STMicroelectronics has launched the industry's first integrated power-management solution for media-oriented systems transport (MOST) networks. Optimized for in-car multimedia and infotainment applications, the MOST network was originally developed for the automotive industry, but also has a wide range of applications in many other industries.

The new L5961 power management IC, which has been designed in cooperation with fabless semiconductor manufacturer SMSC to work with that company's MOST network processors, includes both the power supply and MOST-compliant power-management control logic, together with enhanced diagnostic and full system monitoring (power supply, network status, wake-up events, temperature).

A chipset combining the L5961 power-management IC and SMSC network processor can serve as a building block in any MOST network node, and provides significantly more independence from the individual applications that are connected to the network, in terms of turn-on/off timing and device failure, for example. Additionally, the combined chipset, once validated, can be placed in any MOST application without having to be redesigned and revalidated each time, according to ST.

Other features of the L5961 include an integrated 5 or 3.3 V, 650 mA DC-DC converter, which supplies the network processor and can also supply power to an external low-voltage application, two voltage regulators to supply power to the fiber-optic transmitter and fiber-optic receiver, a diagnostic transceiver for the network physical layer, and the integration of three battery detectors for voltage monitoring. In addition, the device features multiple power modes, including an ultrazero power mode that offers a typical quiescent current of only 5 μA, a considerably lower value than that achieved with discrete components.

Encased in a PowerSSO36 package, or in the PowerSO36 option for applications requiring a higher thermal dissipation, engineering samples of the L5961 are available now to lead customers. Full qualification of the L5961, ready for volume production, is planned for the third quarter. The L5961 is priced at $3 in quantities of 1000.
STMicroelectronics • www.st.com | SMSC • www.smsc.com

Altera Corp. will begin shipping automotive-grade devices for selected mem-bers of its CPLD, FPGA and structured ASIC device families. The automotive-grade specification meets stringent automotive-specific quality and reliability standards. This is the latest in a series of developments by Altera to supply auto-motive OEMs the ability to build scalable platforms for emerging automotive infotainment, networking and driver-assistance applications. Unlike ASICs and ASSPs, these platforms are easily differentiated across vehicle classes. Using programmable logic solutions, automotive products can accommodate feature needs that are changing faster than typical automotive design cycles and faster than ASSP products, according to the supplier.

Selected members of Altera's product families are designated automotive grade, including the MAX 7000AE and MAX II CPLDs, Cyclone, Cyclone II and Cyclone III FPGAs and HardCopy II structured ASICs. According to Altera, its low-cost Cyclone III FPGAs are the industry's only automotive-grade FPGAs at the 65 nm node and its HardCopy II structured ASICs are the industry's only automotive-grade structured ASICs.

The automotive-grade devices are ISO/TS1-6949 compliant, meeting ISO 9001:-2000, automotive and customer-specific re-quirements. All of Altera's manufacturing partners are TS16949 certified and registered, which includes wafer fabrication locations (TSMC) and packaging and test partners (ASE and AMKOR). In addition, the company said that its automotive-grade products are tested according to AEC-Q100 specifications, support the production part approval process (PPAP) and have an operating junction temperature range of -40 to +125 °C.

For fast and efficient development of automotive applications, the supplier has readied a scalable development platform called PARIS. Jointly developed by Altera and TRS-STAR, the FPGA-based PARIS platform is designed to enable the easy integration of pre-approved intellectual property (IP) from Altera and partners. The PARIS platform allows automotive OEMs to port their designs into a production-qualified FPGA or migrate to a low-cost, high-performance HardCopy II structured ASIC. Available IP cores include Altera's Nios II and ARM's M1 Cortex embedded processors, as well as digital signal processing (DSP) and video and imaging IP suites, and support for the latest automotive networking standards such as CAN, MOST, LIN, and FlexRay.

Altera Corp.
www.altera.com/automotive

The Automotive Sensors division of PCB Piezotronics has released a series of pedal effort load cells for automotive test applications, including brake development, drivability, vehicle handling, and legislative & safety testing. Designed to measure the force required to operate a vehicle's primary brake, clutch, or floor-mounted emergency brake pedals, the series 1515 brake pedal effort sensor with integral cable is compact, with a 1.19-inch (3.02 cm) overall height. It is designed to be easy to install and remove, and is temperature-compensated for +30 to +130 °F (-1 to +54 °C).

It is designed with high overload protection (500% of FS), and an integral load-ing surface that rejects off-axis loading errors. These sensors are offered in a range of capacities, and provide good resolution, linearity, and repeatability in static (constant force) and dynamic (panic stop) loading events.
PCB Piezotronics • www.pcb.com

On Semiconductor's low dropout (LDO) voltage regulator NCV8674 is a precision 5.0 V fixed output, low dropout integrated voltage regulator with an output current capability of 350 mA. Careful management of light load current consumption, combined with a low leakage process, achieve a typical quiescent ground current of 27 µA, meeting the latest 100 µA automotive module quiescent current requirement, said On Semi. The output voltage is accurate within ±2.0%, and maximum dropout voltage is 600 mV at full-rated load current. It is internally protected against input supply reversal, output overcurrent faults, and excess die temperature. NCV8674 is pin compatible with the NCV4274, so there is minimal layout impact when converting to the new module quiescent current requirement. Available in D2PAK-3, it is priced at $1.54.
On Semiconductor • www.onsemi.com