Microchip has developed a System-in-Package (SiP) that simplifies the development of automotive displays, writes Nick Flaherty.

The SAM9X75D5M SiP is AEC-Q100 Grade 2-qualified and supports large display sizes up to 10 in and XGA resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels. The SAM9X75 processor is based on an 800 MHz ARM926EJ-S core that supports the use of real-time operating systems alongside 512 Mbits of DDR2 SDRAM, a system controller and power management.

The SiP is tailored for automotive applications such as EV digital cockpit clusters, smart clusters for two- and three-wheelers and chargers, streamlining the development process by combining the MPU and memory into a single package. The device provides ample buffer space for automotive displays and offers flexible display interface options, including a MIPI Display Serial Interface, Low-Voltage Differential Signaling and RGB data in parallel.

The integration simplifies the PCB layout to reduce routing complexity and minimises discrete DRAM procurement risk. Integrating DDR2 memory directly into the package helps protect designers from the volatility and supply constraints that have historically affected the discrete DDR memory market.

“One of the advantages of a SiP is that it provides significantly more RAM buffer space than a traditional MCU implementation and on a much more compact PCB than can be done with discrete memory – giving designers options to fit complex designs into a small space,” said Rod Drake, corporate vice president of Microchip Technology’s MPU business unit.

The SiP also includes CAN FD, USB and Gigabit Ethernet, supports the Time-Sensitive Networking protocol and comes with integrated 2D graphics. The Microchip Graphics Suite or other third-party graphics software tools such as Crank, LVGL, Altia and Embedded Wizard can be used to develop graphics.

The SAM9X75D5M SiP is supported by the MPLAB X Integrated Development Environment and MPLAB Harmony Software Framework to enable development for FreeRTOS and Eclipse ThreadX as well as bare-metal software.