EMC Optimized Transmission of Pixel Data for Display and Camera Sensor Applications in Vehicles

Vehicles continue to turn into multimedia devices on four wheels. Driving safety and comfort is not only enhanced by displays for information, navigation or menu-guided control systems but also by new and sophisticated camera-based driver assistance systems. Depending on their configuration, vehicles employ multiple digital transmission links transferring image data through copper cables at a data rate of 1 Gbit/s for the time being. Next generation display systems will require at least 3 Gbit/s to display high-resolution HDTV content or to replace pointer instruments or complete dashboards.

In minimum available space, vehicles utilize not only digital data links with inherent wide-band RF spectrum but also numerous conventional RF systems like VHF radios, GSM mobile radio, GPS navigation and Bluetooth which are highly sensitive to RF interference. The key challenge for new gigabit transmission solutions in vehicles is the reliable transfer of safety-relevant pixel data that does not affect other vehicle-based systems.

Munich-based company Inova Semiconductors is now dealing with this issue in the scope of a research project. In 2007, Inova launched their "APIX" (Automotive Pixel Link) series of innovative products designed to meet the specific requirements of automotive display and camera applications.

The technology facilitates the simultaneous transmission of video signals at 1 Gbit/s and bidirectional control data transmission at 8 Mbit/s between source and sink. It sets a new benchmark and provides a basis for powerful and highly economic system concepts for a wide range of automotive display and camera sensor applications.

Leading manufacturers of graphic products such as Fujitsu and Toshiba, have licensed the APIX technology, and Fujitsu launched their first graphics and display controller components that feature the APIX interface a few months ago. World market leader in FPGA technology, Xilinx, already offers APIX interface based solutions.

The APIX technology is supposed to establish itself as new worldwide standard for automobiles. APIX technology offers excellent EMC characteristics that meet even the highest demands of leading vehicle manufacturers and thus finds such a high degree of acceptance. The quality of this technology is not just coincidence but rather the result of selective measures and considerations at the early stage of product design.

Due to its high importance, the "AutoKom" research project is supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Bundesministerium fuer Bildung und Forschung, BMBF). In the scope of this project, Inova Semiconductors, supported by Fraunhofer Gesellschaft IIS, explores and develops new processes and technologies to significantly increase transmission rates to the 3 Gbit/s range without affecting EMC behavior and transmission characteristics.

Another objective of the AutoKom project is to develop a solution design that can be ported to complex, next generation graphic components of other suppliers (FPGAs, graphic processors or display controllers) with process technologies of 65 nm, 45 nm and even below.

1. Gigabit/s Data Transmission in Vehicles " A Huge Challenge

1.1 Information Demand in Vehicles

Car drivers have always had a need for information while en route: speed, mileage, cooling water temperature or oil pressure in the beginning and an increasing amount of new information as technology advanced. The development of 7-segment LEDs made it possible, for the first time, to present drivers with real numerical values and simple text information which was further perfected in dot-matrix displays - the next generation of display technology. Extensive information was summarized in one single, concise text line, e.g. "Check on".