| Dear Sir/Madam
To
improve comfort, safety, and environment-friendliness of cars
it is necessary to increase their electronic functions. And
because drivers demand this functionality electronics for vehicles
is a continuously growing market. This newsletter shows some
of the latest developments. Enjoy!
Wolfgang
Patelay
Technical Editor, EPN
Certified
FlexRay Controller (Infineon)
Infineon
announced that its stand-alone FlexRay communication controller
CIC-310 (Companion IC) has passed the FlexRay conformance test.
The latest FlexRay solutions consist of the communication controller
CIC-310, the TC1796 and TC1766 32-bit microcontrollers (part
of the TriCore family), and the recently introduced XC2200 and
XC2300 microcontroller families, which provide 32-bit performance.
Click
here
2-Mbit
MRAMs for Automotive (Freescale)
Freescale’s
MRAM family consists of 2-Mbit devices with a choice of commercial-,
industrial- and extended-temperature ranges (operating from
-40 to +105°C). The extended-temperature version is suitable
for use in rugged-application environments, such as military,
aerospace and automotive designs.
Click
here
Flex
RayRapid Prototyping Module (ETAS)
With
the launch of the ES910 rapid-prototyping modules, ETAS provides
a new-generation compact module for in-vehicle rapid-prototyping
applications. The ES910.2 module can be extended by adding the
ES920.1 FlexRay module, which is connected to the PC through
a Gbit/s Ethernet interface. It thus provides access to the
CAN and LIN vehicle buses, and - in conjunction with the ES920
extension - to the FlexRay bus in a single compact unit.
Click
here
6x
CAN 32-bit Flash Microcontroller (Fujitsu)
The
MB91F467B contains six C-CAN controllers and seven LIN-UARTs
backed up by 40kbytes data-RAM and 1088kbytes of Flash memory
with read-out protection. A 100MHz PLL clock circuit minimises
power consumption by dynamically switching off unused clock
trees.
Click
here
Multimedia
Electronics for Automobiles
Rapid
changes in digital consumer electronics present new challenges
to automotive suppliers, with multimedia centres using many
different interfaces for portable devices, and with storage
devices appearing in vehicles. This article by Alexander Schäder
from Analog Devices shows that automotive suppliers are being
forced to develop new ideas that enable them to react quicker
to technological changes.
Click
here
Integrated
In-Vehicle-Networks
As
the electronic content of vehicles increases, and as automotive
manufacturers look to decentralise systems around the vehicle,
the role of the IVN (in-vehicle network) is becoming increasingly
important. This article by Jan Polfliet describes that applications
must be designed for compatibility with the appropriate network
while ensuring that operation, reliability, power consumption
and cost are not compromised.
Click
here
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Circuits
monitor and balance large lithium-ion batteries
When
using rechargeable lithium- ion cells in large batteries, such
as those in an electric vehicle, you encounter unique problems.
Bus voltages greater than 100V rule out the use of a standard
IC for overcharge and overdischarge protection. In addition,
because many cells connect in series, small differences in cells’
selfdischarge rates eventually lead to unequal levels of charge.
Therefore, you must correct the cell balance. This Design Idea
by Daniel Gomez-Ibanez, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution,
Woods Hole, Massachussetts, provides one strategy for protecting
and balancing large, high-voltage batteries.
Click
here
Optical
feedback extends white LEDs operating life
Regardless
of its colour, a LEDs light output varies as a function of forward
current and ambient temperature. This light output can vary
by as much as 150% over its operating-current range. In response,
a designer”s first attempt to solve the problem focuses on driving
the LEDs with a constant current. The most common white-LED
driver circuits use an inductor-based dc/dc boost-converter
topology. This Design Idea by Bjoy Santos from Intersil shows
an alternative.
Click
here
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Market Research |
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Image
Sensors 2007: CMOS Is Everywhere in Worldwide Market
The
image sensor market showed solid growth, in 2006, that was fueled
primarily by the camera phone market due to In-Stat. The emergence
of dual-camera phones seems likely to bolster this market further,
as the dominant digital camera market. Digital still cameras,
security cameras, and web cameras also saw significant shipments
in 2006. Fueled by camera phones, CMOS sensors dominated CCDs
in units shipped in 2006. CMOS also made inroads into digital
still cameras and camcorders in 2006, two markets that traditionally
have been dominated by CCDs.
Click
here
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Book of the Month |
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Intelligent
Sensor Design Using the Microchip dsPIC, by Creed Huddleston
Unlike
many embedded systems books that confine themselves strictly
to firmware and software, this book also delves into the supporting
electronic hardware, providing the reader with a complete understanding
of the issues involved when interfacing to specific types of
sensor and offering insight into the real-world problems designers
will face. Meaningful software examples are implemented in both
C and assembly language, and the source code is included on
the accompanying CD.
Click
here
Copyright 2007, Reed
Business Information.
EPN and EDN Europe are members of the Reed
Electronics Group
Reed Business France - 2 rue Maurice Hartmann, 92133 Issy-les-Moulineaux,
France
Tel- +33 (0) 1 46 29 23 60
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