In recent years, the rapid evolution of automotive electronic electrical architecture has posed new demands on MCUs, including higher computing power, enhanced functional safety, information security, OTA capability, stronger communication capabilities, and network bandwidth. NXP has introduced the upgraded S32K3 series MCU as a response to these demands, building upon the S32K1 platform.
Comparison between S32K3 and S32K1:
Higher Computing Power: The core is upgraded to Arm Cortex-M7, with a maximum frequency increased to 320MHz.
Functional Safety: While S32K1 achieves functional safety up to Asil B level, S32K344 based on lock-step core products achieves functional safety level up to Asil D.
Information Security: S32K1’s security core CSEc cannot perform asymmetric encryption, whereas S32K3’s HSE-B engine can implement advanced encryption including asymmetric encryption, making it the highest level security engine for current automotive MCUs, surpassing HSM modules.
Communication Upgrade: S32K1 supports a maximum of only 3 CAN channels, while S32K3 supports up to 8 CAN/FD channels; Ethernet is upgraded to a maximum of 1Gbps, supporting both audio-video bridging (AVB) and time-sensitive networking (TSN).
Smaller Package: MaxQFP, an NXP patented packaging technology, reduces the package size by half compared to LQFP with the same pin count.
To enable customers to quickly familiarize themselves with this chip, AiRui Electronics has launched a highly streamlined development kit, SEED-S32K3B_CORE. With this development kit, customers can easily evaluate S32K3 and conveniently integrate the development kit into their own systems, enabling in-depth evaluation and system testing before development.
Solution Introduction:
The schematic diagram of SEED-S32K3B_CORE
The core chip of SEED-S32K3B_CORE adopts LFBGA257 package
The physical diagram of the SEED-S32K3B_CORE development kit
Functions and Features
1. Power Supply:
The S32K3 chip requires three external power supplies: VDD_HV_A, VDD_HV_B, and V15. The board can be powered in two ways: one is an external 12V power supply, generating the required 5V and 3.3V for the board through the FS26 power chip on the board, and the other is to directly share the 5V power supply to the core chip externally, without using the FS26 power chip on the board. This latter method simplifies the system, requiring only a single 5V power supply for the entire system without the need for other power chips. These two methods can be easily switched using jumpers.
The power chip FS26 on the board is developed according to the ISO26262 standard, providing enhanced safety features such as multiple fault shutdown outputs, covering ASIL B and ASIL D safety integrity levels, and the latest on-demand potential fault monitoring. FS26 has multiple switching regulators and LDO regulators, providing power to microcontrollers, sensors, peripheral ICs, and communication interfaces. FS26 provides high-precision reference voltages, reference voltages for two independent voltage tracking regulators, and various functions for system control and diagnosis, such as analog multiplexers, general-purpose IO, and optional wakeup events from I/O, long-term timers, or SPI communication.
In normal operation, FS26 needs to be fed periodically to work properly, which is not conducive to initial product debugging. Therefore, jumper JP6 on the board is used to select the working mode of FS26, which can choose Flash mode, Debug mode, or normal operation mode. In this system, FS26 generates three output voltages: 5V, 3.3V, and 1.5V, and users can flexibly choose different power supply modes through jumpers. If you want to make the system simpler, you can choose not to use FS26 by jumper selection and directly connect a 5V power supply, adopting a 5V power supply mode.
In summary, users can choose the following power supply modes through jumpers:
VDD_HV_A = VREFH = VDD_HV_B = +5.0V (external), V15 = +1.5V (external NPN transistor)
VDD_HV_A = VREFH = VDD_HV_B = +5.0V (FS26), V15 = +1.5V (external NPN transistor)
VDD_HV_A = VREFH = VDD_HV_B = +3.3V (FS26), V15 = +1.5V (external NPN transistor)
VDD_HV_A = VREFH = VDD_HV_B = +5.0V (FS26), V15 = +1.5V (FS26)
VDD_HV_A = VREFH = VDD_HV_B = +3.3V (FS26), V15 = +1.5V (FS26)
VDD_HV_A = VREFH = +5.0V (FS26), VDD_HV_B = +3.3V, V15 = +1.5V (external NPN transistor)
VDD_HV_A = VREFH = +5.0V (FS26), VDD_HV_B = +3.3V, V15 = +1.5V (FS26)
Since the two power input methods share a single connector, it is possible that during actual use, there may be a situation where a jumper selects 5V while a 12V external power supply is connected. In this case, the board has built-in 5V overvoltage protection function. The board will automatically power off and light up the overvoltage protection warning light to protect the main chip.
2. CAN
One CAN interface is expanded on the board, which is implemented through the TJA1044 chip. TJA1044 is a high-speed CAN transceiver belonging to the Mantis series. It provides an interface between the CAN protocol controller and the physical dual-wire CAN bus. The transceiver is specifically designed for high-speed CAN applications in the automotive industry, providing the function of sending and receiving differential signals for the CAN protocol controller (in the microcontroller). TJA1044's various features are optimized for 12V automotive applications, with significantly improved performance compared to NXP's first and second-generation CAN transceivers (such as TJA1040), and outstanding electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) performance. Additionally, TJA1044 features include:
Ideal passive performance of CAN bus when power is disconnected
Extremely low current standby mode with bus wake-up function
Excellent EMC performance even at speeds up to 500 kbit/s without common mode chokes
These features make TJA1044 an ideal choice for all types of HS-CAN networks, for nodes that require low-power modes and wake-up via the CAN bus.
TJA1044 implements the current ISO11898 standard (ISO11898-2:2003, ISO11898-5:2007, and the updated version of ISO 11898-2:2016 to be released soon) defining the CAN physical layer. The data transmission rate of TJA1044T is up to 1 Mbit/s. Additional timing parameters defining loop delay symmetry for CAN FD and SAE-J2284-4/5 will be specified for TJA1044GT and TJA1044GTK in the ISO11898-2:2016 version to be released, enabling reliable communication even at data rates up to 5 Mbit/s under CAN FD fast phase.
3. Debug Interface:
Additionally, the board also provides the following debug interface, allowing users to debug the main chip using Multilink, along with a serial port for connection as needed.
4. Others
⁕There are 3 LED lights on the board
*Two buttons switch
⁕ A sliding potentiometer for voltage adjustment, used for functional debugging
⁕ A RESET button to restart the board
Furthermore, all S32K3 pins are extended to test holes with a 2.54mm pitch on both sides of the board, allowing users to directly connect with DuPont wires for testing or solder pin headers or sockets for testing.
Application Areas:
Body-related applications including some entertainment information systems, T-Box, etc.
Applications with high requirements for functional safety, including BMS, Gear Shifter, ADAS, APA, APD, etc., and high-function safety low-cost versions such as DCDC, EPS, Inverter, etc.
Domain Controller, Zonal Controller, especially Zonal nodes, where S32K3 can meet over 80% of nodes.