KUALA LUMPUR, Toshiba Electronic Devices and Storage Corporation (Toshiba) has started to provide samples of 'TB9033FTG', an automotive Clock Extension Peripheral Interface (CXPI) responder interface IC that conforms to the CXPI standard for automotive communications protocols. The TB9033FTG is the industry's first IC of its type with built-in hardware logics, which control transmission and reception by the CXPI protocol and general purpose input/output (GPIO). This eliminates the need for development of dedicated software and contributes to shorter product development times, according to Toshiba in a statement. The new IC has 16 GPIO pins in which six can be switched to AD converter input, and four to pulse width modulation (PWM) output. It also integrates functions that allow use in a broad spectrum of automotive applications such as input monitoring during Sleep Mode; switch matrix (max 4×4) input; and output in the event of communications disruption. With fault detection circuits for overheat, overv oltage and low voltage built into the IC, it also can detect conditions that precede an abnormality and send the data to the commander node, hence improving fault detection performance in automotive applications. In addition, the new product's support for multiplexing automotive communications and reducing the number of wire harnesses used in body control systems will contribute to lower vehicle weight. Toshiba is also developing an automotive CXPI communications driver receiver IC 'TB9032FNG' that can be switched between commander node and responder node via an external pin. Source: BERNAMA News Agency