STMicroelectronics introduces free self-test software to simplify end-product safety compliance
(Product News, 19 Dec 2007 )
STMicroelectronics has released a new software library for the recently-announced STM32 Flash microcontroller family, which is based on the breakthrough ARM Cortex-M3 core. The software is designed specifically to simplify the testing and securing end-product approval and compliance with the demands of the IEC 60335-1 standard, when the MCU is used in household appliances.
Since October 2007, IEC 60335-1 requires the software of MCU-based appliances to be evaluated according to its impact on overall consumer and application safety. When some of the fault detection relies on the microcontroller, the embedded code must contain self-test routines, and must be evaluated under the so-called Class B requirements for its ability to detect safety critical failures.
The new self-diagnostic software modules developed by ST for the STM32 family have been approved by the VDE (German Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies) testing and certification institute. Now, when a manufacturer uses these modules in an application—unchanged and in accordance with ST’s integration guidelines—the application will not need to be completely re-evaluated by VDE as part of the final product certification, thereby saving significant time for the appliance manufacturer.
ST is the first semiconductor manufacturer to receive this certification for routines based on 32-bit MCUs.
