Infineon FPGA: Programmable Solutions for Automotive & Industrial Applications

As a PCB engineer who has spent years working on safety-critical systems, I’ve watched the evolution of programmable logic devices with keen interest. When it comes to automotive and industrial applications, the conversation around Infineon FPGA solutions deserves serious attention. While Infineon Technologies isn’t traditionally known as an FPGA manufacturer like Xilinx (now AMD) or Intel/Altera, their ecosystem approach to integrating FPGAs with their market-leading microcontrollers and power management solutions creates compelling opportunities for system designers.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll break down everything you need to know about Infineon FPGA integration strategies, power solutions, and real-world applications that matter to engineers working in automotive and industrial sectors.

Understanding Infineon’s Approach to FPGA Integration

Infineon Technologies takes a pragmatic approach to FPGA technology. Rather than competing directly with dedicated FPGA manufacturers, Infineon focuses on enabling seamless integration between FPGAs and their extensive portfolio of microcontrollers, power management ICs, and connectivity solutions.

The key differentiator here is the AURIX-Xilinx FPGA Link, developed through a partnership between Infineon, Xilinx (now AMD), and Xylon. This collaboration enables high-speed communication between Infineon’s AURIX TC2xx and TC3xx microcontrollers and Xilinx SoC, MPSoC, and FPGA devices through the High Speed Serial Link (HSSL) interface.

Why This Matters for Your Design

From a practical standpoint, combining Infineon’s AURIX microcontrollers with Xilinx FPGAs allows you to get the best of both worlds: ASIL-D functional safety compliance from AURIX with the parallel processing capabilities and reconfigurability of FPGAs. The HSSL interface supports baud rates up to 320 Mbaud with approximately 84% net payload efficiency, using just five pins (two LVDS pairs plus clock).

Infineon FPGA Power Management Solutions

One area where Infineon truly excels is power management for FPGA-based designs. Modern FPGAs are power-hungry devices with multiple voltage rails, and getting the power architecture right is critical for reliable operation.

DC-DC Conversion Solutions for FPGA Applications

Infineon offers a comprehensive portfolio of power management solutions specifically optimized for powering Xilinx, Altera (Intel), and AMD FPGAs. Here’s what’s available:

Key Power Architecture Considerations

When designing power systems for FPGA applications, Infineon’s SupIRBuck family offers several advantages I’ve found valuable in my own projects:

Integration Level: The IR3806x series integrates the PWM controller, MOSFETs, and bootstrap diode in a single package. This reduces board space by approximately 50% compared to discrete two-chip solutions.

PMBus Connectivity: Full PMBus 1.2 compatibility enables runtime control, fault status monitoring, and telemetry across multiple rails. Configurations can be stored in internal memory, which significantly reduces design and test time.

Performance Metrics: These regulators deliver greater than 90% efficiency with sub-10mV peak-to-peak ripple, critical for clean power delivery to sensitive FPGA logic.

Automotive Applications for Infineon FPGA Solutions

The automotive sector represents one of the most demanding environments for electronic systems. FPGAs play an increasingly important role in several key application areas where Infineon’s ecosystem provides significant value.

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Sensor Fusion

Modern ADAS implementations require processing data from multiple sensor types: cameras, radar, LiDAR, and ultrasonic sensors. FPGAs excel at this task due to their parallel processing architecture and deterministic timing.

The logiHSSL-ZU FPGA HSSL Starter Kit provides everything needed to interconnect AURIX microcontrollers with Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC devices. This combination addresses rising safety and performance requirements in emerging automotive designs.

Electric Vehicle Powertrains

EV powertrain systems benefit enormously from FPGA-based control. The ability to implement custom motor control algorithms, battery management logic, and thermal management systems on reconfigurable hardware provides the flexibility needed as EV technology continues to evolve rapidly.

Infineon’s approach combines their CoolSiC MOSFETs and IGBT power modules with FPGA-based control systems powered by their DC-DC converters, creating efficient and reliable drivetrain solutions.

Industrial Automation Applications

Industrial automation presents unique challenges that FPGA-based solutions address effectively. From programmable logic controllers to servo motor drives, the combination of Infineon components with FPGA processing delivers measurable performance improvements.

PLC and Motion Control Systems

Programmable Logic Controllers represent the “brain” of factory floor control systems. When combined with FPGAs, PLCs can handle significantly more complex control tasks with lower latency.

Why FPGAs Make Sense for Industrial Applications

FPGAs overcome the limitations of conventional systems that depend solely on digital signal processors and microcontrollers. The parallel processing capabilities allow operating multiple actuators simultaneously with real-time feedback and minimal latency.

In my experience, FPGA-implemented PID algorithms for motor control consistently outperform software-based solutions in terms of control accuracy and response time. The high-resolution PWM generators achievable in FPGA logic enable precise speed control that simply isn’t possible with microcontroller-based approaches alone.

AURIX-FPGA Integration Deep Dive

Let’s get into the technical details of how the AURIX-FPGA link actually works, because understanding this is crucial for successful implementation.

High Speed Serial Link (HSSL) Architecture

The HSSL is an Infineon native interface originally used to exchange data between AURIX devices and customer ASICs. Through the Xylon logiHSSL IP core, this capability extends to Xilinx FPGA families.

Supported Configurations:

• Xilinx 7 Series devices
• Zynq-7000 SoC family
• Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC

Interface Specifications:

• Baud rates up to 320 Mbaud
• Net payload data rate of approximately 84%
• Only five pins required (two LVDS pairs + clock)
• Bidirectional resource access between linked devices

Development Kit Components

The logiHSSL-ZU FPGA HSSL Starter Kit includes:

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FPGA vs ASIC: Making the Right Choice

As someone who has had to make this decision on multiple projects, I think it’s worth discussing when FPGAs make sense versus when you should consider ASICs or Infineon’s custom ASIC services.

Decision Framework

Infineon positions FPGAs as prototyping tools for their ASIC development process, noting that full custom ASICs can be 10x to 30x cheaper per unit than FPGAs in high-volume production. However, the development investment and time-to-market considerations often favor FPGA-based solutions, especially in automotive applications where requirements evolve rapidly.

Functional Safety Considerations

For automotive applications targeting ISO 26262 compliance, the combination of AURIX microcontrollers with FPGAs provides a robust safety architecture.

ASIL-D Capability

The AURIX family delivers functional safety up to ASIL-D/SIL3, making it the market reference for safety-critical applications in advanced driver assistance and automated driving. When combined with FPGA processing through the HSSL interface, system developers can offload computationally intensive tasks while maintaining the safety supervision capabilities of AURIX.

Hardware Security Module Integration

AURIX microcontrollers include an integrated Hardware Security Module (HSM) that meets OEM requirements for data security. This security architecture can extend to the FPGA portion of the system through the HSSL communication channel.

Cybersecurity for Connected Systems

As vehicles and industrial systems become increasingly connected, cybersecurity becomes paramount. Infineon’s OPTIGA Trust product family provides embedded security hardware that protects against attacks, counterfeiting, and manipulation. For FPGA-based systems, the SEMPER Secure NOR Flash solutions offer boot protection and secure firmware storage, ensuring that the FPGA configuration remains tamper-proof throughout the system lifecycle.

The combination of hardware root of trust from OPTIGA, secure boot for the FPGA bitstream, and runtime security monitoring from AURIX creates a defense-in-depth security architecture that meets automotive and industrial cybersecurity standards.

Getting Started with Infineon FPGA Development

If you’re ready to explore Infineon FPGA integration for your automotive or industrial project, here’s a practical roadmap.

Development Tools and Resources

The AURIX Development Studio provides a comprehensive software development environment that works with all AURIX starter kits and application boards. It includes:

• Eclipse-based IDE
• Project wizard for device and board support
• C compiler
• Integrated source-level debugger
• On-chip flash programming support

For FPGA development, you’ll work with Xilinx/AMD Vivado tools alongside the Xylon logicBRICKS IP core library.

Recommended First Steps

1. Evaluate the logiHSSL Starter Kit to understand the AURIX-FPGA communication capabilities
2. Start with a reference design that matches your application domain (ADAS, motor control, etc.)
3. Assess power requirements using Infineon’s FPGA power management selection tools
4. Engage with Infineon’s application engineers for system-level guidance

Useful Resources and Downloads

Here are the essential resources for engineers working with Infineon FPGA solutions:

Real-World Performance Benchmarks

Based on published specifications and industry testing, here’s what you can expect from Infineon FPGA power and integration solutions:

Frequently Asked Questions About Infineon FPGA Solutions

Does Infineon manufacture their own FPGAs?

No, Infineon doesn’t manufacture FPGAs directly. Instead, they partner with FPGA manufacturers (primarily Xilinx/AMD) to enable integration with their microcontroller and power management portfolios. The AURIX-Xilinx FPGA Link is the primary example of this strategy, combining Infineon’s safety-focused microcontrollers with Xilinx programmable logic devices.

What is the AURIX-FPGA HSSL interface and why should I consider it?

The High Speed Serial Link (HSSL) is a native Infineon interface that enables high-speed communication between AURIX TC2xx/TC3xx microcontrollers and Xilinx FPGAs. It supports up to 320 Mbaud with approximately 84% payload efficiency using only five pins. This interface allows you to combine AURIX’s ASIL-D safety capabilities with FPGA parallel processing, which is ideal for ADAS, sensor fusion, and industrial automation applications where both safety and performance are critical.

Which Infineon power management ICs work best for FPGA applications?

The SupIRBuck family (IR3806x series) is specifically designed for FPGA point-of-load applications. These integrated DC-DC regulators offer PMBus connectivity, deliver greater than 90% efficiency, and provide output currents from 6A to 35A depending on the variant. For higher power applications, Infineon’s OptiMOS smart power stages and XDP digital multiphase controllers handle demanding FPGA and AI accelerator power requirements.

Can I achieve automotive functional safety (ISO 26262) with FPGA-based systems?

Yes, by combining AURIX microcontrollers (which support up to ASIL-D) with FPGAs through the HSSL interface, you can build systems that meet stringent automotive safety requirements. The AURIX handles safety-critical supervision and decision-making while the FPGA processes computationally intensive tasks like sensor fusion and image processing. Infineon’s OPTIREG TLF35585 PMIC specifically targets functional safety applications and complies with ISO 26262 for systems up to ASIL D.

What industrial applications benefit most from Infineon FPGA integration?

Industrial applications that benefit most include motor control systems requiring real-time FOC (Field Oriented Control), PLCs handling high signal counts, robotics requiring multi-axis coordination, servo drives demanding high-bandwidth position control, and process automation systems needing deterministic timing. The combination of Infineon’s XMC and AURIX microcontrollers with FPGA acceleration via HSSL addresses these applications effectively. The AURIX TC3xx Motor Control Application Kit provides a ready-to-use reference platform for industrial motor control development.

Future Trends in Automotive and Industrial FPGA Applications

Looking ahead, several trends are shaping how Infineon FPGA solutions will evolve:

Software-Defined Vehicles

The automotive industry is moving toward Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs), where software controls nearly every aspect of vehicle operation. FPGAs provide the reconfigurable hardware foundation that enables over-the-air updates and continuous improvement of vehicle capabilities. Infineon’s ADAS and autonomous driving solutions align closely with this SDV transformation.

Edge AI Integration

FPGAs increasingly incorporate AI tensor blocks and dedicated AI processing capabilities. This evolution enables real-time inference for object detection, driver monitoring, and predictive maintenance directly at the edge. Infineon’s power solutions are adapting to support these more demanding AI-enabled FPGA workloads.

Zonal Architecture Adoption

Modern vehicles are transitioning from distributed ECU architectures to zonal designs that consolidate processing. FPGAs play a key role in these zonal controllers, handling protocol bridging, sensor aggregation, and compute acceleration. The AURIX-FPGA combination fits naturally into this architectural shift.

Final Thoughts

The Infineon FPGA ecosystem represents a thoughtful approach to integrating programmable logic into safety-critical automotive and industrial systems. Rather than competing head-to-head with established FPGA manufacturers, Infineon leverages their strengths in microcontrollers, power management, and functional safety to create compelling system-level solutions.

For PCB engineers and system designers working on ADAS, autonomous driving, electric vehicles, or industrial automation projects, the combination of AURIX microcontrollers with FPGA acceleration through the HSSL interface offers a proven path to meeting both performance and safety requirements. Coupled with Infineon’s extensive power management portfolio for FPGAs, you have the building blocks for robust, efficient designs.

The key is understanding that Infineon FPGA solutions aren’t about the FPGA alone—they’re about the complete system architecture that makes programmable logic practical and safe for demanding applications.