Bolstering Reliability and Development Efficiency in Automotive Lighting Systems
On May 17, Novosense Microelectronics announced that its NSL21912/16/24FS series of automotive linear LED drivers has officially received the ISO 26262:2018 ASIL B functional safety certification. The certification was granted by DEKRA, the globally recognized German testing and inspection organization, following a rigorous evaluation of the series' functional safety protocols.
The assessment confirmed that the NSL21912/16/24FS series meets all requirements for the Automotive Safety Integrity Level (ASIL) B under the ISO 26262 standard across all critical stages, including design, verification, and testing. This milestone validates the chips as highly suitable for automotive lighting applications that demand stringent safety and reliability.
In the modern automotive landscape, lighting has evolved into a vital branding tool with increasingly diverse use cases. Crucially, components governing brake lights and turn signals are directly tied to driving safety. While automotive lighting standards previously varied between Quality Management (QM) levels and ASIL B, the latter has now become a benchmark. This shift is driven by global safety regulations, stricter supply chain entry requirements, and the need for standardized “platform” designs among lighting manufacturers.
The newly certified series can drive strings of 12, 16, or 24 LEDs and features high-speed communication interfaces. These capabilities make them ideal for smart, connected systems such as animated taillights, dynamic turn signals, interactive grilles, and Intelligent Surface Displays (ISD). Attaining this certification means the chips are architected to effectively manage both systematic failures and random hardware failures, ensuring robust protection for vehicle lighting systems.
Furthermore, the NSL21912/16/24FS series integrates multiple safety mechanisms to detect anomalies within the chip itself or in external components. A key feature is the Fail-Safe control function, which forces the system into a predictable, safe state upon detecting a malfunction. This proactive approach enhances driving safety for passengers and other road users alike.
By providing comprehensive functional safety documentation and technical support to OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers, Novosense enables its clients to build advanced lighting systems with lower verification costs and faster time-to-market. These systems not only meet higher safety tiers but also streamline the complex development cycles of modern vehicles.
Novosense's portfolio of safety-certified products already spans several critical automotive domains. It includes the NSM41xx series for ABS wheel speed sensing, the NSUC1800 for ultrasonic radar probes, the NSI6911 isolated gate driver, and the MT6511/6521 magnetic encoders.
“We are committed to strengthening our functional safety projects across various domains,” a Novosense representative stated. “Our goal is to provide global automotive customers with a wider selection of chips--ranging from sensors and signal chains to power management--that meet the highest levels of functional safety.”
