Entry-level safety-critical MCUs cut cost and complexity
Meeting stringent safety requirements while minimising design costs and complexity, the AVR® SD family of microcontrollers (MCUs) from Microchip Technology features built-in functional safety mechanisms designed to support applications requiring rigorous safety assurance.
Paired with a dedicated safety software framework, this is the first entry-level MCU of its kind — at this price point — designed to meet Automotive Safety Integrity Level C (ASIL C) and Safety Integrity Level 2 (SIL 2) requirements, which mandate redundant safety checks. Further enhancing the safety credentials of the AVR SD family, the MCUs follow a functional safety management system that has been certified by TÜV Rheinland.
Hardware safety features include a dual-core lockstep CPU, dual ADCs, ECC on all memories, a dedicated error controller module, error injection mechanisms and voltage and clock monitors. These features reduce fault detection time and software complexity. The AVR SD family has the capability to detect internal faults quickly and deterministically, allowing applications to meet stringent Fault Detection Time Interval (FDTI) targets as low as 1 millisecond, helping prevent hazardous situations and increasing reliability.
The hardware features work with the safety framework software developed by Microchip to manage functional safety diagnostics. This enables the MCUs to detect and handle errors autonomously, initiating a safe state when necessary. The MCUs can serve as the main processor for essential functions, such as detecting thermal runaways or monitoring sensor data like rotary positions, with minimal power consumption. They are also ideal candidates for use as coprocessors in complex systems to mirror or offload safety-critical functions for applications targeting higher safety integrity levels up to ASIL D and SIL 3.
“When designing safety-critical applications, engineers have typically been limited to using expensive and complicated devices. By integrating specific safety features directly into an entry-level MCU and providing a supporting software framework, we are helping our customers meet stringent safety standards with greater efficiency,” said Greg Robinson, corporate vice president of Microchip’s MCU business unit. “With the AVR SD family, designers can significantly reduce development time and minimise system and certification costs.”
The AVR SD MCUs are designed in compliance with ISO 26262 and IEC 61508 standards. Specific applications include flight control systems, ignition control, robotics safety functions, ADAS and medical infusion pumps.
AVR SD MCUs are compatible with the TÜV SÜD functional safety certified MPLAB® XC8 Pro compiler and Microchip’s popular Curiosity Nano development board. The MCUs are supported by functional safety packages that include safety documentation (Failure Modes, Effects and Diagnostic analysis report, Safety manual, Dependent Fault Analysis report), safety software and compliance reports.
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