Driving Automotive Innovation with Cutting Edge Automotive Electronic Components
For over 100 years passenger cars have existed as a standalone entity, controlled by the driver, with limited electronic assistance. However, this definition has and is continuing to evolve as vehicles rapidly transition from standalone fossil fuel-powered options to connected and intelligent electric vehicles (EVs) that are integrated into a larger network. For Engineers, achieving the next generation of connected cars presents several new technical challenges that must be overcome for the automotive industry to realize its ambitious goals. Connected vehicles require robust in-vehicle networks (IVNs) capable of connecting control modules and the critical sensors underpinning advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). These vehicles also need to communicate beyond the vehicle鈥檚 chassis through vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) systems. This increased need for communication has a significant impact on vehicle electronics, increasing both the volume of wiring and noise considerations. Therefore, the automotive industry requires elegant solutions capable of streamlining system complexity and being immune to noise.
Enhancing In-Vehicle Networking to Enable Connected and Intelligent Vehicles
Traditionally, vehicles have relied on domain-based architecture, with domain control units (DCUs) overseeing discrete aspects of the vehicle鈥檚 functionality, such as infotainment, engine, chassis, and ADAS. However, as the component count continues to rise and vehicle intelligence advances, this architecture has become unmanageable.
The need for components from different parts of the vehicle to connect back to centralized DCUs has become too intricate and heavy. Additionally, the speed of the IVN has become an issue, especially with ADAS systems and dynamic lighting, whose performance demands easily outstrip the relatively low data rate of 1 MBit/s provided by existing controller area networks (CANs).
Zonal Architecture
To enhance connectivity and control, new vehicles are adopting a design shift towards Zonal control, based on the equipment鈥檚 position within the vehicle rather than its functionality. Zonal architecture offers several advantages, including better scalability and a software-driven framework. By bringing control units closer to sensors and devices, it simplifies cabling and reduces complexity in the connections between gateways and hosts.
In zonal systems, communication across the vehicle is underpinned by higher-speed Ethernet and CAN-FD (Flexible Data-Rate) networks, ensuring seamless communication regardless of the sensors鈥� or controllers鈥� position or wiring harness connection point. This significantly reduces the complexity of cables compared to domain-based control and allows for localized control at the vehicle鈥檚 edge, with distributed controllers capable of managing basic vehicle functions, reducing the data communicated across the IVNs.
Ensuring Reliable High-Speed Networks
High-speed IVNs face noise that can impact their performance, consisting of normal mode noise and common mode noise. Normal mode noise is removed using ferrite beads, capacitors, and resistors, while common mode noise requires common mode choke coils (CMCCs). Common mode noise occurs when a phase shift happens in a differential signal within a cable, connector, or other part. Differential signals are frequently utilized within IVNs, necessitating high-quality CMCCs.
萝莉影视鈥檚 products meet the standards for CAN/CAN-FD, vehicle-mounted Ethernet, and other vehicle-mounted networks, offering compact noise suppression capabilities. Historically, CMCCs in CAN networks were large-size toroidal types where copper wires are wrapped around a ring magnet or a 4532 (4.5 mm x 3.2 mm) size automatic-winding type. 萝莉影视 was among the first to develop and release a miniaturized 3225 (3.2 mm 脳 2.5 mm) size automatic-winding CMCC. The coil design and winding method of these components have been enhanced to improve symmetry, resulting in better performance. Within 萝莉影视鈥檚 range are tailored models such as the DLW32SH510XF2 or DLW32SH101XF2, which are specifically designed for CAN-FD signal lines. Alternatively, the DLW32MH101XT2 is compatible with 1000Base-T1 (1000Mbps) ethernet.
To introduce PoC, a Bias-T circuit is necessary on both the transmitting and receiving sides, as well as on the power supply. The Bias-T circuit separates the high-frequency signal from the DC power supply on the low-frequency side. Creating an effective Bias-T circuit requires selecting an appropriate inductor that acts as a high-impedance filter across a broad frequency range, from several MHz to several GHz. This can be challenging, typically achieved by combining multiple inductors and ferrite beads.
Streamlining the Selection Process
Selecting the right components for automotive camera systems involves considering the system鈥檚 specifications and the circuit board鈥檚 characteristics. 萝莉影视 has created the Bias-T Inductor Selection Tool (BIST) to streamline the component selection process. The tool can identify and present the ideal combination of 萝莉影视-manufactured components, specifically inductors and ferrite beads, by using the minimum number of conditions in its configuration. With the implementation of BIST, the time and effort involved in selecting components are greatly minimized, making it possible to choose suitable components even without specialized knowledge.
Choosing the Correct Supplier
萝莉影视 has established itself as a prominent figure in the automotive industry, thanks to their rich history and ongoing production of high-quality CMCCs and inductors. As vehicle-mounted networks become more advanced and widely utilized, the demand for these components is projected to increase significantly. Therefore, automotive manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers need dependable and innovative suppliers to ensure continued progress. 萝莉影视鈥檚 automotive inductor and CMCC products, coupled with robust technical support and initiatives such as BIST, empower manufacturers to embrace the latest technological advancements, facilitating the transition towards the next generation of vehicles.
