With the ongoing evolution of automotive electrification and intelligence, functional safety has expanded from advanced ADAS platforms to every electronic control unit (ECU) and module component in the vehicle. Traditionally, these lower-level modules (such as lamp controllers, HVAC modules, seat adjustment modules, etc.) have not emphasized functional safety design due to cost sensitivity and relatively lower application risks.
However, as vehicle manufacturers (OEMs) increasingly focus on the integration risks of entire vehicle systems, and Tier 1 suppliers gradually include ISO 26262 compliance as a key evaluation criterion during bidding, ECU and module products are facing unprecedented pressure to upgrade. Many products that were not originally designed with functional safety in mind are now required to provide evidence of safety design in order to be integrated into the overall vehicle safety architecture.
For small and medium-sized module suppliers, this is both a challenge and an opportunity. Those who can quickly implement functional safety without significantly increasing development costs and timelines will be the first to gain market recognition.
ISO 26262 is an international standard for the functional safety of electrical and electronic systems in road vehicles. Its primary goal is to ensure that automotive electronic and software systems do not lead to unacceptable risks in the event of a malfunction.
Market Competition Shifts from Hardware to Software and Verification Support
Currently, there is a growing number of memory modules on the market that emphasize support for functional safety. Most solutions highlight their hardware design compliance with ASIL-B or ASIL-D requirements, including built-in error correction mechanisms (ECC), redundancy design, data backup, and power-off protection.
However, truly effective solutions that help developers lower the verification threshold and quickly integrate into main systems are rare.
In practice, even if the memory hardware itself meets ISO 26262 safety design requirements, the overall system cannot smoothly complete functional safety verification without corresponding software support and certification documentation. This is the pain point most module developers encounter when introducing safety memory:
*Lack of directly integrable software components and APIs
*Inability to provide Safety Requirements Documents (SRD) and software verification reports
*Software does not comply with ISO 26262 Part 6 development process requirements
In other words, in the battlefield of functional safety, hardware alone is not enough—comprehensive software integration and verification resources are also needed to truly solve the problem.
Winbond W77Q / W77T Safety Solution: A Comprehensive, Compliant Secure Flash Memory Solution
To address the above market needs, Winbond has launched the W77Q/T secure flash memory solution for automotive ECU and module applications, providing comprehensive support from hardware, software, to verification processes, helping customers quickly achieve ISO 26262 compliance.
Differentiator 1: Software Package Certified to ISO 26262 Part 6
We offer not just hardware, but a software package that has been fully validated through the functional safety development process. This software suite includes:
*Secure memory access drivers (including ECC and redundancy mechanisms)
*API interface documentation and sample code
*Software Safety Requirements Specification (SSR), design documents (SDD), and test reports
*Complete safety case documentation
All these materials are developed and validated according to ISO 26262-6 standards and can be directly referenced by system developers in their main system functional safety documentation. In practice, customers do not need to conduct their own functional safety analysis for the memory module; simply integrating our documentation and software supports the product verification process, greatly saving costs and time.
Differentiator 2: Modular Hardware Design for New and Legacy Systems
To address the characteristics of the module market, W77Q / W77T supports the following application features:
*Drop-in replacement for existing modules: Can directly replace existing flash components without modifying the PCB or driver architecture, enabling seamless upgrades.
*Support for scalable architectures: Modules can be selected for ASIL-C or ASIL-D levels, meeting different module application needs (e.g., power control vs. lighting control).
*Automatic power-off backup and independent safety processing unit (Safety Island): Enhances the module's ability to maintain minimum safety functions in the event of unexpected situations.
This dual support design for "legacy system upgrades + new system acceleration" is especially suitable for module suppliers undergoing functional safety transformation.
One-Stop Compliance Support Opens New Channels for Module Markets
Overall, the W77Q/ W77T secure flash solution is not just a component, but a complete "functional safety compliance accelerator."
Credit: Company
For module and ECU developers, such a solution not only reduces the burden on internal functional safety engineers but also enables rapid completion of customer-required functional safety reports, accelerating product adoption by OEMs. This truly achieves a transition from compliance to competitiveness.
To learn more about Winbond's advanced security solutions, visit Winbond's website or contact Winbond directly, or download the latest Hardware Security White Paper.
Article edited by Jack Wu
