Swiss semiconductor manufacturer STMicroelectronics will start producing Stellar with xMemory, a new generation of extensible memory embedded into its Stellar series of automotive microcontrollers, later this year.

The new microcontrollers with xMemory enable simpler, more scalable computing platforms for developing software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and EV architectures.

Memory becomes a bottleneck as software complexity grows, driven by new features and regulations, memory-hungry applications and over-the-air (OTA) updates. ST’s xMemory addresses this challenge by extending the memory either during the development phase or when vehicle is in the field.

Instead of managing multiple devices with varying memory options and the associated development and qualification costs, Stellar with xMemory introduces a single device with extensible memory, providing customers with an efficient and cost-effective solution. The simpler approach enables carmakers to future-proof their designs, reducing development costs and accelerating time to market with a simpler supply chain. Stellar with xMemory will be first available on the Stellar P6 microcontroller units (MCUs).

“With the embedded Phase Change Memory (PCM) technology, Stellar offers a robust and flexible memory concept to create highly performant, adaptable microcontrollers for automotive usage. The technology provides application advantages compared to other memory technologies, such as RRAM and MRAM,” said Axel Aue, Vice President, Bosch.

Source: STMicroelectronics