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TI helps developers make the world safer with its new Hercules(TM) safety microcontroller platform for medical, industrial & transportation applications
New MCUs ease IEC 61508 SIL 3 and ISO 26262 ASIL-D system certification with dual floating-point ARM® Cortex(TM)-R4F cores in lockstep, integrated diagnostics and safety documentation
HOUSTON, Sept. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Designed to help developers obtain safety certifications, Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE: TXN) today announced its new Hercules safety microcontroller platform for medical, industrial and transportation applications. The platform consists of three ARM Cortex-based microcontroller families that deliver scalable performance, connectivity, memory and safety features for applications that require a high level of reliability. Unlike many microcontrollers that rely heavily on software for safety capabilities, Hercules microcontrollers implement safeguards in hardware to maximize performance and reduce software overhead. Coupled with robust tools, software and safety documentation, this functionality gives developers the headroom to differentiate their end products and speed time to market. For more information, visit http://www.ti.com/hercules-pr-lp.
To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, go to: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/texasinstruments/39162
Hercules safety microcontrollers are rooted in TI's 20+ years of safety-critical system expertise, industry collaboration and proven hardware for the automotive market. The new Hercules RM4x family provides the highest levels of performance for broad applications, including medical and industrial. The Hercules TMS570 family addresses transportation applications and the Hercules TMS470M family cost-efficiently meets the needs of applications that require less performance.
Advanced safety features of the high-performance Hercules RM4x and TMS570 families:
The Hercules RM4x and TMS570 microcontroller families provide safety features in hardware to detect random faults and protect against systematic faults.
-- Dual ARM Cortex-R4F floating-point cores in lockstep provide the highest
level of on line diagnostics
-- CPU and all bus masters include memory protection
-- Error correction code (ECC) for flash and RAM with Single Bit Error
Correction and Double Bit Error Detection (SECDED) evaluated in the
lockstep CPUs without performance impact
-- CPU and RAM include built-in-self-test (BIST) for detection of potential
latent faults without software overhead
-- Parity on peripheral RAMs, dual analog-to-digital-converters (ADCs) and
timers, as well as voltage and clock monitoring for additional
diagnostic coverage
-- Intelligent Error Signaling Module allows the end application to take
appropriate action based on the type of error
-- Safety manual details how to implement Hercules MCUs into
safety-critical applications
-- Failure Modes, Effects and Diagnostic Analysis (FMEDA) provides the
failure rate information needed to meet safety standards
Features and benefits of the Hercules RM4x MCU family:
-- Up to 220 MHz based on dual ARM Cortex-R4F floating-point cores in
lockstep, providing high performance for industrial automation, servo
drives and medical instrumentation such as diagnostic and therapeutic
equipment
-- Supports single and double precision floating-point math to execute
complex math
-- Capable of achieving International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
61508 SIL-3 safety standard
-- Ethernet, CAN, and USB connectivity for networking capabilities
important to safety-critical industrial automation and medical
instrumentation
-- Up to 3 MB flash and 256KB RAM for feature-rich applications
Features and benefits of the Hercules TMS570 MCU family:
-- Up to 180 MHz based on dual ARM Cortex-R4F floating-point cores in
lockstep, providing performance for transportation applications, such as
railway, aerospace and automotive
-- Supports single and double precision floating-point math to execute
complex math
-- Capable of achieving ISO 26262 ASIL-D and IEC 61508 SIL-3 safety
standards and is AEC-Q100 qualified to satisfy automotive requirements
-- Operation up to 125 degrees Celsius to address transportation
temperature ranges
-- Ethernet, CAN, and FlexRay(TM) connectivity for higher-bandwidth
networking required for existing and evolving transportation
applications
-- Up to 3MB flash and 256KB RAM for feature-rich applications
Features and benefits of the Hercules TMS470M MCU family:
-- Up to 80 MHz based on an ARM Cortex-M3 core provides cost-efficient
performance
-- AEC-Q100 qualified to satisfy automotive requirements and support for
IEC 61508 system safety requirements
-- Local Interconnect Network (LIN) and CAN support common transportation
networking
-- 320 - 640KB flash and 16 - 48KB RAM address varying memory requirements
Tools and support for safety-critical development
To get started quickly, developers can use the low-cost Hercules USB Stick Development Kits or the full-featured Hercules Development Kits. Each kit comes with all the hardware and software required to get up and running quickly, including TI's Code Composer Studio(TM) integrated development environment, HALCoGen peripheral configuration tool and a Safety Demo that showcases BIST execution and error forcing modes.
Pricing and availability
Hercules microcontrollers range from $5 - $30 USD at 10K unit quantities and are immediately available for order. The RM4x Hercules USB Stick Development Kit (TMDXRM48USB) is priced at $79 USD and the RM4x Hercules Development Kit (TMDXRM48HDK) is priced at $199 USD. The kits are available to order at http://www.ti.com/hercules-pr-es. Additional information on tool options and pricing can be found at http://www.ti.com/hercules-tools-pr.
TI's broad portfolio of microcontrollers (MCUs) and software
From general purpose, ultra-low power MSP430(TM) MCUs, to Stellaris® Cortex(TM)-M MCUs to real-time control C2000(TM) MCUs, and now Hercules safety MCUs, TI offers the broadest range of microcontroller solutions. Designers can accelerate time to market by tapping into TI's complete software and hardware tools, extensive third-party offerings and technical support.
Find out more about TI's MCUs, tools and software:
-- Video overview of Hercules microcontrollers: http://www.ti.com/hercules-pr-v
-- Whitepaper: Hercules safety microcontrollers: http://www.ti.com/hercules-pr-mc
-- Hercules safety microcontrollers product pages:
http://www.ti.com/hercules-pr-lp
-- Make the Switch to TI MCUs: http://www.ti.com/make-the-switch-pr-lp
-- TI eStore: http://www.ti.com/hercules-pr-es
About Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments semiconductor innovations help 80,000 customers unlock the possibilities of the world as it could be - smarter, safer, greener, healthier and more fun. Our commitment to building a better future is ingrained in everything we do - from the responsible manufacturing of our semiconductors, to caring for our employees, to giving back inside our communities. This is just the beginning of our story. Learn more at http://www.ti.com.
Trademarks
Stellaris is a registered trademark and Hercules, MSP430, C2000 and Code Composer Studio are trademarks of Texas Instruments Incorporated. All registered trademarks and other trademarks belong to their respective owners.
SOURCE Texas Instruments
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110906/MM62198
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20010105/NEF016LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Video:http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/texasinstruments/39162
Texas Instruments
CONTACT: Mark Welsh, GolinHarris, +1-972-341-2513, mwelsh@golinharris.com or Patty Arellano, Texas Instruments, +1-214-567-7828, parellano@ti.com
Web Site: http://www.ti.com
TI helps developers make the world safer with its new Hercules(TM) safety microcontroller platform for medical, industrial & transportation applications
New MCUs ease IEC 61508 SIL 3 and ISO 26262 ASIL-D system certification with dual floating-point ARM® Cortex(TM)-R4F cores in lockstep, integrated diagnostics and safety documentation
HOUSTON, Sept. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Designed to help developers obtain safety certifications, Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE: TXN) today announced its new Hercules safety microcontroller platform for medical, industrial and transportation applications. The platform consists of three ARM Cortex-based microcontroller families that deliver scalable performance, connectivity, memory and safety features for applications that require a high level of reliability. Unlike many microcontrollers that rely heavily on software for safety capabilities, Hercules microcontrollers implement safeguards in hardware to maximize performance and reduce software overhead. Coupled with robust tools, software and safety documentation, this functionality gives developers the headroom to differentiate their end products and speed time to market. For more information, visit http://www.ti.com/hercules-pr-lp.
To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, go to: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/texasinstruments/39162
Hercules safety microcontrollers are rooted in TI's 20+ years of safety-critical system expertise, industry collaboration and proven hardware for the automotive market. The new Hercules RM4x family provides the highest levels of performance for broad applications, including medical and industrial. The Hercules TMS570 family addresses transportation applications and the Hercules TMS470M family cost-efficiently meets the needs of applications that require less performance.
Advanced safety features of the high-performance Hercules RM4x and TMS570 families:
The Hercules RM4x and TMS570 microcontroller families provide safety features in hardware to detect random faults and protect against systematic faults.
-- Dual ARM Cortex-R4F floating-point cores in lockstep provide the highest
level of on line diagnostics
-- CPU and all bus masters include memory protection
-- Error correction code (ECC) for flash and RAM with Single Bit Error
Correction and Double Bit Error Detection (SECDED) evaluated in the
lockstep CPUs without performance impact
-- CPU and RAM include built-in-self-test (BIST) for detection of potential
latent faults without software overhead
-- Parity on peripheral RAMs, dual analog-to-digital-converters (ADCs) and
timers, as well as voltage and clock monitoring for additional
diagnostic coverage
-- Intelligent Error Signaling Module allows the end application to take
appropriate action based on the type of error
-- Safety manual details how to implement Hercules MCUs into
safety-critical applications
-- Failure Modes, Effects and Diagnostic Analysis (FMEDA) provides the
failure rate information needed to meet safety standards
Features and benefits of the Hercules RM4x MCU family:
-- Up to 220 MHz based on dual ARM Cortex-R4F floating-point cores in
lockstep, providing high performance for industrial automation, servo
drives and medical instrumentation such as diagnostic and therapeutic
equipment
-- Supports single and double precision floating-point math to execute
complex math
-- Capable of achieving International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
61508 SIL-3 safety standard
-- Ethernet, CAN, and USB connectivity for networking capabilities
important to safety-critical industrial automation and medical
instrumentation
-- Up to 3 MB flash and 256KB RAM for feature-rich applications
Features and benefits of the Hercules TMS570 MCU family:
-- Up to 180 MHz based on dual ARM Cortex-R4F floating-point cores in
lockstep, providing performance for transportation applications, such as
railway, aerospace and automotive
-- Supports single and double precision floating-point math to execute
complex math
-- Capable of achieving ISO 26262 ASIL-D and IEC 61508 SIL-3 safety
standards and is AEC-Q100 qualified to satisfy automotive requirements
-- Operation up to 125 degrees Celsius to address transportation
temperature ranges
-- Ethernet, CAN, and FlexRay(TM) connectivity for higher-bandwidth
networking required for existing and evolving transportation
applications
-- Up to 3MB flash and 256KB RAM for feature-rich applications
Features and benefits of the Hercules TMS470M MCU family:
-- Up to 80 MHz based on an ARM Cortex-M3 core provides cost-efficient
performance
-- AEC-Q100 qualified to satisfy automotive requirements and support for
IEC 61508 system safety requirements
-- Local Interconnect Network (LIN) and CAN support common transportation
networking
-- 320 - 640KB flash and 16 - 48KB RAM address varying memory requirements
Tools and support for safety-critical development
To get started quickly, developers can use the low-cost Hercules USB Stick Development Kits or the full-featured Hercules Development Kits. Each kit comes with all the hardware and software required to get up and running quickly, including TI's Code Composer Studio(TM) integrated development environment, HALCoGen peripheral configuration tool and a Safety Demo that showcases BIST execution and error forcing modes.
Pricing and availability
Hercules microcontrollers range from $5 - $30 USD at 10K unit quantities and are immediately available for order. The RM4x Hercules USB Stick Development Kit (TMDXRM48USB) is priced at $79 USD and the RM4x Hercules Development Kit (TMDXRM48HDK) is priced at $199 USD. The kits are available to order at http://www.ti.com/hercules-pr-es. Additional information on tool options and pricing can be found at http://www.ti.com/hercules-tools-pr.
TI's broad portfolio of microcontrollers (MCUs) and software
From general purpose, ultra-low power MSP430(TM) MCUs, to Stellaris® Cortex(TM)-M MCUs to real-time control C2000(TM) MCUs, and now Hercules safety MCUs, TI offers the broadest range of microcontroller solutions. Designers can accelerate time to market by tapping into TI's complete software and hardware tools, extensive third-party offerings and technical support.
Find out more about TI's MCUs, tools and software:
-- Video overview of Hercules microcontrollers: http://www.ti.com/hercules-pr-v
-- Whitepaper: Hercules safety microcontrollers: http://www.ti.com/hercules-pr-mc
-- Hercules safety microcontrollers product pages:
http://www.ti.com/hercules-pr-lp
-- Make the Switch to TI MCUs: http://www.ti.com/make-the-switch-pr-lp
-- TI eStore: http://www.ti.com/hercules-pr-es
About Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments semiconductor innovations help 80,000 customers unlock the possibilities of the world as it could be - smarter, safer, greener, healthier and more fun. Our commitment to building a better future is ingrained in everything we do - from the responsible manufacturing of our semiconductors, to caring for our employees, to giving back inside our communities. This is just the beginning of our story. Learn more at http://www.ti.com.
Trademarks
Stellaris is a registered trademark and Hercules, MSP430, C2000 and Code Composer Studio are trademarks of Texas Instruments Incorporated. All registered trademarks and other trademarks belong to their respective owners.
SOURCE Texas Instruments
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110906/MM62198
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20010105/NEF016LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Video:http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/texasinstruments/39162
Texas Instruments
CONTACT: Mark Welsh, GolinHarris, +1-972-341-2513, mwelsh@golinharris.com or Patty Arellano, Texas Instruments, +1-214-567-7828, parellano@ti.com
Web Site: http://www.ti.com