Prediction of automotive electronics trends in 2010

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Prediction of automotive electronics trends in 2010 [Copy link]

China's automobile industry is likely to reach or cross the threshold of 10 million vehicles per year this year. In fact, before achieving this goal, China has become the world's second largest automobile market after the United States. In today's automobiles, the proportion of automotive electronic systems is increasing. Many special functions are realized by automotive electronic technology. If we have already occupied a very important position in terms of manufacturing quantity, then specifically in the automotive electronics industry, how can we keep pace with international peers? In the last two years of the first decade of this century, which automotive electronic applications will become hot spots, and what challenges will be faced in realizing these applications? The author has selected several hot applications and interviewed some relevant industry experts on this issue, hoping to help Chinese readers who are engaged in automotive electronic system design. These hot applications include adaptive automotive headlights, LED taillights and HID headlights, intelligent keyless entry systems, visual and radar reversing systems, etc. AFS adds weight to ensure driving safety The role of headlights in ensuring driving safety is obvious, but in actual applications, traditional headlight systems have many problems. For example, existing low beams have poor lighting effects at close ranges; existing headlight systems cannot solve or improve the problems of dark areas when turning and reflected glare from water on the ground when driving in rainy days. The changes brought about by the Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS) can help drivers easily deal with these problems. The so-called AFS refers to a headlight system that can automatically change two or more light types to adapt to changes in vehicle driving conditions. According to Steven Nelson, Freescale's global automotive marketing director, "Currently, there are many types of AFS on the market, ranging from relatively inexpensive horizontal systems to so-called light "bending" applications. Horizontal systems adjust the vertical aiming of lights based on the vehicle's load, and such systems are regulated in Europe. More advanced "bending" applications can dynamically change the light aiming or beam pattern based on information such as vehicle load, acceleration/deceleration, steering wheel angle, weather conditions, etc. Such systems are generally controlled by stepper motors." For example, when driving on a curve, the light of traditional headlights is consistent with the direction of vehicle travel, so it is inevitable that there will be dark areas of lighting. Once there is an obstacle on the curve, it is very easy to cause a traffic accident. At this time, AFS will generate a rotating light pattern to provide sufficient lighting for the curve. Mr. Shinkichi Horita, General Manager of the Automotive Electronics Market Center of Renesas Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., said: "There are two types of control that can change the direction of the headlights. One type requires the actual rotation of the short-focus headlights, and the other type does not rotate the headlights, but rotates the reflectors. But in either case, it is necessary to add a motor and a gearbox. The input signals that determine the rotation angle are the steering angle, vehicle speed signal, turn signal, and reverse switch, etc." The processing of sensor signals, the calculation of the headlight angle, and the control of the motor are completed by the MCU, sensor, and motor driver. The existing automotive electronic system can already collect information such as steering angle signals and vehicle speed and has devices such as turn signals and reverse switches, and the control of the motor is no different from other motors. Shinji Horita also said: "The design challenge of AFS lies mainly in defining the specifications, determining how AFS works and the design of MCU software. In terms of AFS, Renesas' MCU has been used in many Japanese cars for five years. Renesas can provide 16-bit MCU/M16C series and R8C series to meet the different needs of customers." Regarding the next development trend of AFS, Shinji Horita believes that in the future AFS, some automakers are considering integrating image recognition functions to detect pedestrians, vehicles and roadside obstacles. In this application, a 32-bit processor with image recognition function is required. Renesas's SH7774, which is suitable for adaptive cruise control (ACC) and lane departure warning system (LDWS), is also suitable for future AFS. LED turn signals are also being used in newer systems. In such systems, there is a series of LEDs that can be manipulated to provide functions such as leveling and bending, so motor support is no longer required.