Comprehensive Safety Analysis for ASIC Encoder

AIsemi has contributed to the functional safety aspects of an ASIC Encoder, a critical component in automotive applications used to measure wheel speed and steering angle. Our efforts encompassed the development of various ISO 26262 work products, including safety case development, safety analysis, safety mechanism design, safety requirements specification, verification & validation, and functional safety assessments.

Project Overview

The ASIC Encoder plays a key role in vehicle dynamics and safety systems such as ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), EPS (Electric Power Steering), and ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems). AIsemi conducted an in-depth safety analysis to ensure the robustness of the encoder against hardware faults and systematic failures.

Key Objectives

• Safety Case Development: Established a structured argumentation to demonstrate the encoder’s compliance with ISO 26262.
• FMEDA Execution: Identified potential failure modes, calculated failure rates, and determined diagnostic coverage.
• Dependent Failure Analysis (DFA): Assessed common-cause failures affecting redundant safety mechanisms.
• Safety Requirements Specification: Defined detailed technical and hardware safety requirements aligned with functional safety goals.
• Safety Mechanism Development: Designed and validated mechanisms to detect and mitigate faults, improving overall system reliability.
• Verification & Validation: Conducted fault injection tests, safety validation, and traceability analysis to ensure functional safety compliance.
• ASIL Compliance: Ensured that the safety metrics align with ASIL-B or higher requirements.

Technical Approach

• Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEDA): Identified single-point failures (SPFs) and latent faults, ensuring high fault coverage.
• DFA for Redundant Mechanisms: Evaluated potential dependencies between redundant safety elements.
• Validation & Verification: Ensured that all safety mechanisms were tested through simulation and verification reports.
• Safety Mechanism Implementation: Included error detection techniques such as fault injection, consistency monitoring, and watchdog timers.
• Functional Safety Assessment: Performed reviews and audits to validate compliance with ISO 26262.

Outcome & Impact

• Enhanced Safety & Reliability: Strengthened diagnostic coverage and fault tolerance of the ASIC Encoder.
• Systematic Failure Reduction: Addressed potential systematic design and manufacturing defects.
• Regulatory Compliance: Achieved ISO 26262 functional safety goals for automotive applications.
• Optimized Performance: Ensured minimal impact on power consumption and real-time data processing.
• End-to-End Safety Implementation: Provided comprehensive work product development for functional safety compliance.

Conclusion

By performing a comprehensive safety analysis and developing multiple functional safety work products, AIsemi has helped improve the safety and reliability of ASIC Encoders used in automotive applications. Our structured approach ensures compliance with ISO 26262, enhances reliability, and supports the growing safety demands of the industry.

Stay tuned for more industry-specific use cases showcasing Aisemi’s expertise in functional safety, safety-critical design, and semiconductor validation!