Microchip launches TüV SüD-certified MPLAB tools

New MPLAB code coverage testing and diagnostic tools help better meet certification documentation requirements.

Many industries require functional safety certification, but certification is often a time-consuming and expensive process. Certification also requires extensive demonstration of the use of specific development tools, unless the tool itself has been certified by an authoritative functional safety professional body, such as the TüV SüD certification body in Munich, Germany. Microchip Technology Inc. announced that its MPLAB XC compiler has received TüV SüD functional safety certification, which will greatly simplify Microchip ’s PIC, AVR and SAM microcontrollers (MCUs) and dsPIC digital signal controllers (DSCs). Functional safety certification process. To further streamline the testing and diagnostics process, Microchip also introduced the MPLAB Code Coverage License, a new tool that determines whether parts of software have been tested in a way that has minimal impact on the application.

TüV SüD-certified MPLAB XC functional compilers meet the verification and validation requirements specified in the ISO 26262 automotive safety standard, IEC 61508 industrial application standard, IEC 62304 medical software standard, and IEC 60730 automatic electrical control standard. The MPLAB XC Functional Safety Compiler comes with additional documentation for certifying MPLAB X Integrated Development Environment (IDE) and MPLAB debugger and programmer. With no annual renewal fee, MPLAB XC Functional Safety License is the lowest cost solution on the market. Using Microchip MCUs with functional safety licenses can reduce application costs while reducing time to market.

Using code coverage tools to ensure high test coverage of embedded software usually requires a lot of hardware modification, expensive software, and a lot of effort to search large data files for relevant information. The MPLAB Code Coverage License avoids this situation and affects test time by less than 1%. Through a patented process, MPLAB code coverage licenses allow code testing to be done in one pass without breaking the code, saving time and eliminating the need to screen large data files. Because this code test data is often required when applying certification, this new code coverage license can further support the certification process.

Rodger Richey, senior director of development systems at Microchip, said: "Currently, the cost of functional safety tools for many MCU products is very high. Technical support helps customers accelerate time to market and further streamline development processes. "

Combining devices incorporating functional safety design with TüV SüD-certified MPLAB XC compilers and MPLAB code coverage tools can simplify functional safety certification for automotive, consumer electronics, aerospace, medical, and industrial applications.

In addition to providing development tools to more easily and economically meet functional safety standards, Microchip also offers many functional safety-ready PIC, AVR and SAM MCUs and dsPIC DSCs. For all functional safety-ready devices, Microchip provides Failure Mode Impact and Diagnostic Analysis (FMEDA) reports and safety manuals that achieve ISO 26262 to ASIL-B safety levels, and some products even reach ASIL-D safety levels.

Steve Drehobl, senior vice president of Microchip's 8-bit and 16-bit microcontroller business unit, said: "As a long-term supplier of automotive applications, we understand and actively respond to customer needs to help customers reduce development time and optimize the cost of safety products. We will continue to expand our microcontroller product line for safety applications to achieve a perfect match between function and value. "

Supply and pricing
MPLAB X IDE version 5.25 is available for free on the Microchip web site. The MPLAB Code Covered Workstation License is available now for $ 799. MPLAB XC8, XC16 and XC32 ++ Functional Safety Workstation licenses are available now for $ 2995 each.

For more information, contact a Microchip sales representative, a worldwide authorized distributor, or visit the Microchip website. To purchase this product, please visit the Microchip Direct Sales website or contact a Microchip authorized distributor. For information on Microchip's functional safety-ready PIC, AVR and SAM MCUs and dsPIC DSCs, visit the Microchip Functional Safety Design Center web page.