Automotive Electronics
Current
Click image to enlarge
Figure 1: Automotive Electronics Forecast and Semiconductor Content per Vehicle (Source: Gartner - March 2011)
Automotive electronics has emerged as one of the most important applications for integrated circuits. The expanded use of automotive electronics and concomitant semiconductor content per vehicle shows no signs of slowing down
According to one recent forecast, the average semiconductor content
. . . Read More
Date:
9/6/2011
Click image to enlarge
Figure 1: Structure of the SaberRD environment
Electrification is driving the need for comprehensive multi-domain system simulation in hybrid-electric and electric vehicles.
A vehicle’s power electronic components, coupled with the overall power management and control system, introduces a new set of challenges for electrical system design.
. . . Read More
Date:
8/17/2011
Click image to enlarge
Figure 1: Typical positioning of high-voltage vehicle components
Recent industry trends toward high-performance electric and hybrid vehicle (EHV) drives has created a whole new set of testing requirements.
New Drive Technologies, New Safety Requirements
New systems call for onboard electrical energy stores and drive units with battery power requirements
. . . Read More
Date:
8/16/2011
Click image to enlarge
Figure 1: The new innovative body architecture allows a significant wire harness reduction in comparison to today’s architecture
One of the latest automotive design trends is LED lighting. LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) are used for tail lights, interior lights such as ambient lighting, and LED front lights.
Front light LEDs enable brand recognition beyond the typical car attributes. In addition to the new design possibilities,
. . . Read More
Date:
8/16/2011
Click image to enlarge
Table 1: Teseo-II Urban Canyon Performance
Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) is the general term for satellite tracking systems and covers GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, QZSS and Compass constellations.
Systems for urban canyon applications need to incorporate a range of functions including GNSS tracking, inertial measurement, telemetry,
. . . Read More
Date:
8/16/2011
Click image to enlarge
Figure 1: Ballast-Igniter Circuit
High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps are superior replacements for conventional heated-filament headlamps that require about 25kV applied to the lamp electrodes to ionize the Xenon gas and ‘strike’ an arc.
HID technology simply uses the light emitted when ionized Xenon gas in a sealed
. . . Read More
Date:
8/16/2011
Click image to enlarge
Figure 1: The Die Free package resistances of different power semiconductor packages
The 2011 automotive year started with the Detroit Auto show where the new Chrysler 300 was launched, its headline, a 3.6l V6 engine delivering a whopping 292 hp (218 kW), 41 hp (31 kW) more than the previous model year of the same car.
Of course it will come as no surprise to learn that
. . . Read More
Date:
8/16/2011
Click image to enlarge
Figure 1: Boost Buck Structure
A main challenge for an automotive power system designer is to deal with the 12V car battery voltage fluctuations. The battery voltage can drop significantly during load crank.
This voltage drop can aversely affect the infotainment system and other electronic devices powered from the battery.
. . . Read More
Date:
8/15/2011
Click image to enlarge
Figure 1: Principle of Car Wiring Harness Pulse Immunity Test Using an ESD Simulator ("ESD Pulse Gun")
System-level tests for EMC pulse immunity have been established in order to test the immunity of an electronic device or module against strong electromagnetic fields such as a close AM or FM transmitter station or the short, intense shock from a flash that can damage or at least disable vehicle electronics.
Many
. . . Read More
Date:
8/15/2011
Click image to enlarge
Figure 1: Typical LTC3859A Start/Stop Application Schematic
Many automotive manufactures have devised a clever way of saving fuel in automobiles by using a new concept called a “Start/Stop” system. This system automatically switches off the engine when the car is at a standstill and in neutral, then restarts it as soon as the driver presses the clutch pedal
. . . Read More
Date:
8/11/2011
Click image to enlarge
Figure 1: Spectrum of a 250A DC charger used for testing G3-PLC operation
Electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are building a viable market of mobile electrical energy consumers. New relationships between electricity providers (the utility companies) and automobile owners are emerging.
EVs impose new dynamics and demands on the electrical
. . . Read More
Date:
8/4/2011