May 3, 2012, Seoul, Korea – Freescale Semiconductor (NYSE: FSL www.freescale.com ) announced that it is supplying samples of its multicore Qorivva MPC5746M microcontroller (MCU) to meet the latest global trends, including improved performance in automotive powertrain systems and increased safety and application security requirements.

The MPC5746M is Freescale's first high-performance 32-bit MCU built on the new 200MH quad-core Power Architecture® platform. This new design optimizes software and safety strategies on multi-core platforms by utilizing safety inspection functions and parallel I/O processors. The MPC5746M MCU also employs optimized internal combustion engines, hybrid systems, and transmission systems to detect and prevent electronic system failures, while simultaneously preventing software hacking that may arise as the connectivity between vehicles and the Internet increases.

The Qorivva MPC5746M MCU features 4MB of embedded flash memory, increasing the computational and memory performance available to the automotive industry. This new device operates within the same power range inside the car hood while delivering twice the performance of Freescale's benchmark MPC5674F MCU. This device is implemented with Freescale's new 55nm non-volatile memory (NVM) technology and is scheduled to be added to a new 300MHz quad-core platform with 8MB flash memory later this year to create the next-generation high-density powertrain system currently under development.

Ray Cornyn, Vice President of Automotive MCUs at Freescale, stated, "Automotive electronics can meet the growing demand for reduced fuel consumption by increasing engine efficiency and saving fuel without impacting performance. High-performance multicore solutions, such as Freescale's new MPC5746M MCU, are the key for automotive manufacturers to deliver better fuel economy to consumers. Because this device is based on industry-standard Power Architecture technology, it allows for easy use of one of the most widely used architectures in sectors such as networking, avionics, and industrial fields, and which is expected to continue providing innovation."

Safety and security
The Qorivva MPC5746M is a functional SafeAssure safety solution defined and developed from the ground up to comply with the ISO 26262 standard. The architecture and design process of the MPC5746M reduce design time and complexity when developing ISO 26262-compliant automotive safety applications. Leveraging Freescale’s proven expertise in multi-core safety platforms along with innovative memory safety concepts, the MPC5746M aims for adoption in safety applications at ASIL-D, the most stringent automotive safety reliability level, by integrating features such as a deferred lockstep core to prevent critical failures, end-to-end data, and code correction. Memory and logic built to self-test are embedded to prevent the accumulation of potential failures in functional logic and safety integrity mechanisms. Clock and power generation and distribution are supervised by a dedicated monitor, further enhancing the safety-centric functions of the MPC5746M.

As the use of electronic devices to manage core functions in automotive systems increases, Freescale’s SafeAssure program aims to design electronic systems that prevent hazardous failures or, at the very least, sufficiently control such failures in accordance with ISO 26262. The MPC5746M MCU is the latest device available under the Freescale SafeAssure program, which includes the MCU, sensors, and analog ICs, as well as support for functional safety applications (including training, safety documentation, and technical support).

With massive amounts of data being streamed in today's vehicles, automakers must ensure that consumers are protected from malicious and destructive attacks on powertrain systems. Freescale's Qorivva MPC5746M MCU includes comprehensive on-chip security features utilizing a dedicated core, such as a customer-programmable hardware security module, dedicated SRAM and encryption modules, and flash memory security capabilities (including flash censorship support, advanced debug access control, and safe boot mode). Through these high-density features, customers can leverage the benefits of on-chip security while reducing system costs by eliminating the need for external components to perform the same functions.

Extensive interconnected systems
The extensive integration system of development support differentiates the MPC5746M from competitors. Flexible and comprehensive demand-based software and features include industry-leading debuggers, compilers, advanced emulation, and the eCal calibration environment, which allows customers to use the same hardware for development and calibration. The MPC5746M is supported by the AUTOSAR MCAL 4.0 driver, which is the first to support the AUTOSAR real-time operating system and multi-core automotive MCUs. By utilizing such an integrated system of Freescale and third-party tools, the complexity of application development can be reduced, as well as the time required for debugging and verification during the prototyping and software integration phases.

The MPC5746M is the first device in the Freescale Qorivva MPC57XX family to support advanced automotive control applications. The Qorivva portfolio includes a complete family of advanced chassis and safety, body, powertrain, and hybrid MCUs. The Qorivva MPC57XX powertrain MCUs are designed for all powertrain applications, including internal combustion engines (gasoline and diesel), advanced hybrid systems (including motor control, charging, and battery control), and advanced automotive transmission control.
For more information, please refer to www.freescale.com/MPC5746M .