1999-09-20 , ESC-9984
Business News From Philips Semiconductors

Software upgradeable Silicon System Platform supports evolving standards and services

An innovative new approach to automotive electronic systems design - the  Nexperia Car Infotainment Platform (CIP) - is announced today by Philips Semiconductors, which will give the automotive industry a fast and flexible way of finding solutions to tap the vast emerging market for connecting cars to the global information superhighway.

Essentially, the Nexperia CIP is a generic architecture for the automotive application domain, consisting of components such as a reference architecture, specific hardware modules, software and interfaces. A design methodology created to speed development times of new and complete systems-on-silicon, Silicon System Platforms are based upon pre-defined, re-usable hardware and software modules fully-tested for interoperability and compatibility. Silicon System Platforms also incorporate scalable, advanced programmable processor cores, such as Philips Semiconductors' TriMedia™ VLIW (Very Long Instruction Word) and MIPS® RISC-based cores, to give maximum design flexibility.

The Nexperia CIP, announced at the IAA global automotive trade show in Frankfurt, 16-26 September 1999, makes it possible quickly to develop complex systems that combine many entertainment and telematics functions. For example, the Platform will facilitate the creation of an in-car 'mobile office' with features such as Internet and e-mail scheduling as well as state-of-the-art in-car entertainment, including the latest developments in in-car radio. Further applications could include GPS, route guidance and navigation to help drivers avoid traffic jams, download local maps and receive up-to-date travel information. These and similar functions can be incorporated quickly into one system, using the new Platform approach.

"A key benefit of our Nexperia CIP is the reduced design risk achieved through our use of tested, re-usable hardware and software modules", explained Pascal Langlois, vice president global market automotive at Philips Semiconductors. "Equally, in this rapidly evolving application area, remaining competitive demands the development of short time to market products. Our flexible platform approach allows us to work together with our customers to develop the car infotainment sytems of the future, adapting to their changing requirements and helping them be first on the market with their products."

The drive towards microprocessor-based electronics in the car, which has previously focused on improving car safety and performance, is now shifting towards linking cars to the world surrounding them. According to a report by marketing consultancy group Frost & Sullivan, the in-vehicle computing systems market, featuring telematics equipment as a major component, is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of more than 16 percent. A major feature of this growing market is the rapid convergence of consumer, computing and communications systems within the car.

Nexperia CIP is based on Philips Semiconductors' proven competencies in audio/visual, telecommunications and vehicle networking and demonstrates Philips Semiconductors' revolutionary approach to silicon system design. On August 30th at the IFA in Berlin, Philips Semiconductors already introduced the Nexperia Digital Video Platform to power the next generation of Digital Convergance Appliances for the home.

See for more information BG9907: Technical information on Philips Semiconductors' Nexperia™ Car Infotainment Platform (CIP)

Philips Semiconductors, a division of Royal Philips Electronics, headquartered in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, is the eighth largest semiconductor supplier based on Dataquest's 1998 report^*). It is a committed supplier of dedicated automotive systems and components focusing on a number of core areas: in-vehicle networks (IVNs), access and immobilization, and car 'infotainment'. In many of these areas, Philips Semiconductors is an acknowledged leader and is driving the development of a single integrated car telematics platform. These 'system' areas are backed by a world-class and extensive range of dedicated discrete semiconductors and sensors, and a wide portfolio of standard products. Philips Semiconductors' innovations in digital audio, video, and mobile technology also position the company as a leader in the consumer, multimedia and wireless communications markets. Sales offices are located in all major markets around the world and are supported by systems labs.

^*) Based on Vendor Revenue from Shipments of Total Semiconductors Worldwide according to Dataquest's 1998 Worldwide Semiconductor Market Share report published in May, 1999.

Nexperia is a trademark of Philips Electronics NV.
MIPS is a registered trademark of MIPS Technologies Inc.