Automotive

STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a leader in automotive ICs and in MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) sensors, has introduced a new family of high-g acceleration sensors for advanced airbag systems. These micro-machined devices detect the rapid deceleration of the vehicle during a crash and send instant information to the airbag control unit.

Toshiba Electronics Europe has revealed details of its new BiCD process, which combines 130nm logic design rule with current-handling capability to permit unprecedented integration in devices such as sensorless BLDC motor drives. The process is able to guarantee full specification over a wide temperature range, as well as high ESD robustness, providing a platform for a variety of industrial and automotive IC projects.

SYSGO AG and OpenSynergy GmbH, two German software companies, have signed an exclusive cooperation agreement targeting the automotive market. They will join forces to provide carmakers with a software platform that already meets both avionics safety standards and AUTOSAR (Automotive Open System Architecture) requirements. Rolf Morich, general manager at OpenSynergy, said in a joint press release, “The high quality standards of SYSGO’s technol...

Murata has launched a MEMS rate sensor (gyro) which features excellent performance characteristics for the automotive market. The device, part number MEV-50C-R, supports accurate dead-reckoning performance for car navigation devices, but is also aimed at GPS modules, satellite antennas and other applications such as toys, including for example a high performance radio control helicopter. This sensor features the second-generation of Murata's tech...

Altium has announced a new key role within its EMEA team to accelerate its activity in the European automotive sector. Michael Schua has been appointed Business Development Manager Automotive.

This week sees the successful conclusion of a field trial designed to prove that the European emergency call system ‘eCall’ for vehicles is ready for mass deployment across Europe. The trial, which was initiated by NXP Semiconductors N.V., involved major industry players including BMW, IBM, Allianz OrtungsServices, Deutsche Telekom, Dekra, and European automobile clubs such as Touring, ANBW, AvD, and UAMK. Three cars equipped with NXP’s tel...

Infineon Technologies announced its new SLI 76 “in Car” family of microcontrollers for the use in automotive Machine-to-Machine (M2M) systems. They are the industry’s first UICC (Universal Integrated Circuit Card) microcontrollers that are qualified by the stringent processes of the Automotive Electronics Council (AEC) Q100 quality standard. The SLI 76 “in Car” chips offer long lifetime, high data retention, extended temperature range, ...

Murata has introduced an SMD version of its high rated current common mode choke coil family, raising the rated current from 3A to 10A while reducing their footprint by approximately half. Dimensions of the new components are 13.4mm (maximum) x 8.9mm x 6.6mm (typical).

Today NXP Semiconductors announced the industry’s first RFCMOS-based, all-in-one digital chip for automotive radio applications. The TEF663x integrates AM/FM radio and audio signal post-processing functions in a single integrated circuit (IC). Until now, the tuner, radio DSP and audio post-processing DSP cores were separate ICs.