Using PMICs and SerDes ICs for SoC

Contributes to unfold of good automobile cockpits

ROHM and Nanjing SemiDrive Expertise Ltd., China’s largest SoC producer for good cockpits, have collectively developed a sensible cockpit reference design. The design is based on SemiDrive’s X9M and X9E automotive SoCs, and consists of PMICs, SerDes ICs, LED driver IC, and different parts from ROHM. A reference board based mostly on this design can also be out there, consisting of three boards: the CoreBoard, the SerDes Board, and the Show Board.

Lately, the proliferation of good cockpits and ADAS in autos has elevated the demand for automotive electronics and parts. The efficiency of PMICs and SerDes ICs, that are on the coronary heart of digital programs in autos, has a direct influence on the steadiness and effectivity of the complete system. On this context, ROHM PMICs and SerDes ICs obtain a excessive stage of integration in energy provide blocks whereas supporting elevated stability throughout high-speed knowledge transmission.

ROHM and SemiDrive have been exchanging applied sciences since 2019, notably within the improvement of functions for automobile cockpits. In 2022, the 2 firms entered right into a strategic partnership for the event of superior applied sciences within the automotive sector. This resulted in ROHM parts resembling PMICs and SerDes ICs being built-in into the reference board for SemiDrive’s X9H In-Car SoC. The reference board has since been adopted by quite a few automakers to offer superior performance for cockpits and different automobile functions.

This time, ROHM and SemiDrive have collaborated on the event of the REF66004 reference design that includes the vehicle-mounted SoCs X9M and X9E. As such, the REF66004 is anticipated to additional develop utility line-up, together with in widespread mass-market fashions. Along with the SerDes IC used within the X9H reference board, ROHM additionally gives the BD96801Q12-C SoC PMIC and BD9SA01F80-C buck converter IC for driving the SoC, in addition to the BD39031MUF-C general-purpose PMIC for ADAS that provides energy to the SerDes IC. This resolution helps operation of as much as three show projections and 4 ADAS cameras (Encompass-view digital camera). Going ahead, ROHM will proceed to develop merchandise for automobile infotainment programs that contribute to bettering automotive security and luxury.

Zhang Qiang, Chairman, Nanjing SemiDrive Expertise Ltd.:

“As autos change into more and more good, so too does the demand for automobile electronics and parts. SemiDrive is targeted on offering core parts resembling automotive SoCs and controllers for next-generation automotive E/E (Electrical/Digital) architectures. Partnering with ROHM, which affords a wealthy portfolio of semiconductors for ADAS and cockpits, will vastly contribute to attaining next-generation cockpit options. Particularly, ROHM SerDes ICs and PMICs which leverage authentic analog know-how are key parts in our reference design. We look ahead to persevering with our collaboration with ROHM to offer revolutionary options in a variety of automotive fields.”

Tetsuo Tateishi, Member of the Board, Senior Company Officer, answerable for Analysis & Improvement, IT, Authorized & Mental Property and LSI Enterprise, ROHM Co., Ltd.

“We’re happy to have developed this reference design in collaboration with SemiDrive, an organization with in depth expertise in automotive SoCs. As ADAS evolves and cockpits change into extra multifunctional, the function of automotive analog semiconductors resembling SerDes ICs and PMICs is turning into more and more vital. On the similar time, the brand new PMIC supplied by ROHM for SoCs represents a novel idea in energy ICs that may flexibly adapt to next-generation automotive energy system configurations. Going ahead, we’ll proceed to deepen our partnership with SemiDrive to extend our understanding of next-generation cockpits and speed up the event of a variety of merchandise, contributing to additional evolution within the automotive sector.”

REF66004 Reference Design Incorporating X9M, X9E, and ROHM Merchandise

This reference design combines SemiDrive’s X9M and X9E SoCs for good cockpits with ROHM PMICs for SoCs and ADAS, SerDes ICs (for show/digital camera), LVDS splitter IC, and LED driver IC for automobile shows. It’s out there on ROHM’s web site. The design affords a cockpit resolution able to driving as much as three display projections and 4 cameras. As well as, ROHM’s new PMICs for SoC allow arbitrary output voltage setting and sequence management by way of inside reminiscence (One Time Programmable Reminiscence), permitting versatile, excessive effectivity energy provides to be achieved which might be tailor-made to circuit necessities.

A reference board based mostly on this design can also be out there individually on request, able to working a number of working programs (OS) on a single SoC making the most of SemiDrive’s distinctive {hardware} virtualization capabilities. On the similar time, a {hardware} safety administration module allows the transmission of instructions from the working system to the SoC and GPU. By swapping completely different SemiDrive SoCs with suitable pinouts, utility specs will be modified rapidly and with out circuit adjustments.

• SemiDrive’s X9 Collection of Automotive SoCs

Starting from entry-level to flagship fashions, SemiDrive’s X9 collection of in-vehicle SoCs, which helps a wide range of functions, together with instrument clusters, automobile infotainment, cockpit area management, and clever monitoring programs, has already accomplished shipments exceeding a million models. As well as, a enough manufacturing system has been established by way of in depth mass manufacturing expertise. https://www.semidrive.com/en/product/X9

• ROHM ‘s Reference Design Web page

Particulars of ROHM’s reference design REF66004 and data on outfitted merchandise can be found on ROHM’s web site. REF66004-EVK-00x reference boards (REF66004-EVK-001/002/003) are additionally supplied. Please contact a gross sales consultant or go to ROHM’s web site for extra data on reference boards.

https://www.rohm.com/reference-designs/ref66004

Terminology

SoC (System-on-a-Chip)

A sort of built-in circuit that comes with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), reminiscence, interface, and different components on a single substrate. Extensively utilized in automotive, client, and industrial functions attributable to its excessive processing capability, energy effectivity, and house financial savings.

PMIC (Energy Administration IC)

An IC that incorporates a number of energy provide programs and features for energy administration and sequence management on a single chip. It’s turning into extra commonplace in functions with a number of energy provide programs in each the automotive and client sectors by considerably lowering house and improvement load vs standard circuit configurations utilizing particular person parts (i.e. DC-DC Converter IC, LDO, discretes).

SerDes IC

A generic time period for ICs sometimes utilized in pairs to transform communication strategies for the aim of high-speed knowledge transmission. The serializer converts knowledge right into a type that may be simply transmitted at excessive velocity (parallel to serial bus) whereas the deserializer converts the transmitted knowledge again to its authentic format (serial to parallel bus).