SHANGHAI, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--To help reduce automotive emissions that contribute to the greenhouse effect and global warming, Freescale Semiconductor has introduced a family of 32-bit automotive microcontrollers (MCUs) with integrated emissions control technology. Like other Freescale powertrain microcontrollers, these MCUs are engineered to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions and enable cost-effective, yet sophisticated engine control designs for emerging markets.
The MPC563xM family includes three 32-bit powertrain MCUs designed to help improve the efficiency and performance of small engines scaling from one to four cylinders. Built on Power Architecture technology, the MPC563xM devices not only offer enhanced powertrain functionality, such as on-chip emissions control, but they also address the cost constraints of engine and transmission suppliers. The cost-effective devices are Freescale's first automotive MCUs manufactured on 90-nanometer technology. They also are Freescale's first automotive products resulting from a joint development program with STMicroelectronics initiated in January 2006.
Advanced Emissions Control Technology
Freescale's MPC563xM powertrain MCUs feature sophisticated emissions control technology that takes advantage of a powerful digital signal processing (DSP) engine built into the Power Architecture e200 core. This integrated DSP capability enables engine designers to maximize fuel economy and performance while minimizing engine "knocking," resulting in a three to five percent reduction in CO2 emissions. Based on single-input/multiple-data (SIMD) processing techniques, the DSP functionality also can be used for patented sensor diagnostics schemes that address on-board automotive diagnostics.
"The impressive processing power of our MPC563xM MCUs enables engine designers to develop powertrain solutions that help reduce CO2 emissions, as well as to address current and future automotive emissions requirements," said Paul Grimme, senior vice president and general manager of Freescale's Microcontroller Solutions Group. "These advanced, cost-effective MCUs are the right products at a time when green automotive technology is critical to addressing the growing concern of global warming."
The world's estimated 820 million cars (source: J.D. Power and Associates) emit on average four tons of CO2 per vehicle each year, totaling about 3.3 billion tons annually. A 5% reduction in all automotive CO2 emissions potentially could remove as much as 165 million tons of CO2 from the atmosphere each year. As a leading greenhouse gas, CO2 is believed to be a major contributor to the greenhouse effect behind global warming. CO2 represents more than 80% of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States alone.
Cost-Effective Solution for Emerging Markets
The MPC563xM family's cost-effective pricing helps make advanced emissions control technology more affordable. Cost-sensitive engine designs of up to four cylinders are prevalent in emerging automotive markets such as China and India, where government regulations are moving in a direction of requiring automakers to manufacture more efficient engines that emit fewer harmful emissions.
For automotive developers currently using 16-bit MCU solutions for powertrain control, the MPC563xM family provides a cost-effective 32-bit solution that extends processing performance beyond 16-bit capabilities. Offering up to 1.5 MB of flash memory, 81 KB of SRAM, and a Power Architecture core that scales up to 80 MHz, the MPC563xM offers exceptional price and performance for powertrain management applications.
The MPC563xM is Freescale's first powertrain device family with a quad flat package (QFP) option, offering simplified and lower cost development. A QFP has visible pins, making the package easy and affordable to install, inspect and repair, without requiring costly infrared and X-ray inspection technology. In addition, the MPC563xM devices are software compatible with Freescale's existing MPC55xx family, which enables code sharing that can help reduce automakers' development costs.
The MPC563xM product family was developed collaboratively by Freescale and STMicroelectronics. As a result, an architecturally identical dual-sourced product is also available from STMicroelectronics. This unprecedented dual source arrangement is designed to help automotive customers mitigate risk in their supply chain.
MPC563xM product family features
- Power Architecture e200z3 core with 40 MHz, 60 MHz and 80 MHz options
- SIMD module for DSP and floating point operations
- Variable length encoding (VLE) capability to help reduce code footprint by up to 30 percent for improved code density and reduced memory requirements
- 768 KB, 1 MB and 1.5 MB flash memory options with ECC
- 81 KB SRAM
- 32-channel eTPU2 to handle complex timer applications and offload the CPU
- Hardware decimator—used to minimize DSP calculations and reduce CPU load by up to 5% by leveraging the DMA as an anti-knock filter
- 2 x FlexCAN—compatible with TouCAN, 64 + 32 buffers
- 2 x eSCI
- 2 x DSPI (16 bits wide) up to six chip selects each, with continuous mode and DMA support
- 34-channel dual analog-to-digital converter (ADC)
- Junction temperature sensor
- 32-channel DMA controller
- 196 source interrupt controller
- Nexus IEEE-ISTO 5001-2003 Class 2+ (eTPU2 Class 1)
- Single 5V power supply
- 100 LQFP, 144 LQFP, 176 LQFP, 208 MAPBGA and VertiCal Calibration System package options available depending on flash memory
Comprehensive Development Support
The MPC563xM family leverages a comprehensive suite of hardware and software development tools available for the MPC55xx family and Power Architecture technology. Access to this mature ecosystem reduces application development complexity and debugging/validation time during prototyping and software integration phases.
Pricing and Availability
Samples of MPC563xM products are planned to be available to lead automotive customers throughout 2008. For product pricing, please contact local Freescale sales representatives.
About Freescale Semiconductor
Freescale is the No. 1 supplier of automotive semiconductors, with more than 30 years of experience in the automotive industry. Freescale technology is used in an overwhelming majority of new vehicles. Freescale's sensors, analog products and 8-, 16- and 32-bit MCU families provide intelligence and connectivity for advanced safety, body electronics, chassis, engine control, powertrain, driver information and telematics. Freescale is a pioneer in FlexRay™ technology and was the first supplier to integrate CAN, LIN™ and flash memory technologies on automotive MCUs.
Freescale Semiconductor is a global leader in the design and manufacture of embedded semiconductors for the automotive, consumer, industrial, networking and wireless markets. The privately held company is based in Austin, Texas, and has design, research and development, manufacturing or sales operations in more than 30 countries. Freescale is one of the world's largest semiconductor companies with 2007 sales of $5.7 billion (USD).