Devices drive in-vehicle infotainment experience

6th August 2014

Staff Reporter

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Targeting the advancement of infotainment and user driving experience in the automobile, Texas Instruments has introduced seven power management, SuperSpeed USB and logic products. The products released include a PMIC for infotainment systems, a free-positioning Qi wireless power transmitter and, what the company claims is, the industry’s first USB 3.0 devices.

The TPS659039-Q1 PMIC powers the DRA74x “Jacinto 6” processor and minimises system-level power consumption in next-generation infotainment system designs. Compared to competing devices, TI claims that the PMIC improves thermal management through adaptive voltage scaling, reduces EMI through internal and external synchronisation, and enables design flexibility with power sequencing. These aspects of the PMIC save board space, reduce development time and eliminate the need for an additional MCU.

The TPS659039-Q1 powers on in only 15ms, which gives users fast access to driver information, camera views, the navigation system and head-up display. Designers can also choose this PMIC to power dual- and quad-core ARM Cortex-15 processors in automotive and industrial applications.

In complex infotainment systems, the SN74AUP1T34-Q1 and TXS0102-Q1 voltage level translators solve voltage mismatch issues by simply connecting incompatible CMOS logic communication between the processor and legacy peripheral devices operating at a different voltage.

The TUSB8041-Q1 and TUSB8020B-Q1 USB Hub controllers and TUS9261-Q1 USB-to-SATA bridge allow USB 3.0 connectivity for the first time in the automobile for up to four USB ports. The TUSB devices enable USB 3.0 communications capability with the 5Gbps data flow required for multimedia applications, including mobile phones, or external HDD and SDD for applications such as portable gaming or navigation systems. The two Hub controllers’ downstream ports support USB battery charging 1.2, CDP, handshaking and a DCP mode when the upstream port is not connected. The USB 3.0 Hub controllers enable USB charging and higher receive sensitivity than competing devices, the company claims, thus reducing board space and easing system design.

TI claim that the bq500414Q is the industry’s first automotive-qualified, Qi 1.1-compliant, wireless power transmitter to offer free-positioning, foreign object detection and system-level EMI enhancement. The transmitter IC, which enables wireless charging from an automotive console with an A6 or A21 coil design, provides a simpler, stress-free charging experience for the driver or passengers.