FPGA-to-ASIC integration provides flexibility in automotive microcontrollers

By Axel Zimmermann, Altera Europe 

The primary benefit of using MCUs has been high level system integration combined with relatively low cost. However, there are hidden costs associated with these devices well beyond the unit price.
  
The widely applied microcontroller in automotive electronics is heading full-speed at a wall of time and cost. The primary benefit of using microcontrollers (MCUs) has been high level system integration combined with relatively low cost. However, there are hidden costs associated with these devices well beyond the unit price. For example, if the chosen part does not have just the right mix of features, it must be augmented with external logic, software, or other integrated devices.

Further, with rapidly changing end-market requirements far more common in today's automotive sector, MCUs often become quickly unavailable. Many MCUs equipped with specialized features and a fixed number of dedicated interfaces do not fulfill market requirements after a short evaluation period. Consequently, system suppliers are being forced to redesign their hardware and re-write associated software, in some cases even having to change the processor core.

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