Ethernet Controller enables high-speed car interface.
June 23, 2009 -
Model LAN89218 TrueAuto(TM) high-performance 10/100 Ethernet controller maximizes access speed for diagnostics and software downloads on vehicles. It provides parallel host bus interface to embedded microcontrollers and can function as network branch connecting car to PC, diagnostic tool, or Ethernet network in repair shop. Featuring 16/32 bit SRAM-like interface, it uses 802.3 PAUSE packets or back-pressure, half-duplex links and automatically ensures viable connections between LAN devices.
SMSC Launches Its First TrueAuto(TM) Ethernet Controller
New Chip Enables Reliable High-speed Car Interface for Shorter Repair Times
Hauppauge, NY, June 8, 2009 - SMSC (NASDAQ: SMSC), a leading semiconductor company that provides Smart Mixed-Signal Connectivity(TM) solutions, today launched the LAN89218, its first TrueAuto(TM) high-performance single-chip 10/100 Ethernet controller. This device is designed specifically to meet the high reliability standards required by automotive applications such as on-board diagnostics or fast software download interfaces for central gateway and telematics modules, navigation systems, radio head units and connectivity devices. The LAN89218 offers increased access speed for diagnostics and software downloads over traditionally slower speed interfaces typically used to interface to the vehicle today. Using the LAN89218 high-performance Ethernet interface within today's complex vehicle electrical systems packed full with user functional content can help diagnose issues faster, lower software maintenance time and ultimately bring greater satisfaction to the consumer through shorter repair times and lower cost.
The size of embedded program and data memories used in modern cars is growing rapidly. For example, the newly released BMW 7 Series has more than one GByte of memory while the previous model had just short of 100 Mbytes of memory. While repair shops usually diagnose and fix problems, they also update the software and data embedded in the various control devices inside the car. The official access into the car for this is the On Board Diagnostics (OBD) connector. Today this standardized connector only provides a slow communication interface. Updating the software of a modern car via this interface takes hours, which significantly increases both repair times and costs. As a result, many car companies are working on an upgrade of the OBD connector to provide the car with a high-performance data interface for diagnostics and software downloads. The candidate of choice is Ethernet. This initiative is expected to lead to a new ISO/SAE standard that mandates Ethernet as part of the OBD interface for all cars.
Ethernet is the most widely used networking technology in the corporate and repair shop IT infrastructure. Ethernet's wide proliferation, high-bandwidth and optimized communication for bursts or packets of information make it an excellent connectivity solution for the automobile. It can connect the external Ethernet-based infrastructure of the repair shop to a vehicle in a repair bay and move large amounts of diagnostic information and software data seamlessly between the two.
As a leading provider of embedded Ethernet products for a wide variety of consumer and industrial applications, SMSC now provides, with the LAN89218, its first TrueAuto Ethernet controller that has specifically been designed, validated, qualified, characterized and manufactured for the high reliability requirements of the car. SMSC has been a trusted supplier for the automotive market for more than a decade. Its expertise in the design of CarNet®, Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST®), Ethernet and USB connectivity allows SMSC to deliver efficient solutions for connections inside and outside of the car.
"The LAN89218 is best suited for making the car accessible to diagnostic systems because it offers a fast mechanism to transfer software into the vehicle," said Dr. Christian Thiel, Vice President and General Manager of SMSC's Automotive Information Systems group. "Enabling an Ethernet-based diagnostic and software maintenance entry to the vehicle can significantly reduce the time required to diagnose and fix problems while a car is being serviced."
The LAN89218 provides a simple, parallel host bus interface to the typical automotive embedded microcontrollers used inside a car. Built into a device embedded in the car, the chip can function as a network branch to the outside world connecting the car to a personal computer, diagnostic tool or a complex Ethernet network in the repair shop.
Key Features of the LAN89218:
o Power Management
o Wake-on-LAN support allows network to wake-up electronics devices from sleep state
o Multiple low-power modes
o Built-in flow control support
o Prevents receive memory from overflowing
o Uses either 802.3 "PAUSE" packets or "back-pressure" (half-duplex links)
o HP Auto-MDIX support
o Automatically ensures viable connections between LAN devices
o Simple 16/32 bit SRAM-like interface
o Minimizes CPU overhead
o Driver support for multiple processors & operating systems
Availability:
Samples of the LAN89218 are available today.
About TrueAuto:
TrueAuto is SMSC's automotive quality process. It has proven its capability to deliver leading edge quality and services to fulfill the needs of even the most demanding automotive customers. If integrated circuits ("ICs") that have been designed for consumer applications are intended for use in automotive applications, they are usually qualified according to the Automotive Electronics Council's (AEC-Q100) qualification requirements. AEC-Q100 however, just covers minimum common requirements for the qualification of an automotive IC. Many car companies and tier one automotive suppliers require extensive additional qualification tests, as AEC-Q100 alone does not lead to the ultra low defect rates that they require. In addition, AEC-Q100 primarily focuses on the qualification phase of the product cycle of an IC. Other phases such as the design and production of the IC, customer support and the handling and investigation of returns are not covered in detail. In order to reach the automotive goal of near zero defect rates, all phases of the IC product cycle need to be addressed thoroughly.
TrueAuto is SMSC's proven total approach to true automotive-grade quality. TrueAuto robustness begins with SMSC's design for reliability techniques within the silicon IC itself. Automotive-grade excellence and testability are designed into the IC. The IC is fully characterized over many operating parameters to prove the quality of the design under various conditions. Also, product qualification is focused on the most demanding customer expectations. It meets or exceeds automotive reliability standards and customer specific requirements. SMSC's TrueAuto approach goes far beyond the stress tests prescribed by the AEC-Q100 specifications. In addition, extensive technologies and processes, such as enhanced monitors are used in fabrication of TrueAuto products in order to continuously drive improvements in accordance with SMSC's zero Defects per Million (DPM) goals.
About SMSC:
Many of the world's most successful global technology companies rely upon SMSC as a go-to resource for semiconductor system solutions that span analog, digital and mixed-signal technologies. Leveraging substantial intellectual property, integration expertise and a comprehensive global infrastructure, SMSC solves design challenges and delivers performance, space, cost and time-to-market advantages to its customers. SMSC's application focus targets key vertical markets including consumer electronics, automotive, PC and industrial applications. The Company has developed leadership positions in its select markets by providing application specific solutions such as mixed-signal embedded controllers, non-PCI Ethernet, ARCNET, MOST® and Hi-Speed USB.
SMSC is headquartered in Hauppauge, New York with operations in North America, Asia and Europe. Engineering design centers are located in Arizona, New York, Texas and Karlsruhe, Germany. Additional information is available at http://www.smsc.com.
SMSC and MOST are registered trademarks and Smart Mixed-Signal Connectivity and TrueAuto are trademarks of Standard Microsystems Corporation.
Marketing:
Mandy Ahlendorf
INTL
Phone: 49-8151-55-50-09-11 E-mail this person
General Information:
Rolf Hoffmeyer-Zlotnik
INTL
Phone: 49-721-625-37-224 E-mail this person Company Information: Name: SMSC Address: 80 Arkay Dr. City: Hauppauge State: NY ZIP: 11788 Country: USA Phone: 631-435-6000 FAX: 631-273-5550 http://www.smsc.com
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