Infineon adds support for AutoSAR v4.4.0 to Aurix software

Support for AutoSARv4.4.0 extend the Aurix TC3xx MCAL support already available from Infineon Technologies. This expansion adds ASIL D and SIL-2 compliant drivers to support AUTOSARv4.4.0.

For ASIL D applications, the MC-ISAR TC3xx roadmap has been updated to also provide ASIL D compliant drivers. With the upcoming Maintenance Release 2.25.0, the driver will include ASIL D compliant software products. Support for IEC 61508 SIL-2 will be provided with Release 2.30.0. The latest release aims at AutoSAR applications in all automotive domains, including engine, chassis, safety, and body. It also applies to commercial agricultural vehicles (CAV), industrial and marine applications, Infineon noted.

According to the company, the biggest advantage of the MC-ISAR AS440 EXT TC3xx is its support for the latest standards, eliminating the need for additional drivers for ASIL D argumentation. It facilitates software partitioning and provides more flexibility by allowing the driver to run in an ASIL D domain, simplifying system-level security argumentation. Developers can therefore work with a production-ready driver with a qualification and safety certification that is ASIL D compliant, helping to avoid systematic failures. In addition, the driver offers ISO 21434 support for continuous monitoring. 

Infineon’s partners further assist developers with additional services and support.

The listed AutoSARv4.4.0 MCAL software packages is provided with MC-ISAR Basic drivers enabled (MCU,DIO, ICU, GPT, PWM , SPI , ADC, WDG, OCU, FLS, FEE, CAN, CanTrcv, LIN, BFX, CRC).

Another driver is the MC-ISAR Com Enhanced (FlexRay, Ethernet). Infineon also provides the MC-ISAR MCD MCAL complex driver – 11 complex drivers in addition to the standard AutoSAR drivers (DMA, FLSloader, UART, DS-ADC, SMU Safety Management Unit, DEMOCD: HSSL, SENT, I²C, IOM I/O Monitoring, STM System Timer, IRQ Interrupt Request).

In addition, the software packages include important features like AutoSAR BFX and CRC library, ASPICE L2, ASIL D process for FFI, MISRA 2012 change 1 (CERT-C) compliance (AUTOSARv4.4.0), and ISO 21434 support for continuous monitoring.

The key ASIL D compliant drivers with IEC 61508 SIL-2 support will be available from mid-2023. 

http://www.infineon.com

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u-blox and Tallysman Wireless collaborate on augmented smart antennas

As part of a design partnership between u-blox and Tallysman Wireless, the ZED-F9R GNSS and NEO-D9S L-band receivers will be integrated with Tallysman’s Accutenna technology in the next generation PointPerfect augmented smart GNSS PPP-RTK augmented smart antennas. 

The PointPerfect GNSS augmentation service is now available in North America, Europe, and parts of Asia Pacific.

“The TW5390 solution offers users high-precision with rapid convergence times, access to precise, reliable, and easy to use PointPerfect PPP-RTK GNSS augmentation data. The result is centimetre-level accuracy in seconds on a continental scale for exceptional precision,” said Christopher Russell, Tallysman’s vice president of sales. The design partners expect to integrate the antenna and receiver technologies 

The multi-band (L1/L2 or L1/L5) architecture removes ionospheric errors and the multi-stage enhanced XF filtering improves noise immunity while relying on the dual feed Tallysman Accutenna element mitigates multi-path signal interference rejection. Some versions of the smart antenna solutions include an inertial measurement unit (IMU) for dead reckoning and an integrated L-band corrections receiver to ensure operation beyond terrestrial network reach.

“Tallysman and u-blox offer a turnkey silicon-to-cloud solution since PointPerfect is already pre-integrated with u-blox ZED-F9R and NEO-D9S high-precision GNSS modules. Our intuitive cloud platform provides a self-serve environment from which users have autonomy to manage IoT device fleets. This eliminates complexities and allows users to engage more efficiently and reduce time-to-market,” said Franco de Lorenzo, principal product owner, services at u-blox. 

u-blox provides positioning and wireless communication in automotive, industrial, and consumer markets. Its services and products let people, vehicles, and machines determine their precise position and communicate wirelessly over cellular and short range networks. The company has a broad portfolio of chips, modules and secure data services and connectivity to develop solutions for the IoT, quickly and cost-effectively. It has headquarters in Thalwil, Switzerland with offices in Europe, Asia, and the USA. 

http://www.u-blox.com

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Cadence introduces tools for Arm TCS23 for a fast path to tapeout

Cadence has finetuned its RTL-to-GDS digital flow and delivered corresponding 3nm and 5nm rapid adoption kits (RAKs) for Arm Cortex-X4, Cortex-A720 and Cortex-A520 CPUs and Immortalis-G720, Mali-G720 and Mali-G620 GPUs.

This part of Cadence Design Systems’ expanding collaboration with Arm to advance mobile device silicon, providing customers with a faster path to tapeout through the use of Cadence digital and verification tools and the new Arm Total Compute Solutions 2023 (TCS23) for the cores and GPUs.

Cadence delivered comprehensive RTL-to-GDS digital flow RAKs for 3nm and 5nm nodes to help customers achieve power and performance goals using the new Arm TCS23. The Cadence tools optimised for the new Arm TCS23 include the Cadence Cerebrus Intelligent Chip Explorer, Genus Synthesis, Modus DFT software, Innovus implementation system, Quantus extraction, Tempus timing signoff and ECO Option, Voltus IC Power Integrity, conformal equivalence checking and conformal low power. Cadence Cerebrus provided Arm with AI-driven design optimisation capabilities that resulted in 50 per cent better timing, a 10 per cent reduction in cell area and 27 per cent improved leakage power on the Cortex-X4 CPU, empowering Arm to achieve power, performance and area (PPA) targets faster, reported Cadence.

The digital RAKs provide Arm TCS23 users with benefits, for example the AI-driven Cadence Cerebrus automates and scales digital chip design, providing customers with improved productivity versus a manual, iterative approach. Cadence iSpatial technology provides an integrated implementation flow, offering improved predictability and PPA, leading to faster design closure. The RAKs also incorporate a smart hierarchy flow that enables accelerated turnaround times on large, high-performance CPUs. The Tempus ECO Option, which provides path-based analysis, is integrated into the flow for signoff-accurate, final design closure. Finally, the RAKs use the GigaOpt activity-aware power optimisation engine, incorporated with the Innovus implementation system and the Genus Synthesis to dramatically reduce dynamic power consumption.

Arm used the Cadence verification flow to validate the Cortex-X4, Cortex-A720 and Cortex-A520 CPU-based and Immortalis-G720, Mali-G720 and Mali-G620 GPU-based mobile reference platforms. The Cadence verification flow supports Arm TCS23 and includes the Cadence Xcelium logic simulation platform, Palladium Z1 and Z2 Enterprise emulation platforms, Helium Virtual and Hybrid Studio, JasperÒ formal verification platform and Verisium Manager planning and coverage closure tools.

The Cadence verification flow lets Arm TCS23 users improve overall verification throughput and leverage advanced software debug capabilities. Cadence also validated that Cadence Perspec system verifier, VIP and System VIP tools all support TCS23-based designs to enable customers to accelerate time to market when assembling TCS23-based SoCs. The virtual and hybrid platform reference designs include the Arm Fast Models to enable early software development and verification through the Cadence Helium Studio as well as the Cadence Palladium and Protium platforms, also known as the dynamic duo.

The Cadence digital and verification flows support the Cadence Intelligent System Design strategy, which enables customers to achieve SoC design excellence. 

http://www.cadence.com 

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Renesas adds three motor control MCU groups drawn from multiple families

Targeting motor control applications, Renesas Electronics has introduced three microcontroller (MCU) groups, including devices from its RX and RA families.

There are two new MCU groups from the RA family of Arm Cortex-M devices. The RA4T1 Group delivers 100MHz performance with up to 256kbyte of flash and 40kbyte SRAM. The MCUs are based around 100MHz Arm Cortex-M33 CPU cores with TrustZone and have integrated flash memory options from 128kbyte to 256kbyte and 40kbyte SRAM. In addition to an integrated trigonometric function unit as a hardware accelerator, they feature integrated analogue functions, including 12bit ADC, PGA, comparator and 12bit DAC. The MCUs are available in 32- to 64-pin packages options.

The second addition is the RA6T3 Group which offers 200MHz operating frequency and provides 256kbyte of flash and 40kbyte SRAM. These are based around a 200MHz Arm Cortex-M33 CPU core with TrustZone and have integrated flash memory of 256kbyte and 40kbyte SRAM.  They have the same analogue functions as the RA4T1 Group and integrated communications options including USB 2.0, CAN FD, I3C, SCI and SPI. They are available in package options from 32- to 64-pin.

Both new groups offer features and functions specifically for motor control applications, including trigonometric function units (TFUs) for acceleration, advanced ADC with integrated PGA (programmable gain amplifier), with a choice of communication interfaces including CAN FD. 

The MCUs are supported by the Renesas Flexible Software Package (FSP) to allow designers to port designs from other RA family devices.

Another introduction is the RX26T Group of MCUs from the RX family operating at 120MHz with up to 512kbyte of flash memory and 64kbyte SRAM. Renesas claimed that it has industry-leading real-time performance of 120MHz with no-wait flash memory access. The MCUs support 5.0V power supplies with high noise immunity and control accuracy, added Renesas. They also provide TFUs, on-chip timing, and interrupt control. Designers using Renesas’ RX24T MCUs can scale designs to the RX26T devices to take advantage of existing design software while realising performance and control efficiency improvements, said Renesas. 

All of the new MCUs are available now and supported by Renesas’ Flexible Motor Control development kit that enables easy evaluation of motor control using permanent magnet synchronous motors (brushless DC motors), and the Renesas Motor Workbench development tool.

http://www.renesas.com 

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