TI's innovative automotive infotainment platform enables Ford to redefine the user experience in Ford's SYNC 3

Integration of TI's processor, connectivity and analog solutions enhances connected-car capabilities

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Jan 06, 2015, 02:00 ET

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- CES – Texas Instruments (TI) (NASDAQ: TXN) and Ford Motor Company have collaborated on an infotainment solution that enhances the way consumers interact with their vehicles. The new Ford SYNC^® 3, a communications and entertainment system, incorporates TI's OMAP™ 5 processor, a member of the "Jacinto" family of automotive processors, the WiLink^™ 8Q platform, a single-chip combining high performance Wi-Fi^®, Bluetooth^® 4.0 and GNSS, as well as power management and FPD-Link III serializer/deserializer (SerDes) wired connectivity solutions. Together the TI devices provide improved performance for enhanced voice recognition and navigation, quality hands-free Bluetooth connectivity, Wi-Fi enabled software updates and enhanced driver interactivity.

TI's industry-leading technology enables Ford's SYNC 3 to be faster, more intuitive and easier to use for the driver by leveraging the following:

Performance leadership. As a member of TI's "Jacinto" processor family, the OMAP 5 platform delivers unparalleled performance and improved user experience compared to other offerings available on the market today. Leveraging the latest generation ARM^® Cortex^®-A15 multicore CPUs and Imagination Technologies' POWERVR^™ graphics cores, together with the highly-integrated WiLink 8Q wireless connectivity solution, Ford can offer a system with a snappy user interface and high quality multimedia in parallel to a premium connected car experience with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and accurate navigation data. To deliver high-definition video and audio to the color touch screen, TI's FPD-Link III SerDes wired connectivity chipset provides the high-speed connection.
Premium graphics and voice recognition capabilities. The OMAP 5 processor's superior 3D graphics acceleration creates a lifelike human machine interface (HMI) experience, boasting ultra-responsiveness for today's modern displays. A more conversational voice recognition experience is enabled through the use of high-performance, multicore ARM Cortex-A15s paired with TI's optimized memory interconnect technology.
Scalability. TI's "Jacinto" family of automotive infotainment processors provide scalability and flexibility to meet the needs of Fords' SYNC 3 platform, designed to evolve features with drivers' demands. With ample performance "under the hood," Ford SYNC 3 leverages the WiLink 8Q's Wi-Fi capabilities to enable consumers to seamlessly update software over the air, at home; more in line to processes consumers use with smartphones and tablets today.
Proven automotive pedigree. TI has been providing integrated circuits to the automotive industry for more than 30 years and, with more than a decade focused on infotainment, provides Ford an automotive qualified platform. With the industry's broadest portfolio of wireless connectivity solutions, the WiLink 8Q family leverages TI's history of delivering high-performance, robust and easy-to-use integrated connectivity solutions including leading Bluetooth and Wi-Fi coexistence technology and cutting-edge GNSS location performance. TI's complementary power management solutions provide the functions necessary to minimize system-level power consumption, and the display and high-speed video interconnect technology of the FPD-Link III SerDes chipsets offers a wide range of interfaces and resolutions for processors and displays.

"When Ford selected TI as a strategic partner in the development of this innovative system, we saw this as an opportunity to work with an industry leader to leverage our long standing history in automotive. Through our expansive technical support we were able to quickly deliver a game-changing product Ford customers will use today," said Curt Moore, Automotive Processors general manager, TI.

For more information:

Learn about TI's "Jacinto" family of processors
Read more about the WiLink™ 8Q platform
Keep up on the latest offerings on the Behind the Wheel blog.
Engage with engineers and TI experts on TI E2E Community.
Follow TI on Twitter and like TI on Facebook.

Texas Instruments drives automotive innovation
TI's state-of-the-art semiconductor products allow manufacturers and system suppliers to deliver world-class features to the automotive market. Our extensive automotive portfolio includes analog power management, interface and signal chain solutions, along with DLP^® displays, ADAS and infotainment processors, Hercules™ TMS570 safety microcontrollers and wireless connectivity solutions. TI offers SafeTI™ parts designed to facilitate OEMs' compliance with the requirements of ISO 26262, as well as parts specifically designated as compliant with the AEC-Q100 and TS16949 standards, all with excellent product documentation. Visit TI's Automotive page or TI E2E™ Behind the Wheel Blog to learn more about our commitment to automotive innovation.

About Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) is a global semiconductor design and manufacturing company that develops analog ICs and embedded processors. By employing the world's brightest minds, TI creates innovations that shape the future of technology. TI is helping more than 100,000 customers transform the future, today. Learn more at www.ti.com.

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SOURCE Texas Instruments