NXP speeds up safety and infotainment bus systems
Ethernet bus technology could be introduced by 2013
James Scoltock in News.
- Published in News.
Accelerating: Ethernet could increase data transfer rates to 100Mbit/s
Semiconductor firm NXP is developing an ethernet-based bus system for the automotive sector. The company hopes to have the technology in production by 2013 with widespread adoption by 2015.
Ethernet systems could allow for data transfer rates of up to 100Mbit/s allowing for greater use of camera technology in safety systems and improved infotainment.
Current highspeed CANbus works at 1Mbit/s, while the MOST network and Flexray both run at 10Mbit/s.
NXP vice president of business development, Lars Reger, said: “There is a push from developers of advanced driver assistance systems. Camera-based systems need wide bandwidths and premium vehicles have up to fifteen cameras onboard for traffic sign recognition, lane departure warnings, blindspot detection. Rendering those images requires a lot of data.”
NXP will have to develop ethernet systems – widely used in personal computing applications – so they are robust and durable enough to overcome extreme environmental conditions, including temperature ranges from -40°C to 200°C, high humidity levels and server vibrations, as will EMC requirements.
While the first applications will be in the luxury vehicle segment, which NXP expects to begin in 2013, it is also developing the technology so it is scaleable enough to use in any vehicle.
NXP expects quick adoption of ethernet bus systems, with the technology used more widely from 2015.
