Automotive developers find easier path to ISO26262 safety conformance through Texas Instruments and Yogitech Collaboration

TI's TMS570 dual-core, lockstep ARM(R) Cortex(TM)-R4 MCUs being developed for use in ISO/DIS26262 and IEC 61508 functional safety systems

Houston, US, 18th October, 2010 -- Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE: TXN) and YOGITECH have announced their collaboration to accelerate ISO26262 enablement of 65-nanometer TMS570 safety microcontrollers (MCUs). Leveraging each company's strengths in silicon, functional safety and methodology, the collaboration will make future TMS570 devices suitable for use in systems conforming to the upcoming safety standard for the automotive industry. For more information on TMS570 MCUs, go to www.ti.com/tms570-prlp

TI has a proven functional safety development process based on the company's lockstep dual-core CPU architecture and has been deemed suitable for use in IEC 61508 systems. In May 2009, a functional safety assessment was performed by exida Consulting, LLC, and the TMS570LS2x was found to meet the requirements of safety standard IEC 61508 SIL-3.

"Carmakers want the fastest path to ISO26262 conformance, as the standard is set to publish in mid-2011 and will be a requirement in the electronics sourcing process," said Brian Fortman, system engineering manager for TI's TMS570 safety MCUs. "By working with YOGITECH, we are defining state-of-the-art functional safety for MCUs."

"Knowing TI's reputation and pedigree in delivering System-on-Chips (SoCs) for automotive safety, YOGITECH is excited to work with TI," said Silvano Motto, CEO of YOGITECH. "This collaboration is yet another acknowledgement of YOGITECH's consolidated reputation and also confirms our growth strategy in ISO26262 - and IEC61508 - related markets."

TI, a member of the International Working Group of ISO26262, has been delivering MCUs into the automotive industry for more than 20 years and has a strong history of leadership and innovation. TI's MCUs are used in the vast majority of automotive safety systems around the world, such as antilock braking systems and airbag electronics, steering, driver assistance, HEV/EV drivetrain and domain control. The TI automotive portfolio extends into mixed signal solutions integrating analog-, power-, digital-circuits, as well as embedded processors.

YOGITECH brings a wealth of functional safety background and knowledge to the collaboration through their globally recognized expertise in fault detection, avoidance and tolerant techniques. It is the owner of fRMethodology, a process flow allowing a safety oriented design exploration at SoC level thus providing quantification and validation of the HW architectural metrics and failure rates required for IEC61508 or ISO26262 certification. YOGITECH also holds a fault robust IP portfolio enabling and facilitating the compliance of electronic circuits to these functional safety norms.

The collaboration leverages TI's automotive expertise in silicon and electronic safety systems and YOGITECH's recognized leadership in methodologies for semiconductor design for functional safety. TI and YOGITECH have been contributing to the development of functional safety standards, including collaboration on the guidelines for the application of ISO26262 for MCUs.

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY

The TMS570LS2x is certified as suitable for use in IEC61508 SIL-3 systems. Sample devices, evaluation boards and development kits are available from the TI e-store and authorized distributors. To learn more or order this device, please visit www.ti.com/tms570-prlp

ABOUT TEXAS INSTRUMENTS

Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN) helps customers solve problems and develop new electronics that make the world smarter, healthier, safer, greener and more fun. A global semiconductor company, TI innovates through design, sales and manufacturing operations in more than 30 countries. For more information, go to www.ti.com

ABOUT YOGITECH

YOGITECH, founded in 2000, has grown from a company with a proven experience in the design and verification of digital and mixed-signal System-on-Chip to be a leading provider of solutions for safety critical ICs. Its innovative faultRobust technology (www.fr.yogitech.com) is a combination of IPs and methodologies to build and assess fault tolerant integrated circuits. YOGITECH is member of the International Working Group of ISO26262.