Navigating through memories
02 June 2009
Navigation content via memory cards accessible through USB hub and card reader for cars.
If integrated circuits that have been designed for consumer applications are intended for use in automotive applications, they are usually qualified according to the Automotive Electronics Council's (AEC-Q100) qualification requirements. AEC-Q100 however, just covers minimum common requirements for the qualification of an automotive IC. Many car companies and tier one automotive suppliers require extensive additional qualification tests, as AEC-Q100 alone does not lead to the ultra low defect rates that they require. In addition, AEC-Q100 primarily focuses on the qualification phase of the product cycle of an IC. Other phases such as the design and production of the IC, customer support and the handling and investigation of returns are not covered in detail. In order to reach the automotive goal of near zero defect rates, all phases of the IC product cycle need to be addressed thoroughly.
TrueAuto is SMSC's approach to automotive-grade quality. The IC is characterised over many operating parameters to prove the quality of the design under various conditions. SMSC's TrueAuto goes beyond the stress tests prescribed by the AEC-Q100 specifications. In addition, extensive technologies and processes, such as enhanced monitors are used in fabrication of TrueAuto products in order to continuously drive improvements in accordance with SMSC's zero Defects per Million (DPM) goals.
SMSC announced the USB82640 and USB82660 single-chip, 2-port USB 2.0 hub controllers combined with memory card reader functionality, allowing customers to access navigation data and entertainment content stored directly on solid state memory cards.
"Portable memory cards are used by passengers to transfer information created on computers, portable media players or cameras into the car. Solid state memory is also increasingly replacing rotating media inside automotive infotainment devices like navigation systems to store content such as map data. These in-box use cases require true automotive-grade reliability," said Christian Thiel, Vice President and General Manager of SMSC's Automotive Information Systems group. "Our new combination hub and card reader devices, designed with our TrueAuto quality process, give car makers the ability to design highly reliable data access devices for their information and entertainment systems, whether those devices connect to internal peripherals or provide external consumer access."
The USB82640 provides two downstream USB 2.0 ports plus a single Secure Digital (SD)/Multi-Media Card (MMC) or Sony MemoryStick memory card interface. The USB82660 provides a second SD card interface and is capable of operating up to an ambient temperature of 105°Celsius. The second memory card interface enables navigation data and entertainment content to be accessed simultaneously when stored in popular memory card formats. The SDIO interface can be used to attach modules that provide additional features such as WiFi, Bluetooth(r) and GPS connections.
Additional advanced features include:
- PortMap to enable flexible port mapping and port disable sequences so that a single part can be used in multiple platforms that require 2, 3 or 4 USB ports.
- PortSwap to ease PCB design by aligning signal traces directly to connectors.
- PHYBoost to allow for programmable transceiver drive strength to aid in preserving signal integrity in complex system environments.
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