Fujitsu details automotive, security, and wireless ICs

In a press conference staged in conjunction with the embedded systems conference today, Fujitsu Microelectronics revealed plans for new chips in several key market segments. The company is expanding its portfolio of graphics processors for applications such as mobile devices and automotive telematics systems. The company has a new family of network security ICs that support legacy IPv4 networks and emerging IPv6 networks. The company is preparing to launch its WiMAX IC next month, and is preparing to enter the low-speed, low-cost wireless space with a Zigbee device.

Perhaps the boldest of the company’s plans centers on a new technology for in-car automotive networks called FlexRay. The company is a member of an alliance of automotive, semiconductor, and systems manufacturers pursuing the new standard. Sr Marketing Manager Akio Nezu stated, “FlexRay targets brake-by-wire, steer-by-wire, stability control, and other systems that require reliability.” The technology will both usurp CAN networks and/or serve as a backbone to connect multiple CAN networks Typically CAN systems operate at less than 1 Mbits/sec while FlexRay will operate at 10 Mbits/sec. Today, Fujitsu offers an FPGA-based FlexRay development board. Late this year the company will ship a stand-alone FlexRay controller.

In the Zigbee space, the company expects to roll out a chip next quarter. Nezu stated, “Fujitsu expects to reach 1,000 million units by 2009. The major application will be home automation and home networks.” Meanwhile the network security announcements included the new MB9142 AES- and DES-enabled 32-bit microcontroller for network appliances.