Design Article
Leverage video for auto electronics design
By John A. Swanson Senior Manager Synopsys, MBD Group
10/29/2012 3:20 PM EDT
Networked cars, big opportunity
Historically automobiles have been a “self-contained” environment, meaning interoperability and aftermarket add-ons have not been that important and were a problem to be solved by the OEM companies. A clear example is the integration of your mobile phone. Phone integration migrated from proprietary custom installed systems to an integrated Bluetooth system. Note that Bluetooth is an industry standard that allowed automotive companies to provide interoperation with any Bluetooth enabled mobile phone. Now we see additional features such as voice recognition, wireless networking, and passenger video systems added as not only aftermarket products, but also included as optional features. And this trend is just starting.
Consider the electronics in today’s cars. Figure 3 shows a summary of some of the electronic systems that are, or can be monitored via an IVI system.
Ethernet with AVB will allow interoperation of products that can be used in a larger number of automobiles. So Ethernet solves two problems. First, it simplifies the cars’ network communications, and second, it increases the TAM for companies designing products for the automotive market. It will be an evolution, not a revolution. Ethernet will be adopted from focused niche applications, migrating to parts of the vehicle network, to replacing existing IVI network interfaces to critical, or under the hood, networked components. This will be done with open alliances, IEEE standards, intraoperative testing bodies like AVnu, and new standards such as twisted pair gigabit Ethernet and validation of Ethernet from integrated applications to OEM products.
So where is the V in AVB? It is in your car now or soon, and it will evolve into more and more products as networked audio/video and real-time systems come to market. The automotive market may well be the leader in this new standards adoption, but other products are being designed, and more will certainly follow. Have doubts about Ethernet in automotive? Presentations were given at the second annual Ethernet & IP @ Automotive Technology Day at University of Applied Sciences Regensburg by BMW AG, Volkswagen, Jaguar Land Rover, Toyota, and many others including a presentation by Steffen Carlson and Valerie Maguire on the IEEE 802.3 Reduced Twisted Pair Gigabit Ethernet working group. You can download presentations from these as well as other presenters at http://www.ethernettechnologyday.com/pages/downloads.html.
Simple economics will drive the V into your car, and will eventually show up in many more products. Standards will evolve, more companies will support the standards, and the IEEE standards to Ethernet will continue to evolve and gain support.
John A. Swanson has been working in the IP business since 1990 when he joined Logic Automation/Modeling, which was later acquired by Synopsys. John has worked in the design, verification, integration and implementation aspects of complex IP in engineering methodology, and business development and marketing.
He has been working on system-on-a-chip technologies and methodologies for over ten years with Synopsys in a variety of assignments. Currently he is the product line manager for the DesignWare Ethernet family of Digital cores as well as JPEG, 1394 and the IP reuse tools. Prior to joining Synopsys he worked for Amoco Oil Company designing wellhead automation and control systems. He is an Honor graduate from DeVry Institute of Technology where he completed his engineering degree with Presidents List honors.
Historically automobiles have been a “self-contained” environment, meaning interoperability and aftermarket add-ons have not been that important and were a problem to be solved by the OEM companies. A clear example is the integration of your mobile phone. Phone integration migrated from proprietary custom installed systems to an integrated Bluetooth system. Note that Bluetooth is an industry standard that allowed automotive companies to provide interoperation with any Bluetooth enabled mobile phone. Now we see additional features such as voice recognition, wireless networking, and passenger video systems added as not only aftermarket products, but also included as optional features. And this trend is just starting.
Consider the electronics in today’s cars. Figure 3 shows a summary of some of the electronic systems that are, or can be monitored via an IVI system.
Figure 3: Networked automobile
Ethernet with AVB will allow interoperation of products that can be used in a larger number of automobiles. So Ethernet solves two problems. First, it simplifies the cars’ network communications, and second, it increases the TAM for companies designing products for the automotive market. It will be an evolution, not a revolution. Ethernet will be adopted from focused niche applications, migrating to parts of the vehicle network, to replacing existing IVI network interfaces to critical, or under the hood, networked components. This will be done with open alliances, IEEE standards, intraoperative testing bodies like AVnu, and new standards such as twisted pair gigabit Ethernet and validation of Ethernet from integrated applications to OEM products.
So where is the V in AVB? It is in your car now or soon, and it will evolve into more and more products as networked audio/video and real-time systems come to market. The automotive market may well be the leader in this new standards adoption, but other products are being designed, and more will certainly follow. Have doubts about Ethernet in automotive? Presentations were given at the second annual Ethernet & IP @ Automotive Technology Day at University of Applied Sciences Regensburg by BMW AG, Volkswagen, Jaguar Land Rover, Toyota, and many others including a presentation by Steffen Carlson and Valerie Maguire on the IEEE 802.3 Reduced Twisted Pair Gigabit Ethernet working group. You can download presentations from these as well as other presenters at http://www.ethernettechnologyday.com/pages/downloads.html.
Simple economics will drive the V into your car, and will eventually show up in many more products. Standards will evolve, more companies will support the standards, and the IEEE standards to Ethernet will continue to evolve and gain support.
John A. Swanson has been working in the IP business since 1990 when he joined Logic Automation/Modeling, which was later acquired by Synopsys. John has worked in the design, verification, integration and implementation aspects of complex IP in engineering methodology, and business development and marketing.
He has been working on system-on-a-chip technologies and methodologies for over ten years with Synopsys in a variety of assignments. Currently he is the product line manager for the DesignWare Ethernet family of Digital cores as well as JPEG, 1394 and the IP reuse tools. Prior to joining Synopsys he worked for Amoco Oil Company designing wellhead automation and control systems. He is an Honor graduate from DeVry Institute of Technology where he completed his engineering degree with Presidents List honors.
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