Configurable mixed-signal IC expedites automotive design

With more automotive systems increasingly reliant on complex electronics, demand has increased for ICs to implement many vehicle safety, comfort and driving functions. Semiconductor supplier Dialog Semiconductor plc has introduced a mixed-signal IC, designated the SLG46620-A, that can be configured to implement a number of functions for in-vehicle navigation, infotainment, advanced driver assistance systems, automotive display clusters and body electronics. The IC can provide the flexibility needed by automotive systems designers while reducing system design costs.

According to the company, current automotive systems are limited using discrete implementations and standard ICs, requiring a large bill of materials to support. The SLG46620-A addresses these challenges by bringing Dialog’s GreenPAK platform to the automotive space, which the company says can lower project costs, accelerate time to market, and unify development flows. Dialog noted that billions of CMICs have been on the market in the commercial space, but they are just now being applied in the automotive space. The CMIC can replace dozens of components in automotive applications to optimize flexibility, footprint, and BOM reduction. 

The SLG46620-A provides a small, low power component for common mixed-signal functions. The user creates their circuit design by programming the one-time Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) to configure the interconnect logic, the I/O Pins and the macrocells of the SLG46620-A. This highly versatile device allows a wide variety of mixed-signal functions to be designed within a very small, low power AEC-Q100 qualified integrated circuit. 

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Each automotive grade GreenPAK base die part can be programmed to implement multiple AEC-Q100 qualified ICs, with functionality including power sequencing, voltage monitoring, system reset, LED control, frequency detection, sensor interfacing and more. Every custom, factory-programmed IC is issued its own unique part number, top marking, automotive grade datasheet and Production Part Approval Process (PPAP). In production, the customer’s unique GreenPAK configuration will be factory programmed and tested to ensure it meets its functional specification to automotive reliability levels.

Some of the programmable macrocells include:

  • 8-bit Successive Approximation Register Analog-to-Digital Converter (SAR ADC);
  • ADC 3-bit Programmable Gain Amplifier (PGA);
  • Two Digital-to-Analog Converters (DAC);
  • Six Analog Comparators (ACMP);
  • Two Voltage References (Vref);
  • Twenty Five Combinatorial Look Up Tables (LUTs) 

The CMICs give OEMs the ability to create flexible base platforms that are easily customized at no additional cost to the designer. The scalable nature of Dialog’s automotive GreenPAK portfolio allows customers to choose the CMIC that best fits their needs and budget.