The monthly magazine for automotive electronics engineers

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IN THISISSUE

Page 2: Nvidiabrings AI to cars

Page 3: All Go forIntel services

Page 7: Audi andDaimler opt forMost 150

Page 10: Linuxinfotainment update

Page 11: ConsumerElectronics Show

Page 29: ACFbonding advantages

Page 34: Multi-railDC-DC for adas

Page 35: System-level risks to safety

Page 40: CVtelematics in Europe

Page 41: Productnews

Page 46: Contactdetails

Issue 38February 2017

NEWS

Vehicle Electronics February 2017, Page 2

At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Continentaland Nexteer announced a joint venture focused on the advancement ofmotion control systems and actuator components for automated driving.This venture will combine Nexteer’s advanced steering and adastechnologies with Continental’s automated driving and advanced brakingtechnologies to accelerate advancements in vehicle motion controlsystems. The two companies will each hold 50 per cent ownership of theventure, which will focus on R&D activities including rapid evaluation,design and prototyping.“The joint venture will perfectly complete our product portfolio for

automated driving,” said Frank Jourdan, member of Continental’sexecutive board. “Continental will combine its talent and expertise withNexteer’s advanced steering system competence to create the bestintegrated systems for longitudinal and lateral motion control forautomated driving applications.”Frank Lubischer, senior vice president at Nexteer Automotive, added:

“The motion control venture will accelerate Nexteer and Continental’sadvancements in automated driving and achieve robust vehicle dynamicsand safety. To that end, this team will work on braking and steeringsystems integration, enhanced by-wire development as well as createcommon safety architectures and strategies for redundant, operationallysafe systems.”

Nexteer and Continental partner at NAIAS

Netradyne is workingwith Nvidia to enhancedriver safety for commer-cial vehicles in the USAand India. The DriveriIoT platform focuses onidentifying, recognisingand rewarding positivedriver performance.Using Nvidia’s JetsonTX1 and four-cameravideo, the company hasbeen able to acceleratevision-based data captureand vehicle analysis.“We believe computervision will raise the bar indriver recognition andsafety improvements,”said Avneesh Agrawal,Netradyne’s co-founderand CEO. “The tremen-dous parallel performanceand power efficiency ofNvidia’s Jetson TX1 en-ables the Driveri platformto provide deep insightsinto driving performanceand allows the greatestlevel of protection todrivers and their fleets.”The Jetson TX1 andNvidia’s IVA intelligentvideo analytics platformcan capture and analysethe entire driving experi-ence through deep learn-ing. The on-deviceapplication of artificialintelligence and deeplearning implemented atthe edge of the networkidentifies positive drivingactivity and flags at-riskconditions, which is im-portant information thatcan be leveraged by com-

Nvidia helps Netradyne bring AI to vehiclesmercial fleets and insur-ance companies.“GPU deep learning istransforming the applica-tion of AI for many mar-kets, including auto-motive,” said Deepu

Talla, vice president atNvidia. “By using the Jet-son TX1, Netradyne ishelping to build strongerAI cities that are alwayson and focused on keep-ing us safer and smarter.”

• At last month’s Con-sumer Electronics Showin Las Vegas, Audi pre-sented Q7 deep learning,a piloted driving car madepossible due to collabora-tion with Nvidia.

Daimler and Uber haveagreed to cooperate onthe supply and operationof self-driving vehicles.Daimler plans to intro-duce self-driving vehicleson Uber’s global ride-sharing network in thecoming years. Daimler isthe first car maker to joinwith Uber as it opens upits platform for manufac-turers to introduce theirown self-driving cars.This is part of Mer-cedes-Benz’s corporatestrategy called Case, for“connected, autonomous,shared and electric”.The latest Mercedes-Benz E Class is the firstseries-production vehicleto be awarded a test lic-ence for autonomousdriving in Nevada. Withits Highway Pilot system,Daimler Trucks says it isthe first lorry manufac-turer with plans to de-velop an autonomousdriving system for use incommercial vehicles.

Daimler and Uber joinon self-driving vehicles

“Daimler aims to be aleader in autonomousdriving, one of the mostfascinating aspects ofreinventing mobility,”said Dieter Zetsche,chairman of Daimler.“Mobility service pro-viders offer an ideal plat-form for autonomousdriving technology andUber is a leading mobilityplatform company. Thereal revolution in futuremobility lies in intelli-gently linking the fourmajor trends we callCase. And we will cer-tainly be the driver ofthese changes.”Uber has assembled aself-driving engineeringgroup, which is testingself-driving vehicles onthe road in the USA. Thecompany’s Otto division

is also working on self-driving lorries.And Uber has experi-ence that comes from run-ning a ride-sharing and delivery net-work across 74 countries.“Self-driving technol-ogy holds the promise ofcreating cities that aresafer, cleaner and moreaccessible,” said TravisKalanick, CEO of Uber.“But we can’t get tothat future alone. That’swhy we’re opening upthe Uber platform toauto manufacturers likeDaimler. By combiningDaimler’s and Uber’stechnological strengths,more people can get ac-cess to reliable trans-portation at the push of abutton.”Each company says thatit hopes to benefit fromthe other’s capabilities inresearch and develop-ment of autonomousdriving and network oper-ations.

NEWS NEWS

Vehicle Electronics Vehicle ElectronicsPage 3, February 2017 February 2017, Page 4

Intel has combined its au-tomotive services into asingle brand called Gospanning car, connectiv-ity and cloud. The com-pany has also introducedmultiple development kitsthat scale in performancefrom next-generationAtom to Xeon processors,as well as a 5G-ready de-velopment platform forautomated driving.“This scalable, car-to-cloud system puts the au-tomotive industry on anaccelerated path towardsour driverless future,”said Doug Davis, generalmanager of Intel’s auto-mated driving group. “Itgives car makers and sup-pliers tremendous flexi-bility in their designswhile reducing the time

Intel on the Go withvehicle development

and cost of bringing newexperiences to market.”Comprised of hardwareand software develop-ment kits, the full IntelGo system includes twoversions of the company’sin-vehicle developmentplatforms for automateddriving. Scaling fromAtom processors to high-performance Xeon plusArria 10 FPGAs, thesetwo platforms provide thecomputing power to per-form a range of auto-mated driving functionsincluding perception, fu-sion and decision making.Intel’s 5G platform letscar makers develop andtest a wide range of usecases and applicationsahead of the expectedrollout of 5G in 2020.

An automotive softwaredevelopment kit providesseveral tools specific tothe automated driving in-dustry – including deeplearning tool kits – andoffers a consistent devel-opment experience tohelp engineers increasehardware capabilitieswhile speeding the paceof design.“The introduction ofour Intel Go system ex-tends the invaluable in-vestment we have madein the automotive sectorfor years,” said Davis.“Our rich automotive her-itage includes 49 car winswith more than 30 Intel-based vehicle models onthe road today. What’sprobably not as well-known is the fact that

Intel is in hundreds of au-tonomous test cars on theroad today.”BMW, Delphi andBaidu have announcedplans to use Intel technol-ogy in their autonomousvehicles. About 40 au-tonomous BMW carsusing Intel Go productsare planned to be on theroad by the end of 2017.“The importance of 5Gto our self-driving futurecannot be overstated,”added Davis. “Automatedvehicles will generate andtake in huge amounts ofdata to navigate and reactto sudden changes.Today’s communicationssystems simply were notdesigned to handle themassive bandwidth re-quired to support this.That’s where 5G comesin, delivering fasterspeeds, ultra-low latencyand vehicle-to-vehicleconnectivity for the era ofautomated driving.”

Doug Davis: “It givescar makers andsuppliers tremendousflexibility.”

Scania is designing full-scale autonomous lorryplatooning operations fortransporting containers onpublic roads between portterminals in Singapore.The aim is to organiseconvoys of four lorries –with the following threelorries autonomouslydriven – as well as to au-tomate docking and un-docking cargo.“Autonomous vehiclesand platooning are cor-nerstones of future sus-tainable transport,” saidClaes Erixon, head of re-search and developmentat Scania. “This is a great

opportunity to demon-strate our leadership andtechnology in this newexciting area. We are pio-neering in this field,which has the potentialnot only to save lives intraffic, but also to signifi-cantly decrease the envi-ronmental impact oftransport.”The multi-year projectis organised by the Min-istry of Transport and thePort of SingaporeAuthor-ity. Toyota is also partici-pating in the project.Singapore has tested au-tonomous cars, taxis, util-ity vehicles and buses,

and is now adding trialsof lorry platooning con-cepts. Lorry platoonshave already shown thepotential to achieve majorfuel savings as well ascontribute to road safety.“Trucking as we knowit today is a highlylabour-intensive indus-try,” said Pang KinKeong, permanent secre-tary for transport in Sin-gapore. “We face ashortage of truck drivers.In this regard, truckplatooning technologypresents us with an op-portunity to boost produc-tivity in both the port

sector and the trucking in-dustry. It will also openup opportunities for truckdrivers to take on higher-skilled roles as fleet oper-ators and managers.”The trials will takeplace in two phases. Thefirst phase will focus ondesigning, testing and re-fining the lorry platoon-ing technology to adapt tolocal conditions. Thesewill be conducted by Sca-nia and Toyota at their re-spective research centresin Sweden and Japan. Thesecond phase will consistof local trials and devel-opment of the technology.

Scania lorries for Singapore platooning trial

General Motors andHonda are establishingthe auto industry’s firstmanufacturing joint ven-ture to mass produce anadvanced hydrogen fuelcell that will be used infuture products from eachcompany.Called Fuel Cell Sys-tem Manufacturing, thecompany will operatewithin GM’s existing bat-tery pack manufacturing

facility site in Brown-stown, Michigan. Massproduction of fuel cellsystems is expected tobegin around 2020 andcreate nearly 100 newjobs. The companies aremaking equal invest-ments totalling $85m inthe venture.Honda and GM havebeen working togetherthrough a master collabo-ration agreement an-

nounced in July 2013. Itestablished the co-devel-opment arrangement for anext-generation fuel cellsystem and hydrogenstorage technologies.The companies inte-grated their developmentteams and shared hydro-gen fuel cell intellectualproperty to create moreaffordable commercialfuel cell and hydrogenstorage systems.

GM-Honda fuel cell venture

NEWS

Page 5, February 2017 Vehicle Electronics

Mobileye’s Roadbook isbeing integrated as a datalayer in Here’s HD LiveMap, a real-time cloudservice for partially,highly and fully auto-mated vehicles.Roadbook informationwill provide an additionallayer of real-time contex-tual awareness by gather-ing landmark androadway information tohelp make a vehicle moreaware of and better ableto react to its surround-ings, as well as allow formore accurate vehicle po-sitioning on the road.Mobileye will also useHere’s open location plat-form for ingesting andprocessing raw sensorand observation data, andthe creation and dynamicmaintenance of its Road-book products.The open location plat-form was developed to

support the ingestion, en-richment and processingof real-time location-based data for multipleindustries, including theautomotive industry.Here will use road seg-ment data, as well asglobal Roadbook, col-lected and aggregatedfrom certain vehiclebrands equipped withMobileye technology, tosupport change detectionand the maintenance ofHD Live Map.Detecting changes inthe real world and adjust-ing the map accordinglyis important for auto-mated vehicles to planbetter driving strategies.With more sensor dataavailable from car manu-facturers equipped withMobileye’s REM tech-nology, the HD Live Mapwill be updated morequickly.

“We are building astate-of-the-art global HDmap that is becoming thestandard for autonomousdriving and other IoTapplications that needprecise location-based in-formation and services,”said Edzard Overbeek,CEO of Here. “We arerapidly expanding this ca-pability and I am verypleased that we can accel-erate that work with Mo-bileye, a strategic partnerwhich shares our view ofwhere the automotive andother industries aregoing.”In parallel, the twocompanies intend to ex-plore other opportunitieswhere their products andservices are complemen-tary to support automo-tive firms in advancingtheir autonomous drivingand mobility strategiesgenerally.

“High-definition map-ping is a key enabler forautonomous driving,”said Amnon Shashua,chairman and CTO ofMobileye. “We arepleased to work withHere to create a worldHD-map standard, lever-aging the combined fleetsize of certain vehiclebrands initially, with theobjective of eventuallylaunching an industrywide initiative.”• Intel has agreed to pur-chase a 15 per cent own-ership stake in Here fromits current indirect share-holders Audi, BMW andDaimler.• Luxury mobility com-pany Lucid Motors is col-laborating with Mobileyeto enable autonomousdriving capability onLucid vehicles.Lucid will launch itsfirst car, the Lucid Air,with a complete sensorset for autonomous driv-ing from day one, includ-ing camera, radar andlidar sensors. Mobileyewas chosen to provide theprimary compute plat-form, full eight-camerasurround view process-ing, sensor fusion soft-ware, REM crowd-basedlocalisation capability,and reinforcement learn-ing algorithms.

Here and Mobileye combinelocation and mapping tech

Konrad Technologies andSET are joining theirskills to develop customtesting for driver assis-tance systems.Together, the expertiseon adas sensor fusion ofKonrad and on hardware-in-the-loop by SET aresaid to form a complete,flexible set of tools from

design to development,implementation and vali-dation to production.The agreement providesfor a collaboration be-tween the two long-timeNational InstrumentsAlliance partners both ontechnical as well as strate-gic activities.Both companies are

system providers for test-ing in the automotive in-dustry, from the initialidea to end-of-line tests.The focus is increas-ingly on National Instru-ments products, whichare extended with theirown products to enablehigh-performing andhigh-precision systems.

Konrad and SET link testing skills

NEWS

Page 7, February 2017 Vehicle Electronics Vehicle Electronics February 2017, Page 8

NEWS

Audi has included Mi-crochip’s Most 150 tech-nology in its latestcompact SUV model, theQ2, and Daimler plans touse the technology as itsnext generation infotain-ment platform.Most enables the de-ployment of a large vari-ety of automotive pre-mium surround soundaudio systems and driverinformation systems suchas full digital instrumentclusters and heads-updisplays.Audi has been usingMost 150 technology formany years, also deploy-ing it in its best-sellingA4 sedans, the Q7 SUVand TT Coupe models.This Q2 deployment uses

Audi and Daimler optfor Most 150 in Q2

the Most 150 OS81110and OS81118 intelligentnetwork interface con-trollers (INICs).Daimler intends to usethe OS81118 with inte-grated coaxial transceiverto reduce costs by moving

to coaxial cabling, whileretaining the benefits ofits current Most 150-based systems.“The Most 150 coaxialphysical layer is helpingDaimler develop morecost-competitive infotain-

ment for our demandingcustomers, and it protectsour investments madewith Most technology,”said Reinhold Beck, sen-ior manager at Daimler.Most technology is de-signed to ensure digitalmulti-channel audiostreaming is the highestquality. It offers a robustand proven method ofsystem management andcontrol with reliable qual-ity of service.“TheAudi Q2 is a com-pact SUV that meets andreflects the needs oftoday’s car drivers,” saidDan Termer, vice presi-dent of Microchip’s auto-motive division. “Wehave worked with Audifor many years and areproud to be a part of help-ing them deploy the latestmodels with the very besttechnology for infotain-ment and connectivity.”

Microchip’s OS81118 INIC

On Semiconductor has li-censed Ceva’s imagingand vision platform for itsadas product lines.On Semiconductorplans to use the visionprocessing IP to enhanceproducts with image pro-cessing capabilities andincorporate embedded in-telligence and machinelearning into its adasroadmap.“The automotive indus-try requires cost- andpower-efficient vision-

based adas to address thegrowing end-customerdemand and safety regu-lations across all tiers ofthe automotive industry,”said Ross Jatou, VP at OnSemiconductor. “Ceva’sindustry-leading visionprocessing IP enables usto integrate a host of in-novative and intelligentfeatures into our adasproduct offerings.”Strategy Analytics pre-dicts that the emergenceof camera applications

and imaging conceptswill help drive automo-tive camera demand toreach almost 200 millionunits in 2023.“On Semiconductor is arecognised leader in high-performance image sen-sors for the automotivemarket, and its selectionof our vision platform is astrong endorsement ofour vision IP for adas,”said Gideon Wertheizer,CEO of Ceva. “Its deepknowledge of automak-

ers’ stringent require-ments for performance,safety and reliability po-sitions On Semiconductorwell to further extend itsleadership in image sen-sors with the addition ofour vision processing IP.”Ceva’s XM DSPs in-clude a hybrid architec-ture composed of scalarand vector DSP proces-sors coupled with an ap-plication development kitto streamline software de-ployment.

OnSemi licenses Ceva vision IP

Ericsson, Orange andPSA Group have agreedto conduct a 5G technol-ogy pilot for automotiveapplications.The Towards 5G con-nected-car partnershipaims to leverage 4G to 5Gtechnologies to addressconnected vehicle re-quirements such as intel-ligent transport systems(ITS) to improve roadsafety and in-car services.The partnership is tech-nically focused on V2Vand V2X architecturesand real-time perform-ances for the deploymentof ITS and connectedservices in vehicles. Ini-tial tests will use an end-to-end architecture withLTE technology and willevolve to LTE-V and 5Gtechnology.First use cases on coop-erative ITS have been de-fined and are being testedon the field test track.These include see-through between twoconnected vehicles on aroad and a connectedemergency vehicle aim-ing at notifying in realtime of an emergency ve-hicle approach.Ericsson is providingthe radio and a distributedvirtualised core networkthat will enable networkslicing capabilities andsome intelligent geo-mes-

PSA turns to Ericsson and Orangefor 5G connected-vehicle pilot

saging services.“5G technology willplay a key role in thetransport system of to-morrow,” said CharlottaSund, vice president atEricsson. “Ericsson isbringing networks, IT andspecific innovations tothe automotive industry.Along with key playerslike PSA and Orange, wewill ensure the requiredlevels of safety and secu-rity as well as contribut-ing to a more sustainableand smart society.”The tests are using theOrange cellular networkwith the associated spec-trum on the field trial siteand the on-board connec-tivity integrating vehicu-lar use cases.“Connected vehicles arepart of our IoT strategic

vision along with home,smart cities, e-health andIndustry 4.0,” said Mari-Noëlle Jégo-Laveissière,executive vice presidentat Orange. “Vehicle man-ufacturers expect us toprovide the connectivitythey need for remotemaintenance manage-ment, for example, or tokeep on-board systemssoftware permanently upto date. By teaming withEricsson and PSAGroup,we are combining our ca-pabilities to drive 5G de-velopment for innovativeservices with the perspec-tive of the availability of5G by 2020.”PSAGroup is in chargeof automotive use case re-quirement definitions,embedded architecture in-tegration, user experience

and technical validation.“Connected IoT serv-ices are a crucial way toenhance the user experi-ence for our customers,who today demand un-precedented levels ofcomfort and convenienceas well as personalisedservices in their vehi-cles,” said Carla Gohin,vice president at PSAGroup.The partners aim to de-velop a comprehensiveexperience of the require-ments for a 5G infrastruc-ture that fits the needs ofthe connected vehicles in-dustry. They also plan toidentify the potential ofinnovative services anduse cases for the benefitof improving road safetyand for better quality ofservices to end users.

With the launch of a soft-ware-as-a-service (SaaS)platform for connectedvehicles, software tech-nology company ATSAdvanced Telematic pre-sented a proof of conceptwith Japanese electric ve-hicle maker GLM at lastmonth’s Connected CarJapan exhibition.Both companies agreedto explore future collabo-ration with regard to con-nected driving, paving the

way for the developmentof an OTA updating sys-tem for GLM’s next-gen-eration EV platform.Offering a free andready-to-use cloud-basedsoftware service, ATSGarage has been createdfor development depart-ments of automotivemanufacturers and suppli-ers, research institutesand start-ups in the mo-bility and IoT sectors.Upon launching the

SaaS platform, which isbased on open standardsand open-source technol-ogy, users can deployOTA updates for wirelesssoftware and firmwareupdates for connected ve-hicles and devices.The current versionsupports OSTree, a modeof wireless updating ofsoftware and that meetshigh security standards,as well as saving memoryand reducing bandwidth.

ATS and GLM show SaaS for connected cars

NEWS

Page 9, February 2017 Vehicle Electronics Vehicle Electronics February 2017, Page 10

NEWS

Garmin has expanded itsintelligent driving videorecorder (IDVR) technol-ogy with Chinese auto-mobile manufacturingpartner Dongfeng Peu-geot-Citroën Automobile(DPCA). Garmin first in-troduced its IDVR pro-gramme with the Peugeot3008 car model andthis announcement addsthe recently-announcedDongfeng Citroën C4Lcar model to the list.IDVR technology fo-cuses on recording roadfootage in high-quality1080p, 30fps and in-cludes adas features suchas forward collision andlane departure warnings.“IDVR is the first prod-uct in which Garmin hasstarted a strategic cooper-ation with DPCA,” saidKip Dondlinger, Garminautomotive OEM man-ager of product and userexperience. “What’smore, this opportunityhas allowed us to estab-lish an essential relation-ship with DPCA toenhance driver awarenessfor customers.”The factory installedIDVR is integrated on thetop interior section ofDPCA vehicles, built-indirectly behind the driv-ing rear-view mirror.With this setup, the IDVR

Garmin and Peugeot expandDVR relationship in China

camera can monitor road-way behaviour in front ofthe host vehicle and relayforward collision warn-ings if users drive tooclose to the vehicleahead. Lane departurewarnings are pro-grammed in to warn driv-

ers of potential collisionrisks if they deviate froma driving lane or into on-coming traffic.The driver awarenessalerts work with record-ing capabilities to createpeace of mind for users.The recorded footage is

preserved in a Micro SDcard housed in the IDVRcompartment. Once thefootage is reviewed, theon-screen display willfeature date, time, speedand turning signal infor-mation. In case of poten-tial road incidents, theunit will automaticallysave files on impact trig-gered by the Can signal.Garmin is manufactur-ing the hardware in its re-cently-opened factory inChina as it continues tostrengthen and expand itsrelationship with DPCA.DPCA plans to preinstallthe IDVR to futureDongfeng Peugeot andCitroën vehicles.

IDVR hardware from Garmin

Automotive safety com-pany Autoliv and VolvoCars have completed theformation of a joint ven-ture to develop softwarefor autonomous drivingand driver assistance sys-tems, based on the letterof intent announced in theautumn.Autoliv will make atotal investment ofaround SEK1.1bn into thejoint venture, namedZenuity. Volvo will alsocontribute assets to the

venture. The two willown equal shares.Headquartered inGothenburg, Sweden, andwith additional operationsin Munich and Detroit,the initial workforce ofaround 200 people willcome from Autoliv andVolvo Cars.The company is ex-pected to grow to morethan 600 employees in themedium term.Operations are expectedto start during the first

half of this year.Both Autoliv and VolvoCars will license andtransfer the intellectualproperty for their adastechnology to the venture.From this base, the com-pany will develop newadas products.Zenuity is expected tohave its first driver assis-tance products availablefor sale by 2019 with au-tonomous driving tech-nologies followingshortly thereafter.

Autoliv and Volvo completeautonomous joint venture

Ford engineers have created what they are calling the dashboard of thefuture, a 25.6cm-wide digital instrument display that features text andrace-inspired graphics intended to help reduce driver distraction.The digital display automatically reconfigures itself based on five

unique drive modes – from Normal to Track – to ensure the driver isgetting the most relevant information for their situation in aneasy-to-read format.The all-new Ford GT is the first car to use the display, which presents

information quickly and easily to the driver, like the glass cockpit inairplanes and race cars.“Driver focus and attention are key with such high performance,” said

Jamal Hameedi, chief engineer at Ford Performance. “We’ve designed theGT with a sleek digital instrument display that changes depending ondriving mode in ways that are important and usable to the driver.”

Ford’s dashboard of the future

Automotive Grade Linux(AGL), a collaborativeproject developing anopen platform for theconnected car, has re-leased a more advancedversion of its AGL info-tainment platform. Devel-oped through a jointeffort by dozens of mem-ber companies, the AGLUnified Code Base(UCB) 3.0 is an opensource platform thatcould serve as the defacto industry standard.“This is our third re-lease of the AGL UCB inthe past year,” said DanCauchy, executive direc-tor of AGL. “This un-precedented level ofcollaboration is a clear in-dication that the automo-tive industry is adoptingan open source develop-ment methodology that isresulting in faster innova-tion with more frequentsoftware releases and newfeatures.”Many car makers useproprietary operating sys-tems for infotainment.Car manufacturers typi-cally contract out the soft-ware to a supplier thatprovides proprietary codewith limited portabilityand reuse. Applicationsmust often be ported fromone platform to the next,slowing innovation.Sharing a single soft-ware platform across theindustry allows for codereuse and a more efficient

Linux update for infotainment platformdevelopment process. De-velopers can build onceand have a product workfor multiple OEMs in-stead of having to builddifferent versions.The goal of the UCBplatform is to provide 70to 80 per cent of the start-ing point for a productionproject. This lets car mak-ers and suppliers focustheir resources on cus-tomising the other 20 to

30 per cent. As part ofUCB 3.0, AGL is also re-leasing a software devel-opment kit to speedapplication development.The release is suitablefor deploying navigation,communications, safety,security and connectivity.It includes several fea-tures such as improvedhome screen, windowmanager, applicationframework and applica-

tion launcher.Reference applicationsinclude media player,tuner, navigation, Blue-tooth, wifi, hvac control,audio mixer and vehiclecontrols.“The platform reducesfragmentation and lets usbuild products that can besupported by multiple au-tomakers,” said HisaoMunakata, senior directorat Renesas.

Vehicle Electronics Vehicle ElectronicsPage 11, February 2017 February 2017, Page 12

A look at some of the automotivehighlights at last month’s ConsumerElectronics Show in Las Vegas

VEHICLES IN VEGAS

Nissan announced severaladvancements as part of its

Intelligent Mobility blueprintfor transforming how cars

are driven, poweredand integrated into

wider society

Vehicle ElectronicsPage 13, February 2017 Vehicle Electronics February 2017, Page 14

Honda collaborated withDreamWorks Animationto demonstrate an aug-mented and virtual realitycontent test bed for the in-vehicle experience. Thecar maker showed aproof-of-concept versionof its Dream Drive in-carvirtual reality prototypefeaturing DreamWorksAnimation content.The Honda and Dream-Works alliance plans tofocus on creating a soft-ware development kit thatfuses live telematics datato feed in-vehicle enter-tainment, education andinformation applicationsthat are contextually syn-chronised with the motionof the vehicle in real time.The initiative brings to

life the Honda DreamDrive prototype, whichenables passengers togaze into other worldswhile riding as passen-gers in Honda vehicles.“Entertainment in thecar is rapidly changing asconsumers rely more andmore on personal devicesand Honda sees opportu-nities to create unique ex-periences for customers,”said John Moon, devel-oper relations lead atHonda Developer Studio.“The collaboration letsHonda enhance the in-ve-hicle experience throughnew ways of deliveringinformation and enter-tainment.”Honda Dream Driveuses a VR headset to im-

merse passengers in a VRworld triggered by themotion of the vehicle.CES attendees experi-enced the proof of con-cept prototype, featuringcontent from Dream-Works’ recent animatedmovie Trolls.“We see the cabin of anautomobile as an un-tapped platform for deliv-ering entertaining andeducational experiencesto consumers,” saidDreamWorks Anima-tion’s chief animationtechnology officer JeffWike. “Working withHonda has enabled us tobring our collective talenttogether to explore andidentify opportunities inadapting and creating

new forms of consumerengagement.”Honda originated the al-liance through the HondaDeveloper Studio, its Sil-icon Valley-based openinnovation initiative.“The idea is to evolvefrom parallel play to con-nected, cooperative playthat connects passengersand drivers to their drive,each other and the worldaround them,” said BryanBiniak, co-developer ofthe Honda Dream Driveexperience. “We want ve-hicle time to include theability to have heads-upinteractive entertainment,educational and informa-tional experiences as wellas increased personal pro-ductivity.”

Honda and DreamWorks putVR entertainment inside cars

VR headset immerses passengers in a virtual reality world triggered by the motion of the vehicle

Blackberry announcedwhat it claims is its mostadvanced and secure em-bedded operating systemfor the automotive indus-try. QNX SDP 7.0 is a64bit OS and was demon-strated at the show onJaguar XJ and 2017 Lin-coln MKZ concept cars.“With the push towardsconnected and au-tonomous vehicles, theelectronic architecture ofcars is evolving from amultitude of smallerprocessors each executinga dedicated function, to aset of high performancedomain controllers, pow-

Blackberry QNX SDP 7.0demoed on concept cars

ered by 64bit processorsand graphical processingunits,” said John Wall,senior vice president atBlackberry QNX. “To de-velop these new systems,our automotive customerswill need a safe and se-cure 64bit OS that can runhighly complex software,including neural networksand artificial intelligencealgorithms.”SDP 7.0 provides en-hanced kernel-level secu-rity through features suchas microkernel architec-ture, file encryption,adaptive time partition-ing, high availability

framework, anomaly de-tection and multi-levelpolicy-based accesscontrol. Featuring thenext-generation QNXNeutrino rtos and Mo-mentics tool suite, thisOS helps guard againstsystem malfunctions,malware and cyber at-tacks by implementing amulti-level, policy-drivensecurity model.The OS also provides asafety pedigree proven bycertification to ISO26262 Asil D.It supports 64bit for theArm v8 and Intel x86-64architectures, along with

virtualisation capabilities.The beta release ofQNX SDP7.0 is availablenow for evaluation andproduct development.General availability isscheduled for this quarter.“By delivering 64bitperformance with com-prehensive GPU support,QNX SDP 7.0 will helpthe automotive industryrealise the vision of theunified digital cockpit,”said Ron Martino, vicepresident at NXP Semi-conductors. “The abilityto offer enhanced graph-ics in a safe and securemanner is becoming in-creasingly importantacross infotainment, in-strument cluster andheads-up display sys-tems.”

Hyundai Motor unveileda suite of interactivedemonstrations includingadvanced autonomousIoniq models operatingon the surrounding roads,while on the stand immer-

sive virtual reality cap-tured the company’s fu-ture vision for visitors.Autonomous Ioniqmodels navigated a seriesof test routes in the boule-vards around CES, using

Hyundai cars drive autonomously round the showlidar technology to iden-tify the precise position ofsurrounding vehicles andobjects to navigate theurban landscape safely.On the stand, virtual re-ality simulators providedvisitors with an immer-sive experience demon-strating how autonomousdriving could bringgreater convenience andsafety.Moving forward withthe use of lidar technol-ogy, the car maker hashidden the hardware be-hind the Ioniq’s frontbumper rather than usingthe typical roof-mounted

approach, retaining thecar’s sleek design. Theself-driving systems arekept as simple as possibleby integrating existingfunctions from the pro-duction model, includingthe smart cruise controlsystem’s forward-facingradar and lane keeping as-sist cameras.The system also uses aGPS antenna to search fora location of each vehicleand high-definition map-ping software delivers ac-curacy for location, roadgradient and curvature,plus lane width and indi-cation data.

Autonomous Ioniq models navigated a series oftest routes around CES

Vehicle ElectronicsPage 15, February 2017 Vehicle Electronics February 2017, Page 16

Gentex debuted severalautomotive technologies,including a three-camerarear vision system thatstreams rear video in mul-tiple composite views toa rear-view-mirror-integrated display. Thecompany also demon-strated a biometric systemthat authenticates thedriver and delivers cus-tom vehicle security andconvenience, as well asan upgrade to its Home-Link wireless control sys-tem that uses wirelesscloud-based connectivityto deliver vehicle-to-home automation.“At CES, we aredemonstrating productsthat address some of themajor challenges facingthe auto industry today,specifically the role ofcameras and mirrors inrear vision systems, andhow to securely delivercar-to-home automationand car-to-infrastructuretransactional services,”said Gentex senior vicepresident Steve Downing.“We have new productofferings in each of theseareas that are ready forautomaker integrationinto new vehicles.”The camera monitoringsystem (CMS) uses threecameras to provide a viewof the sides and rear ofthe vehicle. The side-view cameras are dis-cretely housed in

reduced-sized, exteriormirrors. Their video feedsare combined with that ofa roof-mounted cameraand stitched together intomultiple composite viewsthat are streamed to thedriver via a mirror-inte-grated display.“We believe this tech-nology combination is theindustry’s first practicalCMS,” said Downing.“The system realises therearward field-of-viewbenefits afforded by cam-eras, while the downsizedexterior mirrors providegenerous weight and fuel-efficiency improvements.They also provide a fail-safe view should weatheror system failure impedethe digital view.”The biometrics systemauthenticates the driverand delivers customisedsecurity, comfort andconvenience features.When the driver entersthe vehicle, the mirror-in-tegrated biometric systemidentifies the driver, and,if authorised, starts thecar and personalises setupby automatically adjust-ing mirrors, steeringwheel, seat, musicfavourites, GPS locationsand so on. It also providesadded security for homeautomation services andvehicle transactions.“This type of systemwould be perfect for newand evolving mobility,

Biometric mirror authenticates driversuch as car sharing pro-grammes,” said Down-ing. “The biometricsystem would identify thedriver, authorise vehicleuse and allocate payment,including incidentals liketolls and parking, andeventually even gas andfast food.”HomeLink is a car-to-home automation system,with an estimated 50 mil-lion units on the road. Thesystem consists of threein-vehicle buttons thatcan be programmed tooperate garage doors, se-curity gates, home light-ing and other RF-controlled devices. AtCES, Gentex demon-

strated the next genera-tion of HomeLink, whichuses both RF and wirelesscloud-based connectivityto deliver complete vehi-cle-to-home automation.A button press commu-nicates with an app on theuser’s mobile phone viaBluetooth LE. The appcontains pre-defined,user-programmed ac-tions, from single deviceoperations to entire homeautomation scenes. Theapp, in turn, communi-cates to the home’s smarthub over the cloud servernetwork and activates theappropriate devices, in-cluding security systems,door locks, thermostats,

lighting and other homeautomation devices.“It’s comprehensive ve-hicle-to-home automationmade easy,” said Down-ing. “For the driver, it de-livers the ability toprepare the home for ar-rival or departure withone button press. For theautomaker, it allows themto offer a customisableyet proven solution with-out the engineering effortor security concerns asso-ciated with integrating thesoftware into the vehi-cle’s computer network.”The biometrics can alsobe used with HomeLinkto add security and con-venience for multipledrivers by activating thehome automation pre-setsof different users.

Gentex’s biometric mirror authenticates the driver and delivers customised features

Green Hills Software an-nounced integrated auto-motive products andglobal customer adoptionof the Integrity real-timeoperating system andMultivisor virtualisationfor the latest Renesas R-Car automotive comput-ing systems-on-chip.Both companies demo-nstrated products basedon R-Car H3 and D1SoCs and support for R-Car M3, showcasingdevices for adas, recon-figurable digital instru-ment clusters, e-cockpitdomain consolidation andconnected car V2X.“The combination ofGreen Hills‘ secure In-tegrity rtos and Multivi-sor virtualisation softwareand Renesas’R-Car SoCsdelivers robust safetyand security functions forour customers,” saidMasahiro Suzuki, vicepresident at RenesasElectronics. “Safety andsecurity are becoming in-creasingly important forOEMs and tier-ones withthe rapid expansion of in-vehicle connectivity. Weare pleased to deliver asafe and secure semicon-ductor platform togetherwith Green Hills Soft-ware that satisfies the re-quirements for cockpitand adas.”Software developers

can quick-start their de-velopment time thanks toGreen Hills’ support ofboth the R-Car starter kitsand Salvator-X develop-ment boards for the H3and M3 SoCs. Integrityand Multivisor are inte-grated as well as GreenHills development toolsfeaturing the C/C++ com-pilers, Multi integrateddevelopment environ-ment, TimeMachinebackward execution tracedebugger, and Misra Cadherence checker.The platform includessupport for secure virtual-isation and separationtechnology allowing ISO26262-certified applica-tion code to coexist withgeneral-purpose code orguest operating systemswith freedom from inter-ference. The platform canmonitor the health of allapplications and guests inreal-time.The configurable virtu-alisation platform letsusers seamlessly config-ure peripheral routing andutilisation between thertos and any guest operat-ing system, including theability to share peripher-als safely between criticaltasks and general-purposetasks or guest operatingsystems.Fully accelerated 3Dgraphics use the Power

VR 3D graphics process-ing unit, including the ca-pability to share the GPUbetween the host rtos andmultiple guest operatingsystems, all while ensur-ing the rtos graphics ap-plications haveguaranteed priority formeeting functional safetyrequirements.A complete Autosar-compliant applicationframework allows exist-ing Autosar softwarecomponents to be seam-lessly and tightly inte-grated, providing forincreased software re-use.Virtualisation perform-ance uses hardware accel-eration built into theR-Car architecture. Thereis also support for func-tional safety elements ofthe H3, D1 and M3 SoCs.At CES, the companiesdemonstrated e-cockpitdomain consolidation anda reconfigurable digitalinstrument cluster on R-Car automotive plat-forms.• Hagiwara Electric andATSAdvanced TelematicSystems demonstratedthe integration of an opensource-based over-the-air(OTA) software updatesystem for the Renesas R-Car platform.ATS OTA Plus is inte-grated with AutomotiveGrade Linux.

Green Hills and Renesasdemo safety applications

Vehicle ElectronicsPage 17, February 2017 Vehicle Electronics February 2017, Page 18

Ford launched Sync AppLink capability that willproject navigation appsdirectly from a smart-phone to the vehicletouchscreen. Sygic CarNavigation is the first totake advantage of the ca-pability.“Ford understands howcustomers are using theirsmartphones, so it’s im-portant we offer themmore choice in how theyconnect and control theircapabilities in the car,”said Don Butler, execu-tive director of Ford’sconnected vehicle andservices. “Our new SyncAppLink mobile naviga-tion capability will helpkeep drivers’ eyes on theroad and their hands onthe wheel while using theapps that they love.”When a smartphone ispaired to the vehicle viaUSB cable, control of theSygic app is removedfrom the device. The app

Ford moves apps directto vehicle touchscreenis automatically projectedto the vehicle touchscreenmaking the navigationapp more convenient tomanage. The technologyaims to reduce a driver’surge to pick up and lookat a mobile device.Sygic is the first mobilenavigation app to take ad-vantage ofAppLink capa-bility to move mobilenavigation from thephone screen to the in-ve-hicle touchscreen. Sygictechnology is used by 150million smartphone own-ers across the globe, andis available in more than200 countries and about40 languages. The SygicCar Navigation app is op-timised to work seam-lessly with Sync 3, givingdrivers more choice inhow they navigate.

“Sygic is committed toexploring the boundariesof navigation, a philoso-phy that directly con-tributes to our enduringreputation as the leader innavigation for connected

Apps are automatically projected to thevehicle touch screen

cars,” said Sygic CEOMichal Štencl. “We lookforward to unveiling pre-mium new cutting-edgefeatures and further de-velopments as part of ourglobal relationship withFord.”The AppLink mobilenavigation capability willlaunch on 2018 Ford ve-hicles. AppLink providesdrivers with the ability tocontrol compatible smart-phone apps using theirvoice or the in-vehicletouch screen.Developers can maketheir smartphone appscompatible with Sync bydownloading and inte-grating the AppLink soft-ware from the Forddeveloper programmeweb site.

Fiat Chrysler and Googledemonstrated a seamlessintegration of the Ucon-nect 21.5cm connectedvehicle system featuringthe Android open-sourceoperating system.FCA is collaboratingwith Google regardingthe next-generation con-nected car systems en-abled by the power of anopen platform andecosystem of Android.“This collaborationwith Google has been ex-tremely beneficial forboth companies to ex-plore how in-vehicle info-tainment and connectivitytechnology continues toevolve, and what it takesto meet consumers’ in-creasing desire for inno-vation of information

with minimal distrac-tion,” said Chris Barman,head of electrical engi-neering at FCA. “WithAndroid, we are able tomaintain our unique andintuitive Uconnect userinterface, all while inte-grating our easy-to-usesystems with Android’sfeatures and ecosystem ofapplications.”CES attendees weregiven one-on-one demon-strations of Uconnectpowered by Android 7.0Nougat, which includescore infotainment fea-tures such as radio andcomfort controls.The Uconnect and An-droid integration also en-able a system built forconnectivity and compat-ibility withAndroid apps.

The demonstrationshowed a seamless inte-gration with Google As-sistant, Google Maps andAndroid apps such asPandora, Spotify, NPROne and Pocket Casts.“Google is committedto building Android as aturn-key automotive plat-form that integratesdeeply with the vehicle ina safe and seamless way,”said Patrick Brady, direc-tor of Android engineer-ing at Google. “Thiscollaboration with FCAbrings together the stan-dard for connected carsystems with Android tocreate powerful infotain-ment systems designedfor the digital age.”• In an integration high-lighting the increasing

connection between carsand the home, Hyundaidemonstrated compatibil-ity with the company’sBlue Link Agent for theGoogle Assistant. The in-tegration allows controlof various functions of aHyundai vehicle withsimple voice commands.These include “OkGoogle, tell Blue Link tosend the address of theMandarin Oriental in LasVegas to my Sonata” and“Ok Google, ask BlueLink to lock my car”."Our customers arefinding smart home inte-grations like the one weare showcasing withGoogle Home to be veryuseful and convenient,"said Manish Mehrotra, di-rector at Hyundai Motor.

FCA and Google demonstrateAndroid-based connectivity

Qualcomm introduced avariant of its connectedcar reference platformusing the flagship gigabitclass Snapdragon X16LTE modem to help carmakers deliver connectiv-ity required for advancedtelematics and connectedvehicle services, support-ing peak downloadspeeds up to 1Gbit/s.Building on the com-pany’s 3G and 4G LTE

modems for automotive,the reference platform isdesigned to let car makersintegrate additional wire-less and networking tech-nologies, including wifi,Bluetooth, BluetoothLow Energy and GNSS,with optional support forDSRC and cellular V2X.The platform also in-cludes a module referencedesign for the X16modem to help automo-

tive suppliers acceleratedevelopment.The X16 supports giga-bit-class downloadspeeds, up to ten times asfast as first generation 4GLTE devices. The modemuses digital signal pro-cessing with 256-QAM toreceive data on four an-tennas through 4x4 mimoand support up to fourtimes carrier aggregation.The connected car ref-

erence platform also inte-grates 802.11ac wifi,Bluetooth 4.2, BluetoothLE 4.2, sensor support forstolen vehicle trackingand recovery, quad-con-stellation GNSS, and 3Ddead reckoning locationwith optional support forV2X communicationsusing DSRC 802.11p orcellular V2X. It is de-signed to manage concur-rent operation of multiple

Connected car reference platform uses Snapdragon LTE modemwireless technologiesusing the same spectrumfrequencies.The platform includesin-vehicle networkingtechnologies such as Gi-gabit Ethernet with A2B,Can and Lin interfaces.“Connected cars are be-coming intelligent sen-sors on the road, not onlyusing data for consumeruse cases such as wifihotspots and video

streaming, but also col-lecting and transmittingcritical, rich real-time in-formation about road con-ditions, map updates anddriver status,” saidPatrick Little, senior VPof Qualcomm. “As aleader in car connectivity,Qualcomm is well posi-tioned to address thetremendous data demand,helping automakers inte-grate the broad set of

technologies required bya new generation of con-nected vehicles.”• Qualcomm chipsets arebeing integrated in thenext-generation of Volk-swagen vehicles. Theseinclude the Snapdragon820A processor for info-tainment systems, as wellas the Snapdragon X12and X5 LTE modems forconnected car and telem-atics systems.

Vehicle ElectronicsPage 19, February 2017 Vehicle Electronics February 2017, Page 20

Four Groupe Renaultstrategic technology part-ners – OSVehicle, Arm,Pilot and Sensoria – pre-sented open-innovationand open-source projectsat the show, illustratingnew ways of thinkingabout mobility as technol-ogy meets transportation.With an open-approachto innovation, Renaultand its partners are ex-ploring the changing faceof the automotive indus-try through early hard-ware and softwaremodification, the additionof customisable features,and aftermarket opportu-nities.“Renault has been mak-ing cars for more than100 years and our indus-try is changing rapidly,”said Pierrick Cornet, VPengineering at GroupeRenault. “Being able towork in all new ways, in-corporating new technol-ogy with new scenarios inmind, ensures we’re con-stantly exploring newareas of transportation,connected cars, zeroemissions and an easierlife for our customers.”Based on Twizy, Ren-ault has developed Pom, acompact and lightweightelectric vehicle withbodywork parts removedand an open-source auto-motive platform.Available to start-ups,

independent laboratories,private customers and re-searchers, it allows thirdparties to copy and mod-ify existing software tocreate a customisableelectric vehicle.In partnering with OS-Vehicle to develop anopen-source platformreadily accessible to thecommunity, OSVehiclealso provides on-demanddesign and engineeringservices for complete per-sonalisation. Bringing to-gether an ecosystem ofentrepreneurs, develop-ers, designers and engi-neers, OSVehicle makesit easier to build, share,distribute and modify thehardware designs of elec-tric vehicles.“We are very excited towelcome a great autoOEM like Renault in ouropen ecosystem,” saidTin Hang and Yuki Liu,founders of OSVehicle.“Sharing common hard-ware platforms to every-one is a new co-creativeand horizontal approachthat can disrupt this in-dustry lowering signifi-cantly costs and time tomarket.”Renault’s collaborationwith Arm will open upthe Twizy software andhardware architecture toallow more features, in-cluding interoperabilitywith Arm-based con-

Renault partners think differently

nected devices.“Connected vehicleswill enable new businessmodels that deliver abroad range of choicesand experiences for endusers,” said RichardYork,vice president of embed-ded marketing at Arm.“The automotive industrywill increasingly focus onthe specific functionalitythat owners want, such ascomfort level and enter-tainment. By providingthis platform, Renault ispaving the way for inno-vation in these areas.”Renault and Pilot, a re-tail supplier of mobileelectronics and automo-tive accessories, are ex-ploring aftermarketopportunities beyond the

traditional automotivesphere. By combiningPilot’s light pulse cabletechnology with Re-nault’s expertise in elec-tric mobility, they’vecreated the world’s firstelectroluminescent charg-ing cable for electric ve-hicles.Designed to connect anelectric vehicle to itscharging point, the cableindicates the existingcharge level by illuminat-ing and flashing on andoff in proportion to elec-tricity flow.“We’re genuinely ex-cited about our partner-ship to co-develop newtechnologies with the Re-nault team who sharePilot’s passion in the

earnest pursuit of true in-novation,” said CalvinWang, CEO of Pilot.Renault and Sensoriaare collaborating to de-velop sensitive socks toimprove drivers’ foot-work. The informationgathered by the connectedsocks is transmitted to anapp that records parame-ters such as speed, brak-ing and acceleration,allowing racing car en-thusiasts to assess theirperformance on the track.“Our team is thrilled tocollaborate with Renaultto expand our wearabletechnology line and helpdrivers improve their rac-ing performance,” saidDavide Vigano, CEO ofSensoria.

Twizy in use with Pilot’s light pulse cable

The Panasonic CognitiveInfotainment platformcan provide OEMs andfleet managers with a setof cognitive vehicle serv-ices combining Pana-sonic’s infotainmentexpertise with IBM’sWatson and cloud tech-nologies.The platform leveragesWatson cognitive capabil-ities, including deep nat-ural language processingand understanding, to an-swer questions and pro-vide recommendations aswell as directions whileen route. The platformalso introduces e-com-merce capabilities for in-vehicle purchases tomake the most of a dri-ver’s time, as well as pos-sible future cognitivedriving systems that mon-itor the vehicle conditionfor safer driving.At CES, Panasonicdemonstrated how thecognitive platform con-ducts an e-commercetransaction with a quickservice restaurant. In astep-by-step demonstra-tion, CES attendees sawhow a meal order couldbe verbally placedthrough the infotainmentsystem, paid for from thecar and timed for moreprecise pickup while stilldriving to the restaurant.“PanasonicAutomotive

was looking to push theboundaries of what in-vehicle infotainmentsystems might mean totech-savvy and time-crunched travellers whenwe approached IBM,”said Tom Gebhardt, pres-ident of Panasonic Auto-motive in the USA.“Working together, weare creating an enhancedset of cognitive capabili-ties that can give driversand passengers a superior,more accurate, just-in-time in-vehicle experi-ence while allowing themto keep mobile.”Panasonic is buildingon Bluemix, IBM’s cloudplatform, which enablesaccess toWatsonAPIs in-cluding conversation, nat-ural language classifier,text to speech, speech totext and personality in-sights. Bluemix will alsoenable Panasonic to inte-grate weather and Twitterdata to show additionalinsights into the vehicleexperience.“Our partnership withPanasonic Automotivewill enable a greatly en-hanced driving experi-ence,” said David Miller,general manager at IBM.“Vehicles integrated withthe Panasonic CognitiveInfotainment system holdthe potential for new in-dustry breakthroughs that

provide an intelligent,personal assistant insidethe car.”• Panasonic and Qual-comm announced theywere working together todevelop a next-generationAndroid-based in-vehicleinfotainment system.The two companieshave integrated Android7.0 features to give driv-ers a unified experienceacross a car maker’s vehi-cle line, adjusting for ap-plications, screen sizesand resolutions.This adaptive UI designconcept should allowOEMs to optimise theirsystem engineering in-vestments and customisethe infotainment systemacross vehicle lineups.Using a QualcommSnapdragon 820Amprocessor, this concept isbased on the 7.0 Nougatversion of Android,which is designed to pro-vide car makers with aplatform to developcloud-connected infotain-ment systems, helping ac-celerate innovation in thein-vehicle infotainmentexperience and the con-nected car.The concept willdemonstrate how newconnected services andapplications will deliver asafety-focused and intu-itive driving experience.

IBM and Panasonic combineon cognitive infotainment

Vehicle ElectronicsPage 21, February 2017 Vehicle Electronics February 2017, Page 22

AT&T, Delphi and Fordare developing a capabil-ity to enhance V2X com-munications.The platform is de-signed to help vehiclestalk with each other andsmart cities infrastructureto improve safety andvehicle security, reducetraffic congestion, savemoney, and protect theenvironment.Also at the show,Honda Motor said AT&Twas helping it bring 4GLTE connectivity toHonda vehicles in theUSA and Canada as partof an exclusive multi-yearagreement. And AT&T

said it was teaming withthe American Center forMobility to speed the de-velopment of self-drivingvehicles. It will also serveas the centre‘s exclusivecellular network provideruntil 2020.The research developedjointly by AT&T, Delphiand Ford can monitortraffic conditions and no-tify drivers over the LTEnetwork of approachingvehicles and events suchas airbag deployments,vehicle collisions, haz-ardous road conditions,bad weather and wrong-way driving. The resultshould be fewer accidents

and safer driving.“We’re moving fromtoday’s connected car to afully autonomous vehi-cle,” said Chris Penrose,president for IoT atAT&T. “Our work withDelphi and Ford will de-liver safer, more secure,cost-effective and effi-cient solutions to do this.”The three companiescollaborated on a proof ofconcept to demonstratethis capability. Delphi de-veloped the on-boardV2X module. AT&T de-veloped the software forthe analytics and will pro-vide the wireless connec-tivity. Ford developed the

in-car integration.“This technology hasthe ability to drasticallyreduce accidents and savelives,” said Jim Zizelman,vice president of engi-neering at Delphi.Don Butler, executivedirector for Ford, added:“We believe robust, se-cure vehicle communica-tions offer the potential todramatically improvesafety, reduce congestionand help protect the envi-ronment.Accelerating thedeployment of these com-munications requirescollaboration across ind-ustries and governmentagencies.”

AT&T, Delphi andFord partner on V2X

AT&T is bringing LTE to V2X

Digital platform securitycompany Irdeto an-nounced a partnershipwith Tata Elxsi to providecar makers with securein-car displays.Irdeto has combined itsCloakware security prod-uct with Tata’s design andengineering expertise tooffer secure, user inter-faces and connectedcockpits to automotiveclients around the world.The partnership delivershigh-end security HMIdesign and appealing vi-sual futuristic displays invehicles as a full-systemdevelopment service. Itworks with V2X, con-nected cars and adas tech-nologies, providing

secure design engineeringservices.In addition, the twocompanies are also ad-dressing security issuesrelated to mobile com-panion applications. Thepartnership secures theapplication, any data gen-erated by the app and thecommunications betweenthe vehicle and mobilephone using the RVI re-mote vehicle interactionspecification.“With the arrival of fu-turistic technology in carslike an integrated e-cock-pit and autonomous vehi-cles, the user interfaceplays a key role in thedriving experience,” saidTony John, global head of

marketing at Tata Elxsi.“This technology shouldbe truly intuitive for theend user, but automakersface many challengeswhen designing an effec-tive and distraction freeuser interface that is alsosecure. By joining forceswith Irdeto, we are ad-dressing this challenge byproviding a secure and in-tuitive solution that is adifferentiator for today’sOEMs, helping themachieve a competitive ad-vantage while keepingdrivers safe.”The partnership shouldlet Tata Elxsi’s design andengineering teams rapidlyprototype an advancedgraphical user interface

Trilumina demonstrated a256-pixel 3D lidar for au-tomotive sensing. Pow-ered by the firm‘sillumination modules,this solid-state lidar tar-gets next-generation adasand autonomous vehicles.Built in collaborationwith LeddarTech, themodules can replacebulky scanning lidarsbeing used in au-tonomous vehicle demon-stration programmes withhigh resolution and long-range sensing in a small,robust and cost-effectivepackage.“Trilumina’s illumina-

tion modules addresssome of the most difficulttechnical hurdles facingsolid-state lidar develop-ment,” said Brian Wong,CEO of Trilumina. “AtTrilumina, we are build-ing complete illuminationmodules with ourpatented, back-emitting,flip-chip VCSEL arraysand driver circuits to pro-vide the highest effi-ciency and most powerfulillumination available.The 3D solid-state lidarpresented at CES demon-strates the incredible ca-pabilities of our lasersolutions and how they

can be rapidly deployedto enable new signal pro-cessing capabilities suchas those in the Leddar-Core ICs.”• Trilumina is collaborat-ing with Analog Devicesto develop an integrated,solid-state illuminatormodule for automotiveflash lidar. The integra-tion of VCSEL array laseremitters with AnalogDevices’ patent pendinghigh-speed pulse laserdriver could enable an il-luminator achieving highoptical power output in asingle, small surfacemount IC package.

Irdeto and Tata to secure displays

Solid-state lidar modules

that seamlessly and se-curely transitions with thetarget system, includinginstrument clusters, info-tainment head units, rear-seat entertainment andconnected car applicationinterfaces.“With the number ofconnected cars growingon our roads each andevery day, hackers arestepping up their game totarget vehicles that havebecome dependent onsoftware, but are weak onsecurity,” said DanielThunberg, global head ofIoT at Irdeto. “Today’sconnected vehicle is aneasy target for hackers,which is why it is criticalfor OEMs to implementeffective cyber securityinto their vehicles fromthe beginning. Our part-nership with Tata Elxsinot only provides a high-end user experience, butalso world-class securitythat is integrated into thedesign process.”• Tata Elxsi also an-nounced its partnershipwith Disti, the creator ofthe GL Studio user inter-face tool. This partnershipaims to help the contin-ued effort to provide best-in-class user interfaces toautomotive clients deliv-ering high end HMI de-sign, innovative andappealing visual contentfor futuristic displays invehicles.

Vehicle ElectronicsPage 23, February 2017 Vehicle Electronics February 2017, Page 24

Harman announced asuite of products to makethe autonomous drivingexperience intelligent,safe and intuitive.The end-to-end systemwas debuted in the latestRinspeed concept car,Oasis, at the show. Lever-aging the firm’s LIVS(life-enhancing intelligentvehicle suite) of technolo-gies, Oasis provided aglimpse at the future ofautonomous driving andhow advanced, holisticvehicle intelligence couldtransform the driving ex-perience.Recognising the manyuser modes enabledthrough autonomous ve-hicles – from work andplay, to car sharing andsocial connectivity – Har-man engineers have part-nered across the industryto enable the intelligent,adaptable and personalsuite of services in theconcept car.“More than a technol-ogy supplier, Harman isan inspiration partner tothe world’s automakers,and the Oasis is a testa-ment to that vision – a ve-hicle that is contextual,personalised and highlyconnected,” said PhilEyler, president of Har-man Connected Car. “Au-

Harman provides Oasisfor autonomous driving

tonomy should not equalmonotony, and this vehi-cle offers an integratedcockpit and bleeding edgeuser interface that ad-vances mobility and con-nectivity while providingan unparalleled user ex-perience. This results in adriving experience that ismore powerful, produc-tive, personalised andprotected.”Using a compute plat-form, Oasis providesportable personalisationwith the complete Mi-crosoft Office suite andvoice-controlled virtualassistant. It also has full-windshield HUD technol-ogy and high-resolution3D maps, providing a fu-ture look at the user inter-face and how drivers andpassengers can interactwith their cars.Oasis is also highly

connected, with IoT inte-gration that offers home-to-car transfers ofpreferences, and con-nected services such ascar sharing, social mediaintegration, weather,parking and reservations.The camera-based adasmonitor, record and as-sess the surroundings ofthe vehicle to round out adriving experience withenhanced safety features.“When it comes to thefuture of automotive tech-nology, Harman is in aleague of its own with adeep competence in soft-ware across mobility,cloud and analytics do-mains,” said Ricky Hudi,managing director of Fu-ture Mobility Technolo-gies. “As a supplier andpartner, Harman is en-abling more personalised,connected and auto-

nomous driving experi-ences, all captured in theRinspeed Oasis.”Oasis uses the fullwindshield to project nav-igation prompts and otherinformation to the driver,while projecting enter-tainment or informationto the passenger.One of the most criticalconcerns of autonomousvehicles is how to ensurethe transition between au-tonomous mode and man-ual mode is handledseamlessly. Harman hascombined haptic feed-back, eye gaze trackingand the driver’s cognitiveload readiness throughpupil monitoring to en-sure the driver is truly en-gaged and able to takecontrol of the steeringwheel safely.A voice-controlled vir-tual assistant functions asa concierge, automati-cally suggesting and dis-playing personalisedpoints of interest whileenabling in-vehicle pro-ductivity to join confer-ence calls, updatecalendars and more.Through Skype connec-tivity, the system cantranslate telephone con-versations – in real time –with colleagues speakingdifferent languages.

The Rinspeed Oasis demonstratedautonomous technology at CES

Open location platformcompany Here an-nounced Electronic Hori-zon, software that helpsvehicles know and reactto what lies ahead on theroad without driver in-volvement.This means Here can

offer a full location tech-nology stack for the carthat could simplify andshorten time of develop-ment for car makers, andmeet their needs todayright through to fully au-tonomous driving.“For people to let go of

Fovio, the automotiveunit of Seeing Machines,demonstrated driver mon-itoring systems (DMS) atthe show.Strong growth in de-mand for DMS was evi-dent from the increase inthe number of automotivemanufacturers and suppli-ers showing DMS thisyear. The increased adop-tion is driven by the needfor intelligent adas, in-cluding driver distractionand drowsiness protec-tion, as well as needs inenhanced driver informa-tion systems and semi-au-tonomous vehicles.Since its 2015 CESdebut alongside Jaguar,interest in Fovio DMStechnology has grownsignificantly. Additionalautomotive OEMs andtheir suppliers showcas-ing Fovio technology thisyear included Bosch,Takata and Volkswagen.Bosch’s vehicle demon-strated intelligent driverinteraction capabilities

made possible by Fovioprecision eye-gaze tech-nology. Takata demon-strated steering-wheelintegrated DMS, enablingenhanced safety featuresmade possible throughunderstanding the state ofthe driver. And Volkswa-gen demonstrated a vehi-cle cockpit concept withintegrated DMS, usingdriver attention data foradvanced driver informa-tion concepts.“We’re seeing agroundswell of demandfrom industry leaders forour leading-edge drivermonitoring technology,”said Mike McAuliffe,CEO of Fovio. “Our part-nerships at CES this yearare a testament to thegrowing awareness of theimportance of our tech-nology for driver safetyadas, secure automateddriving technology, moreintuitive information sys-tems and next generationin-car human machine in-terfaces.”

Fovio sees interest growfor driver monitoring

Here software helps vehicles reactthe wheel, it’s vital thatthey come to trust theircars,” said Ralf Her-rtwich, head of automo-tive at Here. “This newpiece of software helpsbuild that trust by tellingthe car what lies ahead soit can drive better on itsown.”The software is embed-ded within the vehicleand pulls in map data anddynamic road event datafrom the cloud to create asimplified representationof the road ahead – with arange of a few hundredmeters to several kilome-tres. It then feeds thatmodel of the road to thevehicle’s adas to optimisethe performance of its en-gine and safety systems.All this happens withoutany driver involvement.A number of adas func-tions can benefit from thesoftware including pre-dictive powertrain controlfor increasing fuel effi-ciency, adaptive cruisecontrol, adaptive lighting,

night vision and objectrecognition.It also functions whenthere is no internet con-nection by leveraging thevehicle’s cached mapdata.Upon its commerciallaunch in early 2017,Electronic Horizon willsupport the forthcomingAdasis version threespecification.This means it alsoworks with high-defini-tion map data and easilyconnects to the com-pany’s HD Live Mapcloud service, which de-livers a range of high def-inition map data, roadevent data and driver be-haviour information toassist vehicles with posi-tioning, localisation andstrategy planning.Multiple car makers arealready using ElectronicHorizon in vehicle testsand pre-production vehi-cles, with these expectedto be brought to produc-tion vehicles in 2017.

Adas functions can benefit from the software

Vehicle ElectronicsPage 25, February 2017 Vehicle Electronics February 2017, Page 26

Continental is enablingupdates of electronic con-trol units across the entirevehicle from powertrainto infotainment systemsin a collaboration withmobile satellite commu-nications company In-marsat announced at theshow.“Until recently thenumber of electronic con-trol units in the vehicleconnected directly or in-directly to the cloud hasbeen extremely limitedand the demand for up-dates was low,” said Hel-mut Matschi, executiveboard member at Conti-nental. “But uploadingnew functions, greatersystem complexity aswell as the high need forsecurity and safety havecreated a strong need for

Continental and Inmarsat cooperatefor holistic vehicle connectivityover-the-air updates.Continental and Inmarsatare now setting out to en-able over-the-air updatesaround the globe for theentire vehicle electronicsover Inmarsat’s satellitenetwork at the simplepush of a button.”This will allow Conti-nental’s customers to de-ploy worldwide updatecampaigns at the push ofa button, bypassing thecomplexity of dealingwith multiple mobile net-work operators. The co-operation between thecompanies will also en-able vehicles to leverageintelligent routing over

satellite and terrestrialwireless networks to tryto achieve the best qualityof service, least cost andhighest availability.“Satellite broadcastservices will be a key en-abler of the connectedcar, offering the most ef-ficient and secure meansto deliver common con-tent to millions of vehi-cles, from software andcyber-security updates toprecise positioning data,”said Greg Ewert, presi-dent of Inmarsat’s con-nected car programme.“Combined with a two-way data network to ac-knowledge receipt and

installation of updates, In-marsat’s global networkbrings an unparalleled ca-pability to this importantmarket.”Thanks to a new gate-way, telematics controlunits and an enhanced in-telligent antenna module,Continental is takingsteps towards the goal offull vehicle updates.The connection to theoutside world is providedby a network access de-vice developed by Conti-nental. This can either beintegrated into the intelli-gent antenna module orused as a standalonetelematics unit. As inter-mediaries between thevarious network domainsin a vehicle, gateways areseeing strong marketgrowth among numerousautomotive manufactur-ers all over the world.The communicationsrouters are centrally con-nected to all vehicle com-munications buses andhave access to all relevantinformation. In this way,they provide the infra-structure required forover-the-air updates and,depending on the config-uration requirements ofthe automotive manufac-turer, can also temporar-ily store softwaredownloaded from thecloud in internal memory

and distribute it to rele-vant ECUs.To reduce the risk fromharmful software, thegateway is equipped withprotection measures todetect hacker attacks andinitiate countermeasures.“Security is a top prior-ity for our developers,”said Matschi. “Therefore,our experts are develop-ing hardware, software,and cloud-based ap-proaches that can both de-tect and combat cyberattacks.“Many functions of theintelligent antenna mod-ule can also be performedby the separate telematicsunit, which can act as abackend interface andtemporary storage areafor vehicle electronicssoftware updates at thesame time. The gatewayitself can be transformedfrom a pure informationrouter to a central net-working interface if thenetworking unit is di-rectly integrated into thegateway.“Depending on the as-pects required by the ar-chitecture of customers,our gateway, telematicsunit and intelligent an-tenna module offer flexi-ble and secure solutions,ensuring that every vehi-cle can become part of theinternet,” said Matschi.The collaboration allows over-the-air updates through a single network

Autotalks and RoyalTekhave joined forces to im-prove road safety by de-veloping a vehicle topedestrian (V2P) use-case. Vehicles equippedwith Autotalks’ V2Xchipset will be able to talkto RoyalTek’s Omen, alsoequipped with thechipset, using 5.9GHzWave DSRC technology.The Omen is designedas a phone case to be usedby pedestrians, bicyclists,motorcyclists and peoplewith disabilities. Its soft-ware was developed bythe Industrial TechnologyResearch Institute, a Tai-wan based R&D organi-sation that has been activein V2X software develop-ment since 2008.“Autotalks is proud to

Autotalks and RoyalTekprotect pedestrians

have such an importantcooperation with Royal-Tek,” said Hagai Zyss,CEO of Autotalks. “Au-totalks’ entire vision isbased on improving roadsafety and saving lives.This award winning inno-vative concept designedby RoyalTek to addressthe important V2P use-

case, not only helps pre-vent accidents, but helpssafeguard those who aremost vulnerable, and thisis of the highest impor-tance to us.”The product, using Au-totalks’ secure technol-ogy with multiple defencelayers to protect againsthackers, is enabling con-sumer-grade unsecuremobile phones to be partof a safety-critical net-work. It gives pedestriansroad safety without com-promising privacy, relia-bility or security.“RoyalTek createdOmen to save pedestrianlives without compromis-ing on the customer’s se-curity and comfort,” saidRoyalTek president JackyChen.

Hagai Zyss

Embedded and automo-tive software develop-ment house RT-RKshowed a software devel-opment kit for rapid de-velopment of multi-sensor algorithms for in-formational adas pur-poses integrated withinfotainment functions.The company demon-strated theAMV platformand Qualcomm Snap-dragon 820A processortogether running refer-ence adas algorithms and

infotainment applica-tions.AMV – for automo-tive machine vision –provides a softwaremodel to develop algo-rithms that use availablesensors such as camerasand proximity sensors, aswell as multiple process-ing cores (CPUs, DSPsand GPUs) efficiently tohelp develop complexcomputer-vision and ma-chine-learning based ap-plications.AMV is a low-level

SDK, operational underAutomotive Grade Linux,acting as a middlewarestack that provides APIsto informational adas ap-plication developers toimplement algorithmpipelines in an efficient,cost-effective and plat-form-agnostic manner.The stack on top of theSnapdragon 820A pro-vides heterogeneouscompute cores that helpin computer vision andmachine learning.

SDK integrates adas and infotainment

Vehicle ElectronicsPage 27, February 2017

Magellan showed a port-folio of products for theconsumer, enthusiast,professional and con-nected car markets. Theseincluded the MagellanNavi, which is availablein 2017 Subaru vehicles.The Navi navigationapp brings GPS satellitenavigation features, thelatest maps and routingaccuracy to vehicles byseamlessly connecting thesmartphone app to a vehi-cle’s infotainment dis-play. Navi connects to thecar’s head-unit displayvia Bluetooth or USB todeliver a voice-guided,full-navigation experi-ence with lane guidanceand points of interest.A simplified interface isdesigned to promote dis-traction-free driving. Theapp is featured in select2017 Subaru models, in-cluding the Impreza andBRZ, via the Subaru Star-link multimedia system.MiVue DashCams haveupgradeable Micro SDstorage, and enhancedlow light performance.The company says thereis a model to meet theneeds of every user,whether it’s recordingtraffic accidents, captur-ing scenic spots along theway, or keeping track of anovice teen driver.The TRX7 off-roadGPS navigators use a17.9cm HD touchscreen,

Airbiquity and Vector arecollaborating to enableAutosar compliant over-the-air (OTA) softwareupdates for multiple vehi-cle ECUs.By combining Airbiq-uity’s software and datamanagement productsand the Choreo servicedelivery platform withVector’s flash bootloaderand communicationsECUs, car makers haveanAutosar standard com-pliant way to increase theefficiency of programmedevelopment while de-creasing time to market.“Integrating Vector’sbootloader and ECUtechnology with Airbiq-uity’s software and datamanagement offering fur-ther strengthens our abil-

ity to deliver advancedand reliable end-to-endOTA for automotive cus-tomers,” said KamyarMoinzadeh, president andCEO of Airbiquity.The offering securelyorchestrates and auto-mates highly targeted andscalable software updatesand data collection forconnected vehicles.Choreo integrates vehi-cle systems, connectivitydevices, communicationsnetworks, back office ITsystems, and content andservice providers for tra-ditional and emerging ve-hicle services.Bootloader is a compactway to reprogrammeECUs quickly, efficientlyand securely. Vector con-trollers are ECUs for

communications pur-poses in vehicles support-ing various bus systems,networks and architec-tures.The ECU technologypermits fast programmedevelopment with quali-fied hardware and scala-ble software based onAutosar.• Airbiquity also an-nounced an initiative tointegrate the company’ssoftware and data man-agement product andcloud service delivery ca-pability into the ST Mi-croelectronics Telemacotelematics and connectiv-ity processors. The resultis a secure, out-of-the boxway to deliver OTA soft-ware updates to multiplevehicle telematics control

Magellan keeps drivers on track

ruggedised hardware cas-ing and mounting sys-tems designed for 4x4,UTV SxS and ATV vehi-cles. Off-roaders cansafely navigate their way

through 82,000 desig-nated OHV trails from ahigh-resolution 3D base-map view, while connect-ing their smartphones totrack and share trails in a

database of crowd-sourced tracks.The RoadMate personalnavigation devices in-clude all-new models for2017, such as a combodevice with a high-qualitydash camera built in.The company‘s fleetapplications help fleetmanagers manage and or-ganise driver routes, fromkeeping drivers on trackand on schedule to stay-ing in compliance of achanging set of federallymandated electronic log-ging regulations.

MiVue DashCams include rear-facing HD camera

Airbiquity and Vector Autosar OTA updates

CONNECTIVITY CONNECTIVITY

Vehicle ElectronicsPage 29, February 2017 Vehicle Electronics February 2017, Page 30

The game is BOND

Jan-Bart Picavet discusses why usinganisotropic conductive film bonding forautomotive applications suits advancedsafety and driver assistance systems

BMW used ACF bonding onthe rear lights of the M4 Coupé

CONNECTIVITY CONNECTIVITY

Vehicle Electronics February 2017, Page 32Vehicle ElectronicsPage 31, February 2017

Anisotropic conductive film(ACF) bonding has beenused for years for creating

electrical conductive adhesivebonds between flexible and rigidcircuit boards, glass panel dis-plays, and flex foils. The processessentially means heating andcooling an adhesive containingconductive particles under pres-sure.ACF bonding is one of the bestmethods for bonding fine pitchconnections, and is now beingused for a growing number of newautomotive safety and driver as-sistance systems. The advent ofautonomous driving and increas-ing use of displays and cameraswill only increase this trend, sinceit will require even more commu-nications and sensor applications.ACF connections require lessspace, and offer a cost effectiveand reliable alternative to otherconnection methods, includingzero insertion force (ZIF) connec-tors, board-to-board (BTB) con-nectors or soldering.

BasicsACF bonding is the process ofcreating electrical conductive ad-hesive bonds, with anisotropicconductive adhesive or film, be-tween flexible and rigid circuitboards, glass panel displays, andflex foils. This interconnectiontechnique is mostly used for con-necting to PCBs, see Fig. 1.The ACF material comes inreels and has three functions –electrical connection, insulationof the adjacent terminal andadhesion.Anisotropic conductive adhe-sives contain small, spherical par-ticles that, when compressed andheated, form an electrical connec-tion between parts. The conduc-tive material in the adhesive canbe foil, flex or paste. The conduc-tive particles are distributedhomogeneously, maintainingconsistent particle density andthickness.Before bonding, the particles areseparated by an isolating matrix ofadhesive. The parts to be joined

Fig. 1: General diagram of ACF bonding principle

are first brought together with theadhesive in between and tacked,in a step called ACF laminating.A heating element (thermode)then presses the top and bottomcircuit board together with theadhesive in between, causing theadhesive to flow and trapping theconductive particles, resulting inan electrical connection. Theparticles that are trapped betweenthe conductors form a conductiveinterface between the pads on thetwo mating surfaces and conductonly in the Z axis.The joint is stabilised by subse-quent cooling and full curing ofthe adhesive while still in thecompressed condition.Because of the low filler con-tent, there is no short-circuitingbetween adjoining tracks.The scanning electron micro-scope image in Fig. 2 shows onehollow conductive particlesqueezed between two conductivetracks. The actual particle size isabout 5µm. Normally there arebetween 100 to 1000 particles in-volved in one connection.The adhesive usually consists ofa mixture of thermoplastic andthermohardening (also calledthermoset or duroplast) glues toget the best of both substances’properties.The conductive particles can beeither massive conductive parti-cles, massive plastic particlescoated with conductive material,or hollow plastic particles coatedwith conductive material. Theyare most frequently made ofgraphite, gold or gold-platedplastic, each of which has specificadvantages and disadvantages.Graphite particles are sharp,which can be a benefit if one ofthe materials being connected has

Fig. 2: Scanning electronmicroscope image of onehollow conductive particlesqueezed between twoconductive tracks

a thin isolating oxide layer. Onedisadvantage is that that the parti-cles are not elastic, causing higherresistance.Graphite particles are alsohygroscopic in that they absorbmoisture from the air, whichcan influence the glue matrixand cause corrosion between thecontacts.Gold is not hygroscopic, andcontact resistance is lower thangraphite particles. However, goldcan be more expensive than car-bon. Gold-plated plastic particlesare compressible, so contact re-sistance is lower, because therecan be more surface contact be-tween the upper and lower track.The gold-plated particle alsoworks as a spring: a small relax-ation of stress in the glue is com-pensated by an extension of theparticle, resulting in an extra safeconnection.ACF bonding is the most costeffective option for a growing listof automotive applications. ACFhas been used for a long time forvehicle navigation systems, sensorinput devices and car keys. Re-cently, the bonding method has

Fig. 3: Cost comparison showing ACF’s cost, volumeand dimensional advantages

been used in newer organic light-emitting diode (OLED) rear carlighting systems, as well as for ad-vanced driver assistance systems,such as lane departure warning,frontal collision warning, intelli-gent parking assist and drivermonitoring.These systems typically usecameras with fine pitch connec-tions, usually defined as thosewith centre-to-centre spacing be-tween the leads of a component ofbetween 50 and 500µm. Safe anddurable connections are critical,since the cars may go into anemergency stop if there is a prob-lem with a connection, an unac-ceptable outcome.ACF bonding is a good optionfor these new systems comparedwith other available options,which include ZIF connectors,BTB connectors or soldering. Themain reason for selecting ACFbonding is cost-down – the priceof these other connectors is highcompared with ACF. Fig. 3 com-pares ACF’s cost, volume and di-mensional advantages.In addition, ZIF or BTB connec-tors require a good deal of space

and they must be positioned moreto the centre of the board, whereasACF uses less space and can beplaced on the edge.Locating connectors on the out-side of the board allows users toinclude more components in thecentre of the board. The other op-tion, soldering, is difficult to bedone at the fine pitches required.There is also the risk of shorts ifthere are problems guaranteeingthe amount of pre-tinning.

Smaller pitchThe general trend is towards finerpitches and more connections, asautomotive dashboards use moreand more complex displays. Thesesystems feature high definitioncameras requiring more connec-tions in the same amount of spaceto process and display data.Larger pitches are generallyconsidered to be between 500 and1000µm and fine pitches between50 and 500µm.With ACF, the problems limitingvery fine pitches in the 50-100µmrange do not occur from the glueor the equipment, but from ther-mal expansion. The newest ACF

CONNECTIVITY POWER TECHNOLOGIES

Vehicle ElectronicsPage 33, February 2017 Vehicle Electronics February 2017, Page 34

Fig. 4: Comparison of pitches achievable with available interconnect options

interconnects allow a fine pitch –150 to 200µm pitch for film onboard (FOB), see Fig. 4.ACF is by far the best option formaking connections to glass andflexible displays. With the hugeincrease in general automotivecommunications and connectivityto the outside world, the techniqueis being called on for touchscreendisplays and connecting antennasfor near-field communications(NFC) applications.

Flux freeNot only is there an increase invehicle communications systems,there is also an increasing numberof sensors being placed inside carsfor monitoring. When making aconnection to a sensor, it is criti-cal to avoid any contamination.ACF is flux free, eliminating thecontamination risk of flux used insoldering connections. In addition,no cleaning is required after theprocess, unlike soldering, which

requires flux application, reflowand then part cleaning.When using ACF for very finepitches, first clean the parts, andthen perform the ACF bondingsteps; no further cleaning isrequired, which results in timeand money savings.

ReliabilityACF bonding produces a verydurable and reliable connection.For example, heat and humiditytests show that conductive resist-ance remains low and stable.Adhesive strength is typically10N/cm right after bonding. ACFinterconnections also withstanddrop tests, while mechanical con-nectors have higher failure rates.A shift is taking place towardsthe ACF bonding interconnectiontechnique, supported by the mar-ket demand for higher input andoutput counts, further interconnec-tion miniaturisation and weight,and the explosive increase of cam-

eras, displays and antennas inautomotive applications.New developments in produc-tion equipment – for example,vision-supported automaticalignment, full automatic ACFlaminating module and fullprocess monitoring – haverecently opened up the path forwidespread usage of the ACFtechnique by significantly lower-ing interconnection costs.For example, ACF bondingsuitable for OLEDs was used byBMW on an OLED rear light forits M4 Coupé. Other similarprojects are under development.

Jan-BartPicavet isproductengineer forhot bartechnologyat AmadaMiyachiEurope

Advanced driver assistancesystems, commonlyknown as adas, facilitate

safe driving and warn the driver ifthe system detects risks from sur-rounding objects, whatever theymight be. These systems are oneof the major trends in automobilesfor the second half of this decade.They typically provide dynamicfeatures such as adaptive cruisecontrol, blind spot detection, lanedeparture warning, drowsinessmonitoring and night vision. As aresult, it is the increasing focus ofconsumers on safety, demands forcomfort while driving and thecontinued increase of governmentsafety regulations that are fuellingthe growth of adas in automobiles.At the heart of most adas issome kind of microprocessor toprocess all the input from the vari-ous sensors within the vehicle andto then process it so that it can bepresented to the driver in a waythat it can be easily seen and un-derstood. Moreover, these systemsare usually powered directly fromthe vehicles main battery that is anominal 9 to 18V, but could be ashigh as 42V due to voltage tran-sients within the system, and aslow as 3.5V during a cold-crankcondition.Thus, it is clear that any DC-DC

Four betterthan oneMulti-rail DC-DC convertersare essential for adas, believesTony Armstrong

Fig. 1: Schematicshowing

5, 3.3, 1.8 and1.2V outputs

converter to be used must be ableto handle a broad input voltagerange of 3.5 to 42V.Many adas will need a 5 and3.3V rail to power its various ana-logue and digital IC content; how-ever, it will be the processor IOand core voltages that will be inthe sub-2V realm.Furthermore, there are space andthermal considerations that mustbe taken into account.While it is common to use ahigh voltage DC-DC converter fora 5 and 3.3V rail, using this kindof converter for sub-2V rails is notalways practical due to the size ofusing multiple single output con-verters and the potential thermalconstraints. More suitable wouldbe to use a single DC-DC con-verter with multiple outputs.Such a device is shown in Fig.1. This is a four-output monolithicsynchronous buck converter. Its 3to 42V input voltage range makesit suitable for automotive applica-tions, including adas, which must

regulate through cold-crank andstop-start scenarios with minimuminput voltages as low as 3V andload dump transients in excess of40V.As can be seen in the diagram,its quad channel design combinestwo high voltage 2.5 and 1.5Achannels with two lower voltage1.8A channels to deliver four in-dependent outputs, deliveringvoltages as low as 0.8V, enablingit to drive the lowest voltage mi-croprocessor cores available.Its synchronous rectificationtopology delivers up to 94 percent efficiency while burst-modeoperation keeps quiescent currentunder 30µAwith all channels onin no-load standby conditions,making it suitable for always-onsystems.

Tony Armstrongis director ofmarketing forpower products atLinear Technology

SAFETY & SECURITY SAFETY & SECURITY

Vehicle ElectronicsPage 35, February 2017 Vehicle Electronics February 2017, Page 36

Formore than 100 years theautomotive industry hasbeen a driver of economic

growth. It has continuously ush-ered in technological changes andmade the car a safe, comfortableand efficient form of transporta-tion. The changes thus far, how-ever, have been incremental andevolutionary.With the advent of the self-dri-ving car, we stand on the cusp of arevolutionary change. Navigatingthis revolution without forfeitingsafety and security requires acloser look at system-level risksand their mitigation, from the de-sign phase down to the IC level.Self-driving cars are cool. Afterall, who wouldn’t want to cruiseon a German autobahn doing240km/hr while watching HarryPotter and not worrying abouthaving to drive? But they aremuch more than just cool. Theycould provide solutions to someimportant and tricky problems –they could help reduce carcrashes, the millions of hourswasted in traffic jams, and thewasted urban space given over toparking lots, just to name a few.To make self-driving cars possi-ble, several technologies need towork together. Advanced driverassistance systems (adas) enablebetter situational awareness andcontrol to make driving easier andsafer. Adas technology can bebased on systems local to the car –that is, vehicle resident systemssuch as vision and camera sys-tems, and sensor technology – orcan be based on smart, intercon-nected networks as in the case ofvehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) or vehi-cle-to-infrastructure (V2I), jointlyknown as V2X.V2X communications use on-

RISK REDUCTION

Prem Kumar Arora discussesidentifying and mitigatingsystem-level risks to safety andsecurity in the connected car

SAFETY & SECURITY SAFETY & SECURITY

Vehicle ElectronicsPage 37, February 2017 Vehicle Electronics February 2017, Page 38

board dedicated short-range radiocommunications devices to trans-mit safety-related messages abouta vehicle’s speed and size, head-ing, brake status, and so on, toother vehicles, and to receive thesame information about other ve-hicles from these messages. Usingmulti-hops to transmit messagesthrough other nodes, the V2X net-work can communicate over longdistances. This longer detectiondistance and ability to see aroundcorners or through other vehicleshelps V2X-equipped vehicles per-ceive some threats sooner thansensors, cameras or radar can, andwarn their drivers accordingly.As these technologies mature,the most important aspect for suc-cessful deployment will be the re-liability and performance in thefield. The track record of electron-ics systems in the car has beenquestionable, especially in the re-cent past. There have been vulner-abilities in electronic accesscontrol systems and fatal self-accelerating cars.Two so-called ethical hackers

made headlines when theydemonstrated vulnerabilities inremotely accessing, controllingand disabling a Jeep GrandCherokee. These and other revela-tions have exposed potential diffi-culties that need to be overcome.The three most common areasof threat are:

• Vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications;• Use of nomadic devices, USBsticks or MP3 devices; and• Aftermarket and workshopdiagnosis.

Security challenges increase withevery node that is connected tothe outside world. In connectedcars there are several such nodeseither connected to the internet ortalking to another car as part of aV2V network. In such cars it is es-sential to ensure that the commu-nications to and from the outsideworld are originating from a veri-fied source and haven’t been al-tered along the way.Ensuring security will require

designers to start with the under-lying hardware and will typicallyaddress the following issues:

• Integrity of hardware – preven-tion and detection of tamperingwith hardware;• Integrity and authenticity of in-vehicle software and data – unau-thorised alteration of anyin-vehicle software must be infea-sible and detectable;• Integrity and authenticity of in-vehicle communications – unau-thorised modification of data mustbe detectable by the receiver;• Confidentiality of in-vehiclecommunications and data – unau-thorised disclosure of confidentialdata sent or stored must be infea-sible;• Proof of platform integrity andauthenticity to other remote enti-ties – capability to prove the in-tegrity and authenticity of itsplatform configuration; and• Access control to in-vehicle dataand resources enabling availabil-ity and well-defined access.

The challenge boils down to threemain elements: secure hardware –the underlying hardware is highlysecure, cannot be tampered withand can form the root of trust; de-sign security – the design imple-mented on the hardware is secureand cannot be tampered with; anddata security – all types of datacommunications remain secureand reliable.Securing the system starts withsecuring the hardware. Securedand trusted hardware forms thebasis of a secure system. It pro-vides the necessary buildingblocks that can be used to authen-ticate and authorise communica-tions, actions and so on.

Typical V2X network implementation

Secure hardware forms the base of a layered approach

This is true for any system, butis especially important for a V2Xsystem.

Securing V2XTo ensure reliable V2V and V2Icommunications, it is imperativeto ensure that the communicationsoriginate from a known sourceand haven’t been altered along theway.To prove authenticity, the senderof a message must provide someform of identification that can beverified at the receiver to confirmthat the message comes from atrue source. This can be achievedby using either symmetric orasymmetric cryptographic tech-niques.For V2X networks, symmetric

cryptography cannot typically beused because of the complexityand size of the network. Instead,asymmetric cryptography is used,and provides a scalable way toconnect as many nodes as the net-work may need. To achieve this,each node uses a private key todigitally sign each transmittedmessage. This digital signaturecan be verified by the receiver byusing an associated public key,which is transmitted to all the re-ceiving nodes. Apart from the factthat this scales better than a sym-metric cryptography scheme, italso enables easier replacement ofany faulty nodes.But this poses another question:How does one ensure that the pri-vate and public key used by each

node is authentic and not tam-pered with?The best possible solution to thefirst part of the problem is to usebiometric signatures of silicon ICsbased on small physical variationsin the manufacturing process ofeach device. These process varia-tions are never identical and can-not be cloned and shared by anytwo ICs, thus providing a uniquesignature for each.Such signatures are calledphysically unclonable functions(PUFs). Besides being unclonable,PUF-based keys are also verydifficult to extract by a hackerbecause they are typically realisedat the atomic level.ICs can base PUFs on severalphysical factors such as memory

SAFETY & SECURITY TELEMATICS

Vehicle ElectronicsPage 39, February 2017 Vehicle Electronics February 2017, Page 40

elements, logic delays and resist-ance. Sram-based ICs that use theunique and random start-up stateof an sram cell to generate privatekeys are further secure becausethe state of the cell is wiped out atpower off.The second part of the questioncan be addressed by a public keyinfrastructure (PKI). A PKI is asystem for the creation, storageand distribution of digital certifi-cates that are used to verify that aparticular public key belongs to acertain entity. The PKI createsdigital certificates that map publickeys to entities, securely storesthese certificates in a centralrepository and revokes them ifneeded.In a PKI system, a certificate au-thority (CA) certifies all nodes bydigitally signing their public keysusing the CA’s own private key.The most common public key cer-tificate format is called X.509.When a device transmits a mes-

sage that is digitally signed by itsprivate key, this message can beauthenticated with the device’spublic key. The device can alsosend its X.509 certificate to allnodes receiving its messages sothey have its public key. TheX.509 certificate, including thedevice’s public key, can be veri-fied at the receiver using the CA’spublic key, which is pre-placed inall the nodes and is inherentlytrusted. Using this scheme, aproven, hierarchical, certificate-based chain of trust can be estab-lished because the signatureapplied by the transmitter can beverified by the receiver. Thisscheme also ensures that impostermachines can be easily detected.

ConclusionGrowth in the electrical and/orelectronic content of today’s auto-mobiles has turned industry atten-tion to ensuring that this contentdoes not pose any threat to sys-

tems or peripherals and that, if itdoes, preventive or corrective ac-tion can be taken.This is especially true with thetrend to intelligent vehicle controlthat puts human lives into thehands of sensors, microcontrollersand algorithms, and with the ad-vent of electric vehicles that haveeven higher electrical and/or elec-tronic content.Moving to the next phase of ad-vanced driver assistance systemswill require careful considerationof hidden system-level risks andresulting safety implications.Safety measures are requiredacross the entire system, begin-ning at the design phase andextending all the way down tothe IC level.

Prem Kumar Arorais marketingdirector for SoCproducts atMicrosemi

Block diagram showing the role ofV2V and V2I communications

Growth opportunities arestrengthening in the com-mercial vehicle (CV)

telematics market in Europe withthe imminent arrival of value-added services such as video-based safety, mobile baseon-demand freight exchange plat-forms and field service manage-ment. While penetration of fleetmanagement services in large andmedium fleets is relatively high,addressing challenges such asawareness, adequate training andbetter business cases is key to ex-pansion within small fleets.“The lack of a clear businesscase with justified return on in-vestment slows the developmentof the European commercial vehi-cle telematics market,” said Frost& Sullivan intelligent mobility re-search analyst Gokulnath Ragha-

Growing gainsA recent report looks at commercialvehicle telematics in Europe

van. “OEM’s increasing and in-cessant focus on the telematicsecosystem through telematicsservice provider partnerships andstandardisation of telematics fac-tory-fit will catalyse future adop-tion rates.The company’s CommercialVehicle Telematics Market inEurope report is part of its Mobil-ity: Automotive & TransportationGrowth Partnership Serviceprogramme.According to the research,OEMs’ lorry digitisation will offernew dimensions for connected lor-ries, ultimately opening up real-time access to tolling, parking,infotainment, weather, logisticstraffic and other futuristic servicesby 2020.The total CV telematics marketin Europe is expected to grow at a

compound annual growth rate of14.2 per cent from 2015 to 2022.The UK, Germany, France andBenelux contributed to nearly69.8 per cent of the total CVtelematics installed base in 2015.Countries in south-east Europe,such as Bulgaria, Romania,Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungry andCroatia, offer high potential fortelematics penetration beyond2017.Leading players have adoptedvarious strategies to gain marketshare and competitive advantage.For instance, TomTom Telematicshas strengthened its Europeanpresence through acquisition,open platform, partnerships, tech-nology advancements and expan-sion of product portfolio.Masternaut has adopted betterintegration and system extensionsthrough open architecture withmodular and scalable design capa-bilities. And Daimler FleetBoardaims to digitise the complete lorryintegration with internet, wifi andautomation. It also provides elec-tronic toll payment.“Telematics players shouldadopt flexible business cases, de-velop strategic approach-basedtraining and implement no-con-tract models to negate currentchallenges in a highly competitivemarket,” said Raghavan.

TomTom has strengthened itspresence in Europe

Electronic toll paymentis possible with DaimlerFleetBoard telematics

PRODUCTS

Vehicle Electronics Vehicle ElectronicsPage 41, February 2017 February 2017, Page 42

PRODUCTS

A flash bootloader canhelp developers repro-gramme Linux-basedECUs according to OEMrequirements. The devicefrom Vector enables up-dating of shell scripts andgraphic data as well asconfiguration and operat-ing system files.

The latest infotainmentand telematics controllersuse high-resolutiongraphics and comprehen-sive connectivity. To han-dle these requirements,operating systems such asLinux can be used.

The flash bootloader forconventional and Au-tosar-conformant ECUshas been extended forPosix-compatible operat-

Bootloader updatesLinux-based ECUsing systems such asLinux. Communicationswith the flash tool areperformed over Ethernetper ISO 13400-2 (DoIP)in accordance with OEMdownload specifications.

The bootloader is basedon the Linux runtime en-vironment and therebyenables file-based soft-ware downloads. Thisalso lets users updateindividual sections ofsoftware during develop-ment, in production andin vehicle service.

Tuner lets designers simplify head unitsUsing a remote tunerfrom Maxim IntegratedProducts, designers cansimplify the head unit de-sign of a vehicle and re-duce cables. TheMAX2175 RF to bitstuner eliminates the needto rework the vehicle’shardware to supportworldwide radio stan-

dards, allowing updatesby simply changing thevehicle’s software

The RF to bits tunerscan be located in a quieterenvironment close to theantenna to reduce noise.Meanwhile, the digitaloutputs of the tuners areserialised using Maxim’sgigabit multimedia serial

link serdes onto a singlelow-cost coax cable.

Power for the remotetuner is also delivered onthis single cable. Not onlydoes this improve radioperformance, but it alsoreduces the weight of thevehicle.

Removing all tunersfrom the head unit savesspace and reduces systemcomplexity and heat dis-sipation in the head unit.In a four-channel radio,for example, 4W ofpower can be removedfrom the head unit.

In addition, it allows thebaseband processing to bedone in software on anautomotive SoC, such as

the Renesas R-Car H3.This software defined

radio approach enablesflexible implementationsby eliminating the needfor a dedicated basebandprocessor. By simplychanging the software,any worldwide radio stan-dard can be supported.

Rather than having toredesign the head unit,designers can optimise asingle remote radio tunerarchitecture that scales todifferent use cases bymanaging the number ofremote tuners.

Available in a 48-pin 7by 7mm TQFN package,it has a temperature rangeof -40 to +85˚C.

The ALS31000 from Al-legro Microsystems is aunidirectional linear Hallsensor IC for automotiveand industrial applica-tions such as displace-ment and angular positionsensing that requireshigh-accuracy operationcombined with a smallpackage size.

The accuracy of thisfactory-programmed de-vice is enhanced via end-of-line programming ofthe temperature coeffi-cient to optimise sensitiv-ity and quiescent voltageoutput across the fulloperating temperaturerange.

Hall sensor maintains accuracy

The device is a ratio-metric Hall-effect sensorIC that provides a voltageoutput proportional to theapplied magnetic field.

The quiescent voltageoutput is adjusted toaround 0.7V and theoutput sensitivity is set

to 2.4mV/G.Each bicmos mono-

lithic circuit integrates aHall element, tempera-ture-compensating cir-cuitry to reduce theintrinsic sensitivity driftof the Hall element,small-signal high-gain

amplifier, clamped low-impedance output stage,and a proprietary dy-namic offset cancellationtechnique.

The features of this lin-ear device make it suit-able for use in automotiveand industrial applica-tions requiring high accu-racy and operation from-40 to +150˚C.

The device comes in theLH package style, a SOT-23W style, miniature,low-profile package forsurface-mount applica-tions.

The package is Pb-free,with 100 per cent matt-tinlead-frame plating.

Software module providesaccurate street mappingThe first software modulefor Elektrobit’s Robinosproduct line – EB Robi-nos Predictor – providesaccurate street map andtopographical data for de-veloping predictive driv-ing systems.

It uses a self-learningalgorithm to enable theimplementation of adasfeatures such as predic-tive headlights, curvespeed warning and traf-fic-sign assistance, whichrequire accurate and up-to-date positioning infor-mation.

Robinos is hardware-agnostic software that letscar makers and tier-oneautomotive suppliers de-velop and bring to markethighly automated drivingsystems.

Predictor consists ofthree optional compo-nents – provider, recon-structor and aself-learning map mod-ule. The first component,provider, is also part ofContinental’s DynamiceHorizon. Predictor sup-ports all important mapand industry standards

such as NDS, Volkswa-gen PSD, BMW Adasand Adasis v2.

It supports free Open-StreetMaps (OSM) whichprovides car makers away to offer premiumdriver assistance featuresin entry-level vehicles.The software uses thismapping information togenerate precise data,which are interpreted bythe electronic horizon re-constructor softwaremodule into informationusable by the car’s ECU.This enables cars to pre-

pare for and respond toreal-world situations.

Moreover, map data canbe incrementally enrichedover the air while the ve-hicle is driving, using theself-learning algorithm,meaning every vehicle al-ways has the most accu-rate information about theroad ahead.

This year, the companyexpects to release addi-tional, software modules,including Grid Fusionand Path Planning, aswell as an accurate posi-tioning module.

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Vehicle Electronics February 2017, Page 44

AC vehicle connectorsfrom Phoenix Contacthave been developed inaccordance with theLV124 and LV214 re-quirements for the auto-motive industry.

Available from TTI,they rely on robust, high-quality materials as wellas a uniform plug design.

All international stan-dards with type one, typetwo and GB/T are avail-able. Low insertion andwithdrawal forces makethe devices convenientto handle. A locking

An image sensor thatbrings 1392 x 976 resolu-tion at up to 60 frames persecond in a 1/3.8in opti-cal format has more than120dB dynamic range forautomotive imaging ap-plications.

Built on Omnivision’s2.8µm OmniBSI-2 DeepWell pixel technology,the OV9716 comes in anAEC-Q100 grade two-qualified, 5.8 by 5.25mmchip scale package.

The pixel technologyprovides a 16bit linearoutput, capturing 94dB ofscene dynamic range in a

single frame. This outputcomes without HDRcombination artefacts andhas no sudden drops insignal-to-noise ratioacross the scene.

The sensor can furtherexpand dynamic range tomore than 120dB byusing a second very shortexposure, also reducingmotion artefacts.

Safety mechanisms en-able ISO 26262 Asil B-rated camera systems.

It is available for sam-pling and due to entervolume production in thesecond half of 2017.

ST Microelectronics hasboosted performance andsecurity in its latestTelemaco processors tosupport richer connected-driving services.

The Telemaco concepthelps increase consumeraccess to advanced con-nected-driving servicesthrough the integration ofthe telematics processor,secure in-car connectivityand sound boosting in asingle chip.

The Telemaco 3 chipsare tailored for telematicsapplications and giveflexibility to choose theconnection type, such as2G, 3G or 4G.

The secure interfacewith the in-vehicle net-work has been enhancedwith a hardware crypto-graphic accelerator, andconnectivity extendedwith Gigabit Ethernetsupport and the option tohost a wifi module thatcan be used as an in-carhotspot.

The family comprisesthe STA1175, STA1185and STA1195 ICs, whichprovide choices such asvarious numbers of Caninterfaces and the op-tional DSP subsystem,enabling users to scaletheir designs. Devices aresampling now to lead cus-tomers, and full produc-

Performance boosterfor connected driving

tion is scheduled for De-cember 2017.

The Telemaco 3 familyincreases performance fortelematics and connectiv-ity applications, com-pared with the Telemaco2 generation, by upgrad-ing the execution speed of

the power- and area-effi-cient main processormore than 3.5x, from 700to 2500DMips.

The dedicated ArmCortex-M3 microcon-troller, which managesthe interface with the ve-hicle’s Can network, sup-

ports the Can-FD flexibledata-rate standard that al-lows higher data speedsand communications effi-ciency. The hardware-ac-celerated crypto enginestrengthens authentica-tion of data and OTA up-dates.

The DSP sound subsys-tem is an optional featurethat enhances the audioquality of in-car connec-tivity applications withfeatures such as noisecancellation.

Off-chip interfaces in-clude for Can-FD drivers,Gigabit Ethernet, Blue-tooth and wifi wirelessmodules, an analoguepower amplifier output,and interfaces for externalmemory including flashand DDR3 sdram. Thereis an on-chip DDR3 con-troller.

AC connectorsmechanism enables safecharging.

They are suitable formobile charging cableswith vehicle connector

and infrastructure plug(charging case B for thecar boot) as well as charg-ing cables with vehicleconnector and open cableend (charging case C forthe charging station orwall box).

The Canalytics softwareplatform from WinemanTechnology provides aninterface to increase thebenefits of Can bus hard-ware, particularly for au-tomotive and aerospacewhere it provides adurable network that sup-ports communications be-tween multiple ECUs.

R&D and test organisa-

tions use Can to simulatean ECU and test resultingsignals. With this plat-form, engineers can de-velop custom applicationsthrough a fully featuredinterface, and use that in-terface to integrate auto-mated processes. Theplatform includes a Candatabase and editor.

It will work with a vari-

ety of Can hardware, re-ducing overall test systemcost. It supports NI-XNetand AVT-853 hardware,and there are plans to addsupport for additionalhardware platforms.

The platform supportsthe import and export of.DBC files and XML def-inition databases createdwith Labview; it includes

Software increasesbenefits of Can bus

a Labview API.It can simulate an ECU

from a Can perspective asdefined by the databasefile.

Bus traffic can be col-lected and catalogued totrace windows and logfiles. Outgoing messagescan be sent to a specificbus. It views all Can traf-fic on a specific bus.

It can be automated byany programme or script-ing language that canmake a TCP connectionand serialise and de-seri-alise JSon data.

1.4Mpixel image sensor

Exar has announced anAEC-Q100 qualifiedfamily of 40V switchingregulators for applica-tions such as infotainmenthead units and adas.

The XR 76203-Q, XR76205-Q and XR 76208-Q are 3, 5 and 8A syn-chronous step-downregulators designed toprovide a 5.5 to 40V inputvoltage and an adjustableoutput voltage down to0.6V while providingtransient response andoutput accuracy over theentire voltage range.

The 8A XR 76208-Q isclaimed to be the highestcurrent, fully synchro-nous, 40V regulator onthe market that offersAEC-Q100 qualification.

The family uses thecompany‘s proprietary

emulated current modeconstant-on-time controlloop. It provides fast tran-sient response with ce-ramic output capacitorsand line and load regula-tion while simplifyingsystem design. They alsohave supervisory and pro-tection features for propersequencing, safe opera-tion under abnormal oper-ating conditions and lightload operation.

They meet AEC-Q100requirements for -40 to+125˚C, HBM ESD classlevel two and CDM ESDclass level C4B. The DC-DC buck regulators comein a 5 by 5mm 30-pinQFN with wettable flanksallowing for 100 per centautomatic optical inspec-tion of solder wettingpost-assembly.

Switching regulatorsmeet AEC-Q100

Vehicle ElectronicsPage 45, February 2017

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Editor and Publisher:Steve Rogersoneditor@vehicle-electronics.biz

Advertising Manager:Diane Trotmandiane@vehicle-electronics.biz

Web Site Manager:Martin Wilsonadmin@vehicle-electronics.biz

Published by: Vehicle Electronics Magazine,72 Westwood Road, Nottingham NG2 4FS, UK

Web site: vehicle-electronics.bizTwitter: @velectronicsmag

© 2017 Vehicle ElectronicsISSN 2055-1177

Vehicle Electronics is available to readers world-wide. It will be published approximately twelvetimes a year in a digital-only format. All rightsreserved. No part of Vehicle Electronics may bereproduced or transmitted in any form or by anymeans, electronic or mechanical, including photo-copying or recording on any information storagesystem, without the written consent of the pub-lisher. The publisher cannot be held responsiblefor loss or damge to unsolicited press releases orphotographs. Views of contributors and advertis-ers do not necessarily refelect the policy ofVehicle Electronics or those of the publisher.

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Vehicle Electronics February 2017, Page 46

Renesas and TTTechhave developed a highlyautomated driving plat-form (HADP), a proto-type ECU for massproduction vehicles withintegrated software andtools. This demonstrateshow to use Renesas andTTTech technologiescombined in a true auto-motive environment forautonomous driving.

This is the first outcomeof the collaboration be-tween the companies an-nounced a year ago, andis an extended version ofthe HAD kit released inOctober. It is based ondual R-Car H3 SoCs andthe RH850/P1H-C MCU.

It was developed basedon an Asil-D functionalsafety concept and an in-tegration process forcomplex highly auto-mated driving systems.

Prototype ECU from collaboration

The device can be usedby tier-ones and OEMs toprototype their functionsin an embedded automo-tive ECU. It shortens timeto market by letting sys-tem developers verify andintegrate software on theprototype ECU.

The ECU has been de-veloped for automotivesample grade quality fol-lowing requirements onthermal design and shockresistance. It is providedin an aluminium housing

targeting IP51 protectionlevel for mounting in thepassenger cabin or lug-gage compartment.

The prototype can bedirectly connected to anautomotive power supplyand is designed to work at-40 to +85˚C and exposedto vibrations in a runningvehicle. It comes with ca-bling and guidelines foradaption inside a vehicle.

TTIntegration is a soft-ware platform that pro-vides the services to run

several safety critical ap-plications in parallel onmultiple SoCs. A parti-tioning concept ensuressafety related applicationscannot be impacted byother applications run-ning at the same time.

Functions can be devel-oped on the embeddedHADP side-by-side withapplications running on aPC. They all can share thesame data and services asif it were a single domainECU.

High-power LED driversfor automotive frontlights from InfineonTechnologies addressflexible DC-DC driverssupporting LED systemsup to 50W and above.

Application setups canvary: many medium-power LEDs with stringvoltages of up to 55V orfew LEDs with high cur-rents of up to 3A andmore.

Both the Litix PowerFlex TLD5541-1QV andthe Power TLD5190QVsuit high-power and high-current LED applications.These include front light-ing, laser and LED head-lamps. They also suitefficient supplies for LEDapplications working onbattery voltage.

The TLD5541-1QVsynchronous H-bridgeDC-DC controller is fordriving all high-powerLED configurations withmaximum system effi-ciency of above 92%.This results in higher re-liability and improved

thermal behaviour and re-duced PCB size. Thanksto its optimised spreadspectrum switching fre-quency, the device helpsreduce EMC emissions tofulfil EMC requirementssuch as Cispr 25 classfive.

It has seamless buck-boost regulation and fastdynamic load jump be-haviour. One device candrive two and more sepa-rately switched LEDloads in one string, withup to 55V string voltage.The LED current accu-racy is ±3%.

It has built-in protectionand SPI interface withanalogue and digitalPWM dimming. Switch-ing frequency is ad-justable from 200 to700kHz. Adjustable softstart limits the currentpeak as well as voltageovershoots at start up.

The TLD5190QV is asynchronous H-bridgeDC-DC controller withsimilar features as theTLD5541-1QV.

LED drivers support50W and above

The Ambarella A9AQ isan AEC-Q100 qualified4k Ultra HD SoC for sin-gle or multi-camera elec-tronic mirror, surroundview and video recordingsystems. It is based on an800MHz dual-core ArmCortex-A9 CPU.

The company has alsointroduced its B6 familyof 4k Ultra HD capableserdes companion chips.

The A9AQ provides asingle chip for three cam-era side-view and rear-view electronic mirrorsystems. Its multi-expo-sure HDR processingprovides visibility even inlow light or high contrastscenes.

Flicker mitigation re-duces artefacts introducedby LED headlights andtraffic signs.

For multi-camera park-ing assistance applica-tions, the on-chip H.264encoder enables simulta-neous recording of multi-ple camera streams aswell as video streaming to

smartphones over wifi orthrough in-car 4Ghotspots. It provides real-istic 3D HD scene render-ing using a dedicatedimage processing enginewhich provides de-warp-ing and seamless stitchingof video from multiplecameras.

The multi-channelimage processing re-moves the need for a ded-icated ISP chip in everycamera module, enablingcompact camera moduleswhile improving videoquality, reducing powerconsumption and lower-ing cost.

It integrates a four-channel de-serialiser, sothere is no need for exter-nal de-serialiser chips inmulti-channel camerasystems. The B6 serdeschips provide up to 3G-pixel raw data through-put, allowing Ultra HD at30 frames per second orfull HD at 60 frames persecond with multi-expo-sure HDR data.

SoC handles multicamera streams