ADAS-Focused Partnerships and Solutions Blossom
In this roundup, we spotlight a few companies that have announced industry partnerships and products targeted at ADAS and the software-defined vehicle.
Multiple companies, including Infineon, ETAS, Ambarella, Neusoft, and Diodes Incorporated, have announced new products and partnerships to strengthen their advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) market positions. Each of these varied products illustrates how both high-level collaborations and board-level advances make measurable improvements for driver and pedestrian ease and safety.
Infineon and ETAS Bolster SDVs
Recognizing the need for enhanced security capabilities in software-defined vehicles (SDVs), Infineon and ETAS have announced a collaboration to integrate the ETAS’ ESCRYPT CycurHSM 3.x automotive security stack into Infineon's AURIX TC4x real-time module.
The TC4x architecture. Image used courtesy of Infineon
The TC4x is a 32-bit TriCore microcontroller that includes multiple accelerators and a parallel processing unit (PPU). It also features security accelerators and up to 25 MB of on-chip Flash with full ASIL-D compliance. The ESCRYPT CycurHSM 3.x automotive security stack also allows the AURIX to run multiple applications securely in parallel using virtualization. The TC4x is compliant with ISO/SAE 21434, an official industry standard that outlines the requirements for cybersecurity technology in road vehicles.
Ambarella and Neusoft Team Up on Automotive Camera
Ambarella is extending its automotive influence by partnering with Neusoft Reach, a subsidiary of Chinese software engineering firm Neusoft that focuses on intelligent vehicle technology. Ambarella develops AI vision processors for edge applications. Neusoft recently announced a forward-facing intelligent camera known as the X-Cube 3.0, powered by Ambarella’s CV22 AI Vision SoC. Automotive OEMs have already deployed this camera.
Neusoft and Ambarella representatives. Image (modified) used courtesy of Ambarella
Such partnerships between hardware and software companies will likely only increase as companies continue to build their expertise in each domain and as the ADAS tech stacks become more complex on both the software and hardware side.
Diodes Incorporated Introduces Automotive Switch
Diodes Incorporated recently announced the PI3WVR14412Q automotive-grade video switch. The multi-standard video switch supports multiple protocols such as MIPI DPHY/CPHY, HDMI, Displayport, and USB and can pass high-speed signals of up to 1.2 V peak-to-peak differential.
The switch also supports up to 20 Gbps across four lanes of high-speed data. With its ability to support a wide range of input voltages, the PI3WVR14412Q (datasheet linked) eliminates the need for AC coupling capacitors on the customer board, saving bill-of-material (BOM) expenditure. Diodes Incorporated claims this feature also improves signal integrity. The switch is AEC-Q100 Grade 2 qualified over a temperature range of -40°C to 105°C.
Block diagram of the PI3WVR14412Q. Image used courtesy of Diodes Incorporated
The device is available in a 40-pin, 3 mm x 6 mm QFN package. One benefit of the PI3WVR14412Q is support for muxing auxiliary sideband channels and hot-plug detect (HPD). HPD is a Displayport feature that a sink device uses to tell an upstream source device a physical connection has been established. The AUX channel in a Displayport topology provides a lower-speed channel through which source and sink devices can communicate. For example, a source Displayport device can read the DPCD registers of a Displayport sink device using the AUX channel.
The datasheet indicates the PI3WVR14412Q provides up to 720 Mbps channel for such sideband communication.
