Fujitsu Microelectronics Europe
Abstract: Control Solutions for the Automotive Sector
Press Forum: 4th September 2007
Munich, 4 September, 2007 — Fujitsu Microelectronics Europe (FME) today presents its concept for new controller architecture for automotive applications, in which the APIX serial gigabit interface from Inova Semiconductors is to be integrated and with this a new, open standard will be established.
This powerful new platform for the transmission of image and peripheral data will meet the requirements of the latest display and camera applications in vehicles, leading to higher performance and low implementation costs.
Fujitsu will be the first silicon vendor to integrate this video interface into a future portfolio of MCUs and GDCs.
Today’s vehicles generally employ several displays for navigation, information and entertainment. Within the past decade, these displays have evolved from QVGA analogue, on through digital displays to today’s high resolution centre displays with dual-view displays in prospect over the next few years. The transmission of multimedia data with ever increasing resolution, colour depth and brilliance is, however, a growing problem due to the high demand for bandwidth and greater number of displays in the vehicle. Conventional wiring harnesses are no longer suitable for this task. In APIX (Automotive Pixel Link), Inova has developed a quick bit-serial transmission technology which, with only two pairs of copper leads, allows interactive transmission of video and peripheral data with a data rate of up to 1 Gbit/s.
This solution is suited to a wide range of applications such as navigation, HUD (Head-up-Display) and video entertainment (incl. DVD player), as well as for night vision or reverse driving cameras, and can also be easily extended.
FME’s existing ranges of automotive microcontrollers and graphics controllers have been developed around a wide range of protocols using Bus topologies such as LIN, CAN, FlexRay, MOST, and IDB1394. Low-end protocols are integrated into the company’s 16-bit MCUs, with high-end protocols used on 32-bit MCUs. FME now plans to incorporate Inova’s APIX technology into its future line-up of 32-bit MCUs and GDCs. This will enable the company to offer customers a comprehensive range of automotive networking solutions to meet a wide range of in-car applications.
Strategic Context
Microcontrollers (MCUs) and Graphic Display Controllers (GDCs) form the core of systems control in many fields and have become
an essential part of modern life.
FME is a key player in the automotive sector, where driver information is the most important and dynamic segment.
Here FME is especially strong, numbering most European Tier 1 manufacturers among its customers, and featuring its silicon within the ranges of many European car-makers. Applications include body and comfort electronics, climate control, dashboards, infotainment, safety and sensor electronics.
FME’s strategic approach to partnering and solution co-creation places it close to the key innovation drivers across the entire field – whether car-makers, Tier 1 suppliers, IP providers, software developers or semiconductor vendors.
Moreover, FME’s local IC design in Langen and Munich together with extensive in-house technical support enables the company to enhance its customers’ systems’ requirements.
Today’s announcement, and the co-operation with another Munich-based Semiconductor company, marks a further step along the road to delivering customers right-sized solutions.
Images
Medium resolution pictures relevant to this abstract can be found by following these links: 
Control.jpg Lin-CAN.jpg
PDF Download
A presentation relevant to this press release can be downloaded by following this link: PDF Fujitsu-Inova-PressEvent-Munich-04sep2007.pdf [738KB]
About Fujitsu Microelectronics Europe
Fujitsu Microelectronics Europe (FME) is a major supplier of semiconductor products. The company provides advanced systems
solutions to the automotive, digital TV, mobile telephony, networking and industrial markets. Engineers from design centres
dedicated to microcontrollers, graphics controllers, mixed-signal, wireless, multimedia ICs and ASIC products work closely
with FME's marketing and sales teams throughout Europe to help satisfy customers' system development requirements. This solutions
approach is supported by a broad range of advanced semiconductor devices, IP and building blocks.
For more information, please see: http://emea.fujitsu.com/microelectronics
