Electro-mobility, advanced driver assistance systems, connected driving – the demand for functionally safe electrical and electronic systems in cars is increasing. Infineon Technologies second generation AURIX
(TC3xx) microcontrollers are the first embedded safety controllers worldwide to be certified for the highest automotive safety integrity level (ASIL D) according to the latest version of the ISO 26262 standard. This standard describes a globally binding procedure for the development and production of safety-critical systems in cars. In December 2018, the current version of the standard replaced the original version from 2011. The certificate was issued by SGS TUEV Saar.
The AURIX family has always been successful in safety-relevant applications. Leading computing platforms for automated driving rely on AURIX as their safety host controller. Furthermore, the microcontrollers are used in radar systems for processing sensor data, in engine and transmission control, brake, airbag and steering systems, central gateways, domain control units, hybrid and electric cars and many other applications.
In addition to the automotive sector, the product family is also increasingly used for other safety-critical applications, for example in commercial vehicles and robotics. Therefore, in the next step Infineon is planning certification according to IEC 61508. This is a cross-industry basic functional safety standard that serves as the foundation for application-specific standards.
AURIX TC3xx devices have up to six processor cores with 300 MHz clock frequency each. Up to four of them have an additional Lockstep core. With around 3,000 DMIPS, AURIX sets the bar for functionally safe computing power supporting ASIL D among safety microcontrollers. Other features include safe internal communication buses and a distributed memory protection system. Furthermore, AURIX allows the integration of software with different safety levels from different sources. This allows multiple operating systems and applications, such as steering, braking, airbag and driver assistance systems, to be hosted on a common platform.