Altera expands automotive-grade portfolio with highly-integrated power SoCs
Altera announced nine new Altera Enpirion power system-on-chip (PowerSoC) devices that fully comply with the Automotive Electronics Council (AEC-Q100) qualification standard temperature grade 2, a critical stress test qualification for automotive integrated circuits (ICs). The newly qualified Enpirion devices include step-down PowerSoCs from the EP53xx and efficiency-optimized EN63xx families, supporting load currents up to 12 amps. Unlike discrete power products, these turnkey solutions give designers complete power systems that are fully simulated, characterized and production-qualified, streamlining the design-in process and making it much faster. These pre-tested power solutions are ideal for use with Altera’s automotive-grade Cyclone® FPGAs and SoCs and MAX® FPGAs and CPLDs.
“Our automotive-grade Enpirion PowerSoCs are specified, simulated, characterized, validated and manufacturing-tested as a complete power system. Fewer components and a tightly controlled IC manufacturing processes permit an unsurpassed 45,000-year mean time between failures (MTBF) reliability,” said Dan McNamara, vice president of Altera’s Automotive Business Unit. “By designing with these optimized, proven solutions, our customers can simplify their semiconductor supply chain, minimize bill of materials and accelerate time to market.”
FPGAs and PowerSoCs Enable Next Generation Automotive Electronics
ADAS designers are increasingly turning to FPGAs to run their algorithms at higher frame rates, process multiple algorithms simultaneously and adapt to the latest trends. This makes thermal performance, energy efficiency, integration and small footprint critical attributes to a winning design. By integrating the inductors, high-frequency filter capacitors, controller, and MOSFETs, Altera’s Enpirion PowerSoCs typically have a 25 to 50 percent smaller footprint compared to alternative discrete switching regulators and modules. Altera is the only programmable logic supplier to offer both FPGAs and PowerSoCs to the automotive market, making it easier for customers to leverage Altera as a one-stop shop for their automotive designs.
Altera Enpirion PowerSoCs offer up to 96 percent peak efficiency and are ideal for the following applications:
Infotainment and driver information—Head units, display interfaces, instrument clusters, head-up displays (HUDs), human-machine interface (HMI) technology, and rear-seat entertainment (RSE) systems
ADAS—Forward-looking cameras, surround view systems, radar, light detection and ranging (LIDAR), rear-view cameras, e-mirrors (electronic mirrors) and telematics (V2X) applications
Electric vehicle and powertrain—Engine control unit (ECU), battery management systems, motor control, power conversion (DC/DC, AC/DC) and adaptive suspension
