Scaleo chip introduces SILant, a functional safety technology enabling ISO 26262 ASIL D system design at no performance compromise

Sophia Antipolis, September 3rd, 2012 -- Scaleo chip, the leading fabless semiconductor company in automotive electronics for powertrain, body control and driver-information, announced today the introduction of SILant®, a superset of innovative technologies offering ISO 26262 compliant ASIL D system design without compromise in performance. SILant® will be first available in OLEA, Scaleo chip’s new family of microcontrollers optimized for powertrain systems.

The predominance of electric/electronic in cars is increasing over year, mainly driven by powertrain renewal to follow-up international pollutant emission and consumption reduction objectives, as well as customers’ expectations in advanced comfort features and driver assistance systems. Today, average electronic value represents 30% of a car production cost and is predicted to rise to 50% by 2020. Electronic functions including powertrain gain in sophistication and, consequently, in faults exposure. Critical embedded electric/electronics systems and embedded software have to rely on functional safety for malfunction protections. With the international standard ISO 26262, the automotive industry has settled guidance to lower these risks. Contributor to the overall system safety, Scaleo chip has developed SILant® technology.

SILant® is a breakthrough set of safety features embedded into Scaleo chip’s microcontroller products to ensure the highest system integrity at both hardware and software level. Built around a multi-core architecture, SILant® incorporates three patented highly efficient hardware safety mechanisms: the Asynchronous LockStep (ALS), the Execution Flow Control (EFC) and the Events Sequence Control (ESC), surrounded by an entire safety infrastructure and a safety management unit that offers the most complete faults detection and management panel.

Achieving ISO 26262 safety compliancy and more

ESC & EFC provide early faults detection coupled to a high precision faults isolation allowing fast reaction time. The ALS cores architecture supports the segregation of safety / non-safety functions, authorizing the co-existence within the same MCU of applications that require different level of attention, from ASIL-D level to uncritical level.

Stop compromise Performance for safety

SILant® profits from the unique asynchronous multi-core architecture to offer the highest safety integrity level without performances degradation. State of the art’s limitations are history; the support of efficient and safe advanced powertrain system is enabled in full respect of the application need at any time.

Shortening access to market, easing design, enabling scalability, lowering system development cost

Safety software code is simplified, the design cycle is reduced. SILant® based products are scalable. Customer leverage previous certified safety implementation in future ECUs generation. Cost reduction is induced saving needs for demonstrating again the respect of the full set of safety objectives, with complicated hardware and complex software.

 “Getting advanced powertrain systems safe, efficient and friendly to users is a major concern in hybrid and electric vehicle. SILant®  is the right answer to face the challenges of intransigent safety at intransigent system performances” says Pascal Jullien, VP Advanced Technology.

SILant® is available for evaluation within OLEA prototype boards for selected customers. More information on OLEA and SILant® can be found on Scaleo chip’s website.

About Scaleo chip:

Scaleo chip is a fabless semiconductor company that designs, develops and sells complete and high value solutions, combining System-on-Chip (SoC) and embedded software for the future of automotive electronics industry. Scaleo chip product offering includes standard automotive microcontrollers addressing powertrain, body control, driver information and infotainment applications. The company leverages its technology and know-how by offering additionally custom products development and manufacturing for applications requiring added quality constraints as in defense or industrial markets. Scaleo chip is headquartered in Sophia-Antipolis, France. For more information, visit:  www.scaleochip.com