Seoul, Korea, May 8, 2012 – Freescale Semiconductor (NYSE: FSL, www.freescale.com ) today announced a new portfolio of Vybrid controller solutions designed to dramatically simplify the development of applications that require deterministic real-time control and response along with rich human-machine interface (HMI) and connectivity capabilities. Vybrid devices are built on a unique asymmetric multiprocessing architecture platform that builds on Freescale’s heritage of leadership in microcontroller development and multicore design. The new Vybrid controller solutions, along with Kinetis microcontrollers and i.MX applications processors, provide Freescale with an unparalleled range of solutions based on the ARM 32-bit architecture.

Vybrid devices are ideal for applications such as building/home automation and control, industrial automation, point-of-sale systems, medical devices such as patient monitors, smart energy equipment such as energy meters and data concentrators, and home appliances. Additionally, the family is suitable for a number of timing-critical, low-power wired and wireless network communication protocols, including IEEE 1588, Smart Energy 2.0, low-power WiFi, Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE), and Powerline Communications, as well as other proprietary interfaces.

“Freescale developed our new Vybrid controller solutions to address the challenging problem of adding advanced user interfaces to applications that have traditionally focused on real-time control,” said Reza Kazerounian, executive vice president and general manager of Freescale’s Automotive, Industrial and Complex Market Solutions Group. “With the Vybrid platform, Freescale is moving beyond just silicon to provide a complete software-hardware solution, enabling customers to more easily and quickly develop systems that demand rich, real-time applications.”

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Real-time support for rich applications on a single device
Previously, multiple devices were required to provide graphical displays and real-time control capabilities to industrial systems. A single Vybrid device, with its asymmetric multiprocessing architecture, handles both HMI and real-time control requirements, reducing system bill of materials (BOM) and complexity. The first Vybrid devices, the VF series, combine highly energy-efficient ARM® Cortex™-A5 and Cortex™-M4 cores, each managing a high-level operating system (HMI, connectivity, and processing compute requests) and a real-time domain (ensuring safe and reliable execution of real-time functions). Vybrid controller solutions leverage a software environment tightly coupled to the hardware, enabling simultaneous communication between two operating systems (e.g., Linux and Freescale MQX™).

The VF series hardware is designed to enable developers to easily and efficiently leverage the extensive code integration system available on ARM Cortex-A and Cortex-M cores. This ease of use makes Vybrid controller solutions an attractive option for industrial applications requiring deterministic operation compared to other real-time processing solutions currently on the market.

“Asymmetric multicore systems are a great solution for embedded applications that require real-time control capabilities and intuitive user interfaces,” said Tom R. Halfhill, senior analyst at The Linley Group and senior writer for The Microprocessor Report. “Some examples include factory automation, medical equipment, and home appliances.” Freescale’s Vybrid controller solution represents a new twist on ARM’s Big.Little strategy. Freescale integrates a Cortex-A5 application core with a Cortex-M4 microcontroller core and adds real-time control, communications, and user interface capabilities. Using a virtual hardware model can reduce software development time, which is increasingly becoming the most time-consuming part of design projects. “Vybrid devices also reduce the product’s bill of materials and design cycle,” he said.

Features of the VF series
Supporting two ARM cores and leveraging Freescale's extreme integration expertise, the Vybrid platform offers a variety of features and connectivity options, including:
• Up to 1.5MB of on-chip SRAM, including ECC (error-correcting code)
• DDR3/LPDDR2 controller supporting ECC
• Dual quad SPI supporting double-data-rate (DDR) and execute-in-place (XIP) functions
• NAND flash controller supporting ECC
• Dual Ethernet controller with L2 (Level 2) switch
• Dual USB 2.0 with integrated high-speed PHY
• Dual display controller supporting video/camera interfaces
• Real-time I/O subsystem including pulse width modulation (PWM), dual analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), and dual digital-to-analog converters (DACs).
• OpenVG GPU (Graphics Processing Unit)
• Various audio interfaces
• Secure boot with encryption algorithm acceleration and tamper detection capabilities

Vybrid VF series devices are included in Freescale's extended life program, guaranteeing supply for a minimum of 10 years. Terms and conditions and a list of available products can be found at freescale.com/productlongevity.

Comprehensive system solution
Vybrid controller solutions are backed by Freescale's robust support suite, including the Eclipse™-based CodeWarrior Integrated Development Environment (IDE), Processor Expert software, Freescale MQX software solutions, PEG GUI development tools, and the Tower Systems modular development platform for rapid prototyping. Vybrid devices are also supported by a broad range of ARM-based systems, including Green Hills MULTI™ IDE and INTEGRITY™ runtime software. This integration of Freescale and third-party support enables faster design and fewer implementation issues.

“Freescale’s Vybrid controller solutions are ideally suited to address the software diversity and complexity of embedded applications,” said David Kleidermacher, chief technology officer at Green Hills Software. “The combination of Green Hills’ scalable INTEGRITY RTOS family, Multivisor secure virtualization, TimeMachine trace debugging and optimizing compilers enables embedded developers to easily manage this complexity while creating more feature-rich electronic products.”

Supply situation
Alpha samples of the first devices in the Vybrid VF series are planned for Q2 2012. Samples and tools will be widely available from Freescale and its distribution partners starting in Q3.