. According to Alliance Memory, the ASFC16G31M-51BIN simplifies designs for fast and easy system integration in these products, speeding up product development and time to market. It also saves valuable space by eliminating the need for an external controller. The FTL software provides high reliability and stable performance with wear levelling and bad block management, the company added. 

The ASFC16G31M-51BIN operates over an industrial temperature range of -40 to +85 degrees C and offers programmable bus widths of x1, x4, and x8. The device’s NAND memory with internal LDO can be powered with a single 3V supply voltage, while the controller can be powered by 1.8 or 3V dual supply voltages. 

Samples of the eMMC are available now. Production quantities are available with lead times of 8 to 10 weeks. 

David Bagby, Alliance Memory’s president and CEO confirmed that eMMCs are a new focus product for the company. “We are making a significant investment in this product portfolio, and with further, higher-density additions we’ll be launching in Q3 2023, Alliance Memory is set to become one of the leading providers of eMMC technology,” he predicted. 

http://www.alliancememory.com 

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Impulse Embedded introduces Vecow’s workstation for rail and AIoT

The IVX-1000 is a rugged in-vehicle computing workstation by Vecow. It is designed for railway and AIoT (AI of things) / industry 4.0 applications and is available from Impulse Embedded.

The updated workstation is powered by the latest Intel 13th Gen Core i9, i7, i5, and i3 processors and has a wide, 16V to 160V DC input with 500V surge protection. The EN50155-compliant system can be used for AI-enabled in-vehicle applications such as ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems), public safety and mobile communications as well as AIoT / Industry 4.0 applications. 

The IVX-1000 has an LGA1700 CPU socket that can support Intel’s 13th and 12th Gen Core processors, (code names Alder Lake and Raptor Lake) including the high-performance 24 Core i9-13900E processor. This is a mixed core CPU, with eight Performance (P) hyper-threaded cores and eight Efficient (E) cores. The E cores can focus on background tasks, whilst the P cores run the more demanding applications uninterrupted. The IVX-1000 also features two DDR5 SO-DIMM slots supporting up to 64Gbyte of 4800MHz DDR5 memory.

There is a variety of high speed I/O such as four 10Gbits per second USB3.2 Gen2 ports and nine 2.5G Network ports, supporting TSN (time sensitive networking), for high speed edge communication standards. This allows critical information to be transmitted and acted on in real time. 

Eight of these ports feature X-coded M12 connectors to maintain and secure connection in high vibration areas. Four of the M12 ports offer PoE+, with 25.5W / 48V per port power for use with IP cameras and other PoE powered devices, advised Impulse Embedded. 

There is also an M.2 3042 B-key socket, suitable for 5G modules, one M.2 2230 E-key for Wi-Fi, and one mini PCIe slot for expansion modules. Quad display output is also standard, via two DisplayPort outputs and two HDMI ports. 

For storage, there are two SATA III ports, one mSATA connector, and one M.2. 2280 M-key (PCIe x4) socket. Some models offer removable storage via easy to access front mount caddies.

https://www.impulse-embedded.co.uk/ 

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Arduino Uno Wi-Fi variant is powered by 32bit microcontroller

Open source hardware and software provider, Arduino, has announced next generation Uno board, describing it as “a significant revision of its 8bit technology”. The Uno R4 is powered by a 32bit microcontroller and is available in a basic (Uno Ra4 Minima) and a comprehensive Uno R4 (WiFi) for different budget and creative levels of the maker community.

The Uno R4 has the same standard form factor, shield compatibility and 5V power supply of the Uno R3, with the addition of a 32bit microcontroller with up to 16x the clock speed, memory and flash storage with the integration of the RA4M1 processor from Renesas. 

The RA4M1 microcontroller is based on an Arm Cortex-M4 core and features a clock speed of 48MHz for higher processing power. To accommodate more complex projects, the Uno R4 is fitted with 32kbyte of SRAM and 256kbyte of flash memory. The Arm Cortex-M4 core features a floating point unit (FPU), boosting performance for certain applications, said Arduino. Software scalability is also supported on the new board, allowing easy upgrades for projects made with Uno R3 or Leonardo.

In response to requests from the Arduino community, the USB port has been upgraded to USB-C and the maximum power supply voltage has been increased to 24V with an improved thermal design. The board provides a CAN bus, which allows users to minimise wiring and execute different tasks in parallel by connecting multiple shields as well as two SPI and two I2C serial ports. The board also includes a 12bit DAC and operational amplifier.

The pinout, voltage and form factor are the same as for the Uno R3 to ensure maximum hardware and electrical compatibility with existing shields and projects. This also ensures the Uno R4 is a drop-in replacement.

The Uno R4 WiFi version comes with an Espressif ESP32-S3 module for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity. The bright 12×8 red LED matrix is suitable for creative projects using animations or for plotting sensor data without the need for additional display hardware. The board has a variety of compatible modules that can be connected via the Qwiic I2C connector, combined with the large ecosystem of shields for Uno already in the market and allows the creation of projects without soldering, breadboards or manual wiring. For more advanced uses, there are also additional pins to turn off the microcontroller while keeping the RTC (real time clock) powered by an external buffer battery.

For makers seeking a boost in processing power without the additional features, the Uno R4 Minima is a cost-effective option. It has HID over USB capability for makers to simulate a mouse or a keyboard to create interfaces with minimal effort.

Production of the Uno R3 will continue, said Arduino. To offer a consistent developer experience between the 8-bit Uno R3 and 32-bit Uno R4, significant efforts are being made to ensure maximum backward compatibility with existing code examples and tutorials, the company continued.

https://store.arduino.cc/pages/unor4

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