Freescale embedded silicon powers next-generation Ford SYNC system

LAS VEGAS, USA: Freescale Semiconductor’s i.MX516 multimedia applications processor and S12XEP100 microcontroller (MCU) are key embedded processing engines in the next-generation Ford SYNC in-car communications and entertainment system announced at CES in Las Vegas.

The Freescale S12X MCU enables the system’s CAN gateway and the Freescale i.MX processor provides powerful graphics and processing capabilities.

Ford’s award-winning SYNC system is designed to provide consumers the convenience and flexibility of bringing nearly any personal mobile device into their vehicle and operating it using voice commands, controls on the vehicle's steering wheel, or by touch-screen controls located on a center stack display.

Planned for availability from Ford this year, the next-generation SYNC enables users to move seamlessly between their home, car and office, staying connected wherever they go. New features included in the next-generation SYNC system and supported by Freescale technology include a highly advanced touch-screen display and expanded language speech detection.

“With its newest generation SYNC system, Ford has yet again revolutionized automotive communications and infotainment,” said Steve Nelson, marketing director for Freescale’s Global Automotive Segment. “Freescale is proud that i.MX and S12 technologies have delivered advanced processing for each version of Ford’s landmark SYNC system.”

i.MX516 processor
The i.MX516 processor is planned for AEC-Q100 qualification and designed for a variety of in-dash and after-market automotive applications. Several automotive OEMs have already selected the processor to deliver multimedia functionality in automobiles that will begin production in 2010.

Offering outstanding performance at automotive temperature ranges, the product is ideal for display-based instrument clusters, navigation, telematics and infotainment platforms, as well as other automotive applications. The device includes advanced graphics capabilities and a powerful video encode/decode hardware engine to provide rich multimedia experiences for drivers and passengers.

S12 microcontrollers
Based on the automotive industry's leading 16-bit MCU architecture, Freescale's S12 and S12X devices are designed to enable scalability, hardware and software reuse, and compatibility across a broad array of automotive electronics platforms.

The 16-bit MCU families are widely used in body, chassis and safety applications, as well as in cost-sensitive engine control designs. The S12 devices offer a broad range of performance and memory options (with on-chip flash scaling from 16 KB to 1 MB) and a smooth migration path to higher-performance S12X MCUs.