21 October 2008

FreeScale Takes Premium Auto Infotainment Mainstream

Freescale Semiconductor, a member of the ARM Connected Community, has taken premium automotive infotainment, normally the domain of the luxury car market, mainstream.

Via Freescale’s ARM based i.MX35 family of multimedia processors, automotive OEMs can now offer navigation capabilities and hands-free control of in-car audio as affordable options across their complete line of vehicles, the company explained. The i.MX35 automotive series builds on the proven performance of Freescale’s automotive-grade i.MX31 processor, which powers Ford’s SYNC in-vehicle communications and entertainment system.

Designed specifically for automotive environments, i.MX35 processors are based on the ARM1136JF-S core. An available OpenVG graphics engine enables rich, smooth visuals while providing exceptional zooming and animation of graphics and text, providing a mobile device like experience on the vehicle’s dashboard.

“By leveraging our longstanding relationships with the world’s top automakers, device manufacturers and software providers, Freescale has developed a processor family designed to take hands-free infotainment control functionality – traditionally reserved for luxury automobiles – into every vehicle,” said Paul Marino, general manager of Freescale’s Multimedia Applications Division. “Delivering high performance and comprehensive functionality at previously unthinkable price points, the i.MX35 family of processors enables a compelling end-user experience.”

The i.MX35 family of automotive multimedia processors includes three pin-compatible devices, each targeting specific infotainment capabilities. The i.MX351 is intended for audio connectivity platforms; the i.MX355 is designed for cost-effective display-based systems; and the i.MX356 integrates an OpenVG 1.1-compliant graphics processing unit for applications such as navigation services, which often require higher levels of graphics content. The i.MX356’s integrated OpenVG technology also enables applications such as personal navigation devices (PNDs) that require high performance graphics and connectivity.

The i.MX35 automotive multimedia applications processors come with connectivity options including two CAN modules, a Media Local Bus to connect to MOST “INIC” transceivers, Ethernet, two MMC/SD/SDIO ports and a CE-ATA/SDIO port for external wireless modules. They have two integrated USB PHYs and a 3.3V general purpose I/O interface. They also support lower cost memories like DDR2 and multi-level cell NAND that reduce system costs and provide the design engineer great flexibility, Freescale explained.

Freescale is currently sampling i.MX35 processors to tier one customers and plans to expand to a broader base of customers in the first quarter of 2009, the company confirmed. Volume production is expected in third quarter 2009.