Kit speeds evaluation of FlexRay controllers

A new FlexRay Evaluation Kit from Fujitsu Microelectronics Europe aims to help customers get working FlexRay products to market in the fastest possible time.

The new FlexRay Evaluation Kit from Fujitsu Microelectronics Europe is an FPGA-based development platform that enables the design and verification of hardware and software applications before production silicon is available, enabling customers to get working FlexRay products to market in the fastest possible time.

This FlexRay Evaluation Kit is the first product in which Fujitsu will use the FlexRay controller IP that it recently licensed from Bosch.

The kit consists of an FPGA board providing the FlexRay communication controller, the physical layer, and an MCU starter kit equipped with the MB91369, a 32bit FR50 core.

Along with the hardware comes a software package featuring a ready-to-use communication example.

The software package includes a communication stack for the FlexRay controller IP that meets series production requirements for evaluation purposes or prototype development.

The modular design of the FPGA board assures that any updates in the protocol or physical layer specifications can be implemented quickly without the need for a complete redesign.

The board has pre-installed RS485 bus drivers.

The board also provides sockets that allow third-party plug-in modules with FlexRay-compliant drivers to be added.

The comprehensive package combined with the flexibility that FPGAs offer, will fulfil any requirements that designers need to develop FlexRay applications.

The MB91369 FR50 core has been chosen, as there are MCU starter kits already in use at many customers.

The 32bit RISC core has Harvard architecture, with a five-stage pipeline offering a single cycle instruction execution.

This makes it powerful enough for the most demanding automotive applications.

The 32bit parallel bus interface of the FR50 core allows rapid access to the FlexRay controller.

Fujitsu will build on the FlexRay range by releasing a stand-alone ASSP during 2005, and in early 2006 the first embedded FlexRay 32bit MCU will follow.

Embedding FlexRay IP into a single-chip MCU will further advance the performance and range of automotive electronic control applications.

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