As consumers increasingly embrace downloadable applications that run on popular mobile products such as tablets and smartphones, automakers are looking to differentiate new car models with high performance driver information systems (DIS) that enable similar use cases for customizable in-dash applications and fully reconfigurable instrument clusters.

To meet this demand, Freescale Semiconductor has expanded its i.MX53 processor family with automotive versions designed to enable next-generation automotive multimedia applications. The i.MX536 and i.MX534 products are smartphone-class processors specifically designed for in-vehicle operation and engineered to meet the requirements of infotainment, converged telematics, and reconfigurable instrument cluster applications.

Because the visual aspect of the end product is foremost in the user’s impression of performance and quality, Freescale incorporates two independent graphics processing engines to render high frame rate graphics required for reconfigurable and highly realistic looking display-based instrument clusters. This allows automobile designers to migrate from fixed analog instrument clusters to a single display-based cluster that can be customized across vehicle families.

“Freescale’s history of leadership in the automotive industry gives us the insight to deliver solutions that meet the quality, reliability and longevity specs this market requires,” said Bernd Lienhard, vice president and general manager of Freescale’s Multimedia Applications Division. “Our advanced i.MX53 automotive processors enhance driver’s experiences by enabling new applications and larger, more intuitive displays, which increasingly influence automotive purchasing decisions.”

The i.MX53x family builds on Freescale’s previous generation i.MX51 processor that powers Ford’s recently introduced MyFord Touch. Ford’s next-generation touch screen multimedia infotainment platform provides a smarter, safer, simpler way to connect drivers with in-car technologies and their digital lives:

The i.MX53x processors are based on Freescale’s latest implementation of the ARM Cortex™-A8 core, which delivers 800 MHz of performance in automotive environments. For reconfigurable instrument cluster applications, the i.MX534 offers dual graphics processors for ultra fast rendering of 2D needles, combined with 3D images. The i.MX536 adds a dedicated hardware video processor capable of full 1080p video decode and 720p encode with minimal CPU loading for advanced multimedia applications. Both processors include a 400MHz external memory interface that supports common DDR2 and DDR3 memories as well as low power DDR2. The products’ dual parallel display ports and on board LVDS interface enable dual display applications. High performance multichannel audio and audio mixing applications are enabled via enhanced serial audio interface technology, multiple I2S I/O ports and a hardware based asynchronous sample rate converter.

The i.MX536 and i.MX534 devices are part of the Freescale Product Longevity program, with 15 years of assured supply.

i.MX53 SABRE reference platform
Freescale also plans to offer a Smart Application Blueprint for Rapid Engineering (SABRE) platform for automotive infotainment applications based on the i.MX53 family of automotive applications processors. The i.MX53 SABRE platform is ideal for developing many different types of advanced infotainment and telematics applications with dedicated connectivity for terrestrial and satellite radio tuners, WiFi, Bluetooth® technology, GPS, cellular modem, IAP authentication modules, MOST and CAN vehicle networking, cameras and displays. The platform is planned for availability with comprehensive software support in early 2011.

i.MX536/534 availability and pricing
The i.MX53x automotive processors are now available in sample quantities to select customers, with production quantities anticipated in the first half of 2011. Pricing and additional information are available from Freescale sales offices.