Altera Automotive-Grade Products Questions and Answers
Following are the most frequently asked questions about Altera® automotive-grade products.
What are automotive-grade products from Altera?
Altera's automotive-grade products consist of a select group of semiconductor integrated circuits (ICs); specifically FPGA, CPLD, and HardCopy® ASICs. These products are intended for use in automotive applications and meet specific criteria: operation over an automotive temperature range of -40°C to +125°C (junction) and adherence to automotive-specific quality standards. These devices are denoted by unique device ordering codes.
Where can I find more details about Altera’s automotive-grade products?
Altera has several web pages discussing automotive solutions, ranging from devices (i.e., automotive-grade products) to automotive solutions (reference designs, development kits, intellectual property (IP) cores, etc.), plus the Automotive-Grade Device Handbook (PDF).
Why are extended temperature solutions needed in automotive applications?
All of Altera’s automotive-grade devices are qualified to operate at -40°C to +125°C (junction). Altera’s automotive grade MAX® 7000AE CPLDs go one step further, supporting -40°C to +130°C (junction), ideally suited for engine control units.
As automotive electronics evolve toward more sophisticated systems (such as telematics applications), they require the integration of various complex functions, increasing the need for ICs that allow easy design of these applications. At the same time, the business landscape for the automotive electronics equipment supply market has changed dramatically over the past five years. It has gone from a captive market, where the car manufacturers used their own electronics design groups, to a competitive model, where electronics systems manufacturers now compete with each other.
Systems manufacturers now face the difficult task of producing specific equipment in a more fragmented market with a greater variety of options. Meanwhile, releasing a new product does not guarantee volume sales. Today's short product life cycles often require a flexible, scalable product to amortize the development cost of a single platform.
In this environment, programmable logic devices (PLDs) offer automotive electronics manufacturers many advantages over custom ASICs, including lower development costs, shorter development times, and a flexible, reconfigurable design platform. Programmable logic enables the rapid development of different platforms within product lines or aftermarket upgrades, giving you the most responsive solution possible to a rapidly changing marketplace.
What type of applications benefit from automotive-grade devices with extended temperature support?
Altera automotive-grade devices featuring extended temperature support are designed for use in automotive driver information applications such as climate control, infotainment systems, navigation systems, and driver assistance. Other applications include vehicle networking and engine control units.
When will Altera’s automotive-grade products be available?
All of Altera’s automotive-grade devices are available.
Will other Altera products be offered in the automotive grade?
Altera will continue to evaluate requests from its customers in addition to developing new products suitable for automotive applications. We expect to see additional programmable and ASIC products added to the automotive-grade portfolio in the future.
Are Altera automotive-grade products pin-to-pin compatible with commercial, industrial, and extended temperature products?
Yes. All of Altera’s automotive-grade devices are functional and pin-compatible with their commercial, industrial, or extended counterparts.
Are there data sheets for Altera's automotive-grade products?
Yes. The Automotive-Grade Device Handbook (PDF) is available for download. Further details can be found in the data sheet or handbook for each device family.
What Altera software supports the design of extended temperature products?
Altera's Quartus® II design software is the #1 design software in performance and productivity. This software features a comprehensive environment available for system-on-a-programmable-chip (SOPC) design, encompassing design flows for CPLDs, FPGAs, HardCopy ASICs, Nios® II 32-bit microcontrollers, digital signal processing (DSP) and/or video imaging, and other custom logic…all in a single tool. Dramatically improve your productivity compared to other FPGA competitors. Take advantage of the following productivity enhancing features today:
A no-cost web edition of the software supports all of the automotive grade CPLDs and FPGAs and can be downloaded from the Altera website. A more comprehensive version is available on a subscription basis and is required for HardCopy ASIC designs.
Quartus II software version 8.0 and later supports all the automotive-grade devices.
Does Altera have a quality assurance program to support automotive-grade products?
Altera has a sophisticated quality assurance system based on infrastructure designed to support a zero PPM roadmap and ISO 9001 certification, which was granted in 1994. The TS-16949 standard is the automotive portion of ISO 9001:2000. All of Altera’s automotive-grade semiconductor products are manufactured at TS-16949-compliant facilities. Altera’s manufacturing wafer fab partner (TSMC) and its packaging and test partners (ASE and AMKOR) are TS-16949 certified and registered. Altera's in-house reliability and failure analysis laboratories ensure that Altera products meet and exceed the demanding requirements of the automotive marketplace. Automotive-grade devices are tested to AEC-Q100 specifications.
Is Altera ISO certified?
Yes. Altera was granted ISO 9001 certification in 1994 and has been continuously requalified since then.
Are Altera's sources QS9000 certified?
Yes. Each of Altera's assembly plant partners and Altera's wafer fabrication partner, TSMC, are QS9000 approved.
What are the key points to remember about Altera's automotive-grade products?
- Targeted for use in automotive electronics
- Support the automotive temperature range: -40°C to +125°C (junction) and -40°C to +130°C (junction) for MAX 7000AE CPLDs
- Meet automotive quality requirements: AEC-Q100, fully TS-16949 registered and certified manufacturing flow and PPAP support
- Quartus II all-in-one design software provides performance and productivity benefits not found elsewhere in the market
- IP cores, development kits, reference designs, and design examples to meet the needs of those who want a full turn-key solution
- Reduce time to market, extend product life cycle, and increase product flexibility
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