Design Article
Freescale MCUs cut vehicle weight
R Colin Johnson
3/19/2013 12:40 AM EDT
SHANGHAI—Smarter electronics can cut the cost—and physical weight—of next-generation automobiles by eliminating the need for four miles of copper wiring weighing 150 pounds, according to Freescale Semiconductor Inc. which showed its weight-saving micro-controllers at Semicon China 2013.
Freescale unveiled two smarter automotive body-electronics network-microcontrollers—the Qorivva (MPC5748G) and the S12-MagniV (S12ZVL/S12ZVC)—which together reduce vehicle weight, electronics complexity and energy consumption by using smarter integration of safety, security and networking management capabilities.
In-vehicle networking connects smart Qorivva main and S12-MagniV satellite microcontrollers to handle communications to and from the sensors, motors and other mechanisms throughout the vehicle, eliminating the need for traditional heavy copper wiring harnesses. In addition, the ISO26262 compatible in-vehicle networking modules require just 30 percent of the printed-circuit board area as required for traditional wiring-harness electronics, plus offers enhanced security to safeguard against hackers gaining unauthorized access to vehicle systems.
The Qorivva MPC5748G MCU uses Ethernet with Audio Video Bridging and FlexRay for networking along with a Media Local Bus, USB, Flexible Data Rate CAN and up to 18 LIN controllers. The S12 MagniV S12ZVL/S12ZVC enables the world's smallest network edge nodes plus eliminates the usual discrete components needed by high-voltage peripherals by integrating them, according to Freescale.
Related stories:
Freescale unveiled two smarter automotive body-electronics network-microcontrollers—the Qorivva (MPC5748G) and the S12-MagniV (S12ZVL/S12ZVC)—which together reduce vehicle weight, electronics complexity and energy consumption by using smarter integration of safety, security and networking management capabilities.
In-vehicle networking connects smart Qorivva main and S12-MagniV satellite microcontrollers to handle communications to and from the sensors, motors and other mechanisms throughout the vehicle, eliminating the need for traditional heavy copper wiring harnesses. In addition, the ISO26262 compatible in-vehicle networking modules require just 30 percent of the printed-circuit board area as required for traditional wiring-harness electronics, plus offers enhanced security to safeguard against hackers gaining unauthorized access to vehicle systems.
Freecale's latest Qorivva MPC5748G provides support for Ethernet with Audio Video Bridging, FlexRay, Media Local Bus, USB, CAN FD and up to 18 LIN controllers, allowing its MagniV devices to reduce printed circuit board sizes by as much as 30 percent.
The Qorivva MPC5748G MCU uses Ethernet with Audio Video Bridging and FlexRay for networking along with a Media Local Bus, USB, Flexible Data Rate CAN and up to 18 LIN controllers. The S12 MagniV S12ZVL/S12ZVC enables the world's smallest network edge nodes plus eliminates the usual discrete components needed by high-voltage peripherals by integrating them, according to Freescale.
Related stories:
- Electronica: Freescale auto push ranges from radar to MCU
- Seven new Freescale dev kits for automotive motor control
- Freescale claims first MCU to achieve ISO 26262 certification
- Armed with new products, Freescale sees growth ahead
- Freescale grapples with auto safety mandates
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eewiz
3/19/2013 12:16 PM EDT
Use wireless sensors with power harvesting. Even better weight savings :)
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DBSingh180
3/19/2013 1:35 PM EDT
The kind of noise the electronics has to deal in a vehicle, is something that needs to be tamed. Auto electronics has to be extremely reliable as there are lives at stake.
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chanj
3/20/2013 7:52 PM EDT
On one hand, the lighter the weight; the better the fuel efficiency. On the other hands, certain amount of weight is required to maintain the balance and the rigidness a vehicle. I am looking forward to some insights from professional with automobile industry background.
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pica
3/21/2013 4:51 AM EDT
The copper wiring neither makes a car more rigid nor helps to improve balance.
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Olaf.Barheine
3/21/2013 5:44 AM EDT
I could imagine, that in the future some kind of automotive ethernet will replace CAN, LIN, Flexray and MOST. But this is a hot potato!
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