AC78406
ASIL-D capable automotive MCU with Cortex-M4F core, 512KB Flash, and advanced motor control peripherals
Product Overview
Description
The AC78406 is a high-performance automotive microcontroller featuring ARM Cortex-M4F processor with DSP and FPU capabilities.
With 512KB Flash, 128KB RAM, and ASIL-D functional safety support, it is ideal for safety-critical powertrain and motor control applications.
The device includes advanced motor control timers, high-resolution ADCs, and comprehensive safety features for automotive systems.
Product Series
AC
Primary Application
Electric power steering
Key Features
- ARM Cortex-M4F up to 120MHz with DSP and FPU
- 512KB Flash memory with ECC protection
- 128KB SRAM with ECC protection
- ASIL-D functional safety support
- Advanced motor control timers with 7 PWM pairs
- Dual 12-bit ADCs with 24 channels total
- CAN-FD and FlexRay interfaces
- Hardware security module (HSM)
Specifications
| Core | ARM Cortex-M4F up to 120MHz with DSP/FPU |
|---|---|
| Flash Memory | 512KB with ECC |
| RAM | 128KB with ECC |
| Operating Voltage | 3.3V to 5V |
| Temperature Range | -40°C to +125°C (AEC-Q100 Grade 1) |
| Functional Safety | ASIL-D support |
Applications
Electric power steering
Electronic system design
Motor control systems
Motor drive and control systems
Battery management systems
Battery and charging management
Transmission control
Industrial automation and control
Safety-critical control systems
Industrial automation and control
FAE Expert Insights
"The AC78406 is my go-to MCU for safety-critical motor control applications. The Cortex-M4F core with DSP and FPU provides exceptional performance for complex motor control algorithms including FOC (Field Oriented Control). I have successfully used this MCU in electric power steering and traction motor control projects. The ASIL-D functional safety features including dual-core lockstep and ECC memory provide the reliability required for safety-critical automotive systems. The advanced motor control peripherals with high-resolution PWM and synchronized ADC sampling are excellent for precise motor control. One strength is the comprehensive safety documentation and software support for ISO 26262 compliance. For high-performance automotive applications requiring functional safety, this MCU offers excellent value compared to international competitors."
High-performance ASIL-D MCU with advanced motor control for safety-critical applications
— Jennifer Liu, BeiLuo
Frequently Asked Questions
What motor control features does AC78406 include?
The AC78406 includes comprehensive motor control peripherals for advanced motor control applications. Features include up to 7 pairs of high-resolution PWM outputs with dead-time insertion, dual 12-bit ADCs with up to 24 channels for current and voltage sensing, and synchronized sampling triggered by PWM events. The Cortex-M4F core with DSP and FPU enables efficient implementation of FOC (Field Oriented Control) algorithms. Hardware encoder interfaces support position feedback from quadrature encoders and Hall sensors.
AC78406 is ideal for complex motor control applications requiring FOC and high-resolution PWM.
What safety features are included for ASIL-D compliance?
The AC78406 includes comprehensive hardware safety features for ASIL-D functional safety compliance. Key features include dual-core lockstep operation with cycle-by-cycle comparison, ECC (Error Correction Code) on both Flash and SRAM memories, clock monitoring with external crystal failure detection, voltage monitoring for supply rails, and watchdog timers with independent clock sources. The device also includes a hardware security module (HSM) for secure boot and cryptographic operations. AutoChips provides safety manuals and software libraries for ISO 26262 compliance.
AC78406 provides complete ASIL-D support for safety-critical automotive applications.
What is the ADC sampling rate of AC78406?
The AC78406 features dual 12-bit SAR ADCs with maximum sampling rate of 1 MSPS (Mega Samples Per Second) per ADC. The ADCs can be triggered by PWM events for synchronized motor current sampling, essential for FOC algorithms. Each ADC supports up to 12 external channels with programmable sampling times. The dual ADC architecture allows simultaneous sampling of multiple signals, reducing measurement latency in motor control applications.
1 MSPS sampling rate with PWM synchronization is excellent for motor control and power conversion applications.
Does AC78406 support hardware encryption?
Yes, the AC78406 includes a Hardware Security Module (HSM) supporting AES-128/256 encryption, secure boot with code authentication, and secure key storage. These features enable protection against unauthorized code modification and support secure over-the-air (OTA) firmware updates. The HSM is essential for modern automotive cybersecurity requirements and protects against reverse engineering and tampering.
AC78406 security features meet modern automotive cybersecurity requirements.
What packages are available for AC78406?
The AC78406 is available in LQFP-100 and LQFP-144 packages to accommodate different I/O requirements. The LQFP-100 package provides 80 GPIO pins suitable for medium-complexity applications. The LQFP-144 package provides 120 GPIO pins for complex systems requiring extensive peripheral connectivity. Both packages are AEC-Q100 Grade 1 qualified and support lead-free (RoHS compliant) manufacturing processes.
Select LQFP-100 for standard applications, LQFP-144 for complex systems requiring maximum I/O.