TI technology fuels best-in-class audio and car control in Audi’s next-generation vehicles

USA: Texas Instruments Inc. (TI) confirmed that Audi’s MIB High system, the next-generation infotainment platform for Audi vehicles, is the first automotive system to incorporate TI’s “Jacinto 5” automotive infotainment processor.

Jacinto 5 plays an important role in the new architecture of Audi’s high infotainment systems, which consist of a multimedia applications unit (“MMX”) and a highly integrated radio and car control unit (“RCC”). Among other features, the processor enables feature-rich vehicle interfaces, and vivid digital radio and audio within the RCC unit in Audi’s MIB High system, which debuted in the 2012 Audi A3.

TI’s Jacinto 5 automotive infotainment processor is an automotive-qualified, heterogeneous multicore processor providing power, flexibility and real-time signal processing. The Jacinto 5 includes an integrated ARM Cortex-A8 core that manages middleware, drivers and applications stacks, along with a digital signal processor (DSP) that powers audio, radio and automotive low-level tasks.

The processor also integrates a rich collection of automotive peripherals and connectivity options. This highly integrated system-on-chip enables a cost-effective design for mid- to high-level infotainment systems and can scale to add the functionality of an external applications processor.

TI collaborated with Audi and other industry leaders to support Audi’s goal of providing best-in-class infotainment features to customers, while ensuring a long lifecycle for the vehicle interfaces. This long span, made possible by the MIB High system’s unique modular approach, allows developers to retain the stable vehicle processor within the RCC unit, and provides the flexibility to incorporate future consumer-demanded features to the MMX unit.

“TI and Audi’s collaboration has produced a truly paramount automotive infotainment system,” said Matthew Watson, product line manager, audio and infotainment, TI.

“Our scalable Jacinto 5 processing architecture enables Audi to equip consumers with leading-edge capabilities, without an on-going R&D investment for stable automotive features. The rich multimedia, high integration and extended lifecycle of the MIB High System will keep drivers and passengers entertained, informed and connected for the long run.”

“When designing the MIB High system, it was clear that we would need a highly integrated, robust and adaptable processor for the RCC unit,” said Dr. Peter Steiner, head of infotainment development AUDI AG. “TI’s Jacinto 5 processor surpasses those needs, and ensures that drivers and passengers receive the best of automotive infotainment in our latest vehicles.”