TI Korea (CEO Kent Chon, www.ti.com/ww/kr ) June 10, 2014 – As consumer interest in high-performance infotainment and telematics options in the automotive sector increases, automakers are constantly striving to provide cost-effective solutions that meet consumer demands. Reflecting this trend, TI (CEO Kent Chon) announced the addition of the DRA72x “Jacinto 6 Eco” System-on-Chip (SoC) to its “Jacinto” platform. By utilizing the DRA72x processor, manufacturers can now integrate and deliver features such as high-density audio, simultaneous multimedia streaming, and product connectivity at a lower cost across a broad range of automotive markets, including the rapidly growing entry-level and mid-range segments.

With the growing demand for mobility and differentiation in the entry-level and mid-range in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) sector, the DRA72x combines optimal acceleration features. These features include the IVA-HD video coprocessor, capable of decoding H.264 1080p resolution at 60fps. This coprocessor not only enables simultaneous streaming of standard multimedia but also facilitates the emerging BYOD (bring your own device) connectivity. Furthermore, because the integrated DSP enables the execution of Acoustic Noise Cancellation (ANC), voice enhancement, and audio post-processing algorithms, both the driver and passengers can enjoy higher-quality sound. The DRA72x adheres to the automotive SoC approach of TI’s “Jacinto” family, which includes an ARM Cortex-M4 to relieve the real-time interrupt-intensive workload from the main ARM Cortex-A15 CPU, as well as automotive connectivity peripherals such as DCAN, Ethernet AVB, MLB (MOST Media Local Bus), PCIe, and USB 2.0 and 3.0. Additionally, this latest DRA72x processor is available with TI’s WiLink 8Q WiFi, Bluetooth, and GNSS combo connectivity family, and this combination enables the rapid delivery of automotive infotainment solutions of a whole new dimension.

The DRA72x processor is developed based on the same architecture as other products in TI’s “Jacinto 6” platform, helping manufacturers expand their product investments and providing a diverse product portfolio compatible with a wide range of ARM Cortex-A15 devices and software and hardware. With the addition of the “Jacinto 6 Eco” family, TI now possesses a processor portfolio encompassing single-core and dual-core ARM Cortex-A15 configurations ranging from 2,800 to 10,000 DMIPS (Dhrystone million instruction per second), single-core and dual-core Imagination Technologies POWERVR SGX544-MPx graphics cores, and automotive peripherals. Moving forward, TI plans to further expand its product line by continuing to add processors featuring single and dual external memory interfaces and various CPU clock speeds. This enables customers designing infotainment systems to develop products applicable to a wide range of vehicles, from entry-level to mid-to-high-end, using the same platform and investment level, thereby reducing costs and shortening time-to-market.

The “Jacinto 6 Eco” processor provides integrated acceleration, automotive peripherals, and software capabilities to help automotive manufacturers reduce overall costs for their customers. Furthermore, by integrating a DSP complete with a flexible software-defined architecture, it offers simplified and cost-effective multi-tuner radio solutions for AM/FM/RDS, HD Radio™, DAB, and DRM. The on-chip auxiliary CPU (ARM Cortex-M4) improves software performance by offloading tasks that significantly interfere with real-time processing performed by the main CPU. Additionally, by providing an ecosystem that includes “Jacinto 6 Eco” tools, software, and high-level operating systems (OS) such as QNX, Linux, and Android, it enables customers to design simply and launch products quickly.

TI, a leader in the processor industry, is proud to lead the future of infotainment (IVI) and telematics through collaboration with leaders in the infotainment industry. Most companies have adopted TI’s comprehensive “Jacinto” processors and are warmly welcoming the newly released “Jacinto 6” platform.

Peter McCarthy, Global Managing Director of QNX Software Systems, stated, “TI and QNX have consistently maintained a long-term partnership, focusing on developing automotive connectivity solutions that enhance the in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) experience.” “In particular, the ‘Jacinto 6 Eco,’ the latest product in TI’s processor line, not only provides a wealth of infotainment features covering platforms ranging from entry-level to mid-to-high-end infotainment, but also offers the flexibility to support ADAS features such as cameras for adaptive cruise control,” he said.

Shuji Taguchi, Director of OEM Product Development at Alpine, said, “Alpine is honored to collaborate with technology leader TI to set a new standard for telematics and in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) features experienced by drivers and passengers. With the launch of the ‘Jacinto 6 Eco,’ the latest addition to TI’s comprehensive ‘Jacinto’ product family, we have been able to achieve a high-performance, value-oriented infotainment platform.”

In addition, Dan Mender, Vice President of Business Development at Green Hills Software, stated, “With the launch of ‘Jacinto 6 Eco,’ TI has enabled the extension of conventional Jacinto 6-based software and hardware platforms from entry-level to high-end, allowing us to meet the diverse and evolving demands for driver information and infotainment platforms, not only for the present but also for the future. The combination of this product and our INTEGRITY Multivisor™ secure virtualization solution enables customers to seamlessly and securely host the latest infotainment operating systems, such as Android or Linux, on our designs to prepare for future changes.” “In addition to this, it can block defects between the digital cluster, rear camera, and other automotive safety functions, providing unrivaled reusability and configurability,” he said.

The DRA72x “Jacinto 6 Eco” processor can be developed alongside various other TI products, providing a robust system solution for infotainment designs. In particular, TI has developed a Power Management IC (PMIC) to drive the Jacinto 6 Eco processor, reducing development time and risk for customers. This PMIC supports the full performance range of the Jacinto 6 Eco and provides the power management functions necessary to minimize system-level power consumption. Engineering evaluation samples are currently available. Additionally, this processor can be combined with TI’s FPD-Link III automotive-grade SerDes family to provide uncompressed high-definition (HD) digital video and audio to touchscreen LCD panels for the vehicle’s Central Information Display (CID) and rear-seat displays.