[October 15, 2014]

Renesas Electronics Drives Improved Safety for Automotive Chassis Systems Requiring ASIL D Safety Standards

Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE:6723), a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions, is easing safety design complexities for automotive chassis systems with a new leading-edge series of microcontrollers (MCUs) certified to ASIL D standards. The RH850/P1x Series of 32-bit MCUs features the world's first automotive chassis MCUs that utilize a 40nm process. Combining the 40nm process with its unique MONOS flash memory structure, Renesas offers an innovative solution for electrical power steering (EPS), brake systems, and other chassis systems, delivering reduced power consumption, and more efficient functional safety system development in chassis systems.

"Designing for automotive safety is becoming more complex, particularly in chassis systems for mission-critical steering and braking control. Today, most chassis systems are now required to meet ASIL D¹ - the highest safety level under the ISO 26262 functional safety standard for automobiles - which adds more time, expertise, and resource demands to an already complicated development cycle," said Amrit Vivekanand, vice president of automotive, Renesas Electronics America. "As an automotive leader, we are constantly engaging with ecosystem members to resolve key challenges that customers are facing; we've designed the RH850/P1x devices to address new chassis system needs, delivering the required safety functions in a low-power, peripheral-rich solution through leading-edge technology."

The automotive market is looking for innovative ways to deliver a safer driving experience and peace of mind to drivers and passengers. As a market leader, Renesas is developing solutions that make it easier to bring next-generation automotive systems to market quickly, efficiently, and cost effectively. In addition to the new RH850/P1x series, Renesas Electronics is developing a kit that combines an RH850/P1x Series MCU (single-power-supply version) and the RAA270005KFP power control IC to reduce the power supply design burden significantly. The power control IC integrates trackers for the power supply required by the RH850/P1x Series MCU (single-power-supply version) and for two external sensor power supplies, as well as a variety of monitoring and self-diagnostic functions.

Key Features of the RH850/P1 M MCUs:

(1) 40 nm process and MONOS flash memory for lower power consumption and higher performance

(2) Fault-detection functions ideal for chassis systems

Renesas is leveraging more than 10 years of experience delivering high-quality MCU solutions as well as accumulated know-how from participation in global functional safety standardization activities to reduce the development and design burden on customers. Designed with chassis systems requiring a high fault-detection rate and short control cycles in mind, the RH850/P1x Series integrates an excellent set of fault-detection functions. The CPU employs a lockstep² system. An error checking and correcting (ECC) function detects and corrects data errors affecting memory, such as flash memory. There are also fault-detection functions that allow system-level diagnostics of the timers, ADC (News - Alert), serial communication, and other modules. The built-in self-test (BIST) function detects faults affecting the fault-detection functions themselves. The error control module (ECM) allows users to manage error signal input from the various modules. Upon receiving an error signal, the ECU has a variety of options including setting an error pin output, generating interrupts, or the generation of resets, thereby helping to assure both safety and reliability concerns can be addressed. In addition to this array of diagnostic functions, the RH850/P1x Series can be used as part of a kit including a dedicated power control IC. This enables monitoring of power supplies external and internal to the MCU, and reset control in case of malfunction.

(3) Full complement of peripheral functions for chassis systems

The RH850/P1x Series incorporates two units of the TSG3 (Timer S Generation 3), an enhanced motor control timer designed to improve the motor control performance of chassis systems. For serial communication, it retains the CAN protocol engine of previous Renesas products and includes RS-CAN, which increases the number of transmit and receive message buffers while incorporating improvements that make the buffers easier to use. Finally, the widely adopted SENT and PSI5 are provided as digital interfaces for sensors.

¹ ASIL (Automotive Safety Integrity Level): Each level stipulates requirements under the ISO 26262 functional safety standard and safety measures for avoiding unacceptable residual risk. There are four safety levels, A to D, with ASIL D being the strictest.

² Lockstep system: An arrangement in which two CPU cores run the same software and the results are compared to detect errors.

Pricing and Availability

Samples of the RH850/P1M MCUs are available now priced at US$80.00 per unit. Mass production is scheduled to begin in June 2016 and is expected to reach a scale of 3,000,000 units per month (pricing and availability are subject to change without notice).

For more information, follow Renesas Electronics America at @RenesasAmerica on Twitter (News - Alert) or http://www.facebook.com/RenesasAmerica.

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About Renesas Electronics Corporation

Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE:6723), the world's number one supplier of microcontrollers, is a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions including microcontrollers, SoC solutions and a broad-range of analog and power devices. Business operations began as Renesas Electronics in April 2010 through the integration of NEC (News - Alert) Electronics Corporation (TSE:6723) and Renesas Technology Corp., with operations spanning research, development, design and manufacturing for a wide range of applications. Headquartered in Japan, Renesas Electronics has subsidiaries in 20 countries worldwide. More information can be found at www.renesas.com.

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