An engine roaring is becoming a sound of the past, as the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) continues to grow at an exponential rate. Soon the only sound will be the whirring an EV motor as the traction inverter delivers power from the battery. Traction inverters are instrumental in converting energy from the high-voltage battery (400V/800V) into three-phase AC energy to drive the vehicle’s moto...

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more present every day, with the adoption of EVs growing at an exponential rate. Onboard charging (OBC) is a very important part of EVs, since it determines the maximum possible charge rate while an AC charger is connected to the vehicle. The maximum charge capability for a fully electric vehicle is typically between 6.6kW and 22kW, and for a plug-in hybrid veh...

DC fast charging stations are becoming more common with the increased adoption of electric vehicles. Charging stations are a vital part of the infrastructure along major highways and populated suburbs, ensuring that electric vehicles have a place to charge during long-distance travel and day-to-day driving. These systems are often comprised of multiple 25kW to 75kW modules to create fast charging ...

As automotive LED drivers replace traditional bulbs, the operation of low-power exterior and interior lighting systems have become increasingly advanced. Exterior lighting includes turn signals, side markers, rear combination lamps (RCLs), and fog lamps. Interior lighting includes button backlighting, instrument clusters, and dome and ambient lights. While improved low-power operation of exterior ...

Headlights remain one of the most important functional safety features in any vehicle. While not a new feature, most new car models now feature LED headlights to provide increased brightness, better efficiency, and longer headlight lifespans. And of course, as with any automotive application, headlight designs must meet strict thermal requirements, ISO26262 safety standards, and EMC regulations. ...

Automotive LED lighting systems are comprised of the headlights, interior lights, rear lights, small lights, LED pixel light controllers, and DC/DC LED drivers. With increasingly dynamic and accurate LED lighting features that integrate flexible control, animation, and energy efficiency, key functions including supply, control, sense, actuation, and communication are also becoming more complex. Th...

As vehicles continue to integrate electronic control unit (ECU) networks for cutting-edge functionality, the automotive central gateway controller plays a central role in bridging and managing the transfer of data across various protocols (e.g. CAN, FlexRay, LIN, Ethernet, and ISO-9141). The central gateway achieves physical isolation between ECU networks, as well as portability between protocols ...

Automotive displays — which include the center display, heads-up display (HUD), and gauge instrument cluster — show key information and interactive content to the driver. The center information display is connected to the head unit, and provides navigation and other in-cabin infotainment controls. The automotive HUD and gauge instrument cluster provide easy-to-access information for the driver. Th...

Automotive in-vehicle infotainment systems are becoming increasingly software-driven to enhance safety and security, as well as the overall driving experience. Modern cars integrate driving and environmental information, passenger entertainment, wireless connections, and navigation into a centralized infotainment system architecture. However, with the rise of sophisticated in-vehicle infotainment ...

Rearview cameras are perhaps the most well-known camera subsystem used in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) applications. As this feature is being offered and expected in more and more vehicles, these camera systems must offer high integration and fast data processing to enable accurate, real-time monitoring of possible hazards behind the vehicle and channeling information directly to an L...

Front-facing cameras are an increasingly popular camera subsystem used in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) applications. Because this feature is becoming standard in more and more vehicles, off-battery camera systems must offer high integration and fast data processing to enable accurate, real-time monitoring of possible hazards in front of the vehicle, in addition to assisting with integ...

USB Type-C power delivery (PD) is gaining popularity across applications and markets, including in automotive. USB ports have become an expected standard in most car models, and are typically expected to offer both charging and data functionality. USB Type-C improves on older USB designed by offering a smaller, reversible port for easy plug-in and double the transfer speed of USB 3.0. USB PD proto...

Wireless in-car charging is becoming an increasingly popular feature in new vehicle models. The ability to charge a smartphone or other portable device by simply placing it in a designated area, such as a center console tray — without having to physically connect the device or plug it in — offers a world of convenience for consumers. Charging has become an expected standard in most car models, and...

Driver monitoring systems are one of the latest developments in automotive safety technology. As part of a holistic human-machine interface (HMI), driver monitoring systems track vital sign parameters and driver attentiveness, so that in the event that the driver is unable to operate the vehicle, assistance can be provided. Of course, advanced new features add design complexity and additional cons...

Perception-sensing systems have become a popular ADAS offering in new vehicles, and will continue to expand as new cars integrate radar with cameras and even LIDAR systems. However, each of these sensors has strengths and limitation — thats where sensor fusion comes in. By combining the inputs from all of the cars perception-sensing systems, the driver is provided with the best possible informatio...

77GHz radar is quickly growing in popularity for automotive advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) applications. Perception-sensing systems are a growing market within ADAS technologies, and will continue to expand as new cars integrate radar with cameras and even LIDAR systems. Automotive imaging radar is used as an additional way to sense objects or potential hazards around the vehicle. 77GHz ...