With rising sales of EVs and the growing demand for zero-emission transport, the EV Charging station market will continue to proliferate. With this growth comes the expectation that you can reliably power up anywhere, from a home EV Charging station to quick charging while shopping or even on a road trip.

Plus, developments in technologies like portable charging, bidirectional charging, smart charging with load management, use-based analytics, and automated payment will create further growth in the EV Charging station market. There are three levels of chargers: Level 1 chargers use a standard household outlet. Level 2 chargers are faster, employing a 240-volt outlet. Level 3 chargers offer the quickest charge, converting AC to DC to optimise speed. Most of the EV chargers found in public charging stations are level 3 chargers.

These ultrafast level 3 stations need to convert AC to DC as quickly as possible. That means significantly higher-capacity EV Charging stations with more complex storage and memory, plus the processing requirement to optimise power flow accurately.

In these EV charger station control units, more intelligence means more compute. To ensure EV chargers are reliable, control units require automotive-grade or industrial-grade high-capacity e.MMC as well as low-power, high-performance DRAM for data storage and processing – everything from the power controller and payment capabilities to use analysis and even kiosk advertising. The newest designs of these control units contain a Micro Processing Unit (MPU) and can leverage DRAM and managed NAND technologies like Micron DDR4/LPDDR4 and e.MMC.

The industrial segment adds an additional level of critical requirements. At Micron, we call this the Industrial Quotient or IQ.

This level includes a number of considerations:

• Longevity: Micron supports a five-plus-year product lifecycle. Automotive applications are built to last and, as such, require extended product support.
• Ruggedness: Some environments, which involve extremes in temperature, shock, corrosion, humidity, and radiation, require improved performance.
• Reliability: Performance stability is measured with key benchmarks around annual failure rate, failure in time, and mean time between failure endurance.
• Application optimisation: Our product enhancements are designed for app-specific requirements, including auto-scan/auto-refresh, firmware health monitoring and API encryption.

At Micron, this industrial mindset is born from our 30-year dedication to industrial memory and storage solutions. As the leader in the industrial and automotive markets, we are uniquely positioned to provide US-made memory and storage solutions with longevity, reliability, and ruggedness.

Micron’s Industrial Memory and Storage Solutions for your EV Charger

DRAM solutions

• DDR3/DDR4/DDR5 and LPDDR4: market-proven, best system cost/performance tradeoff and long-term support
• LPDDR5: data rates up to 8.5 Gb/s; improved power efficiency; up to x64 bus width-packaged solutions enable high bandwidth interface for AI/ML workloads

Industrial-grade embedded storage

• Micron 2100AI, 2100AT SSDs: 64 GB-1 TB densities, BGA and M.2 form factors; SLC partitioning; Trusted Computing Group (TCG) Opal self-encrypting drives (SED)-compliant; wide range operating temperature support (2100AI: -40 °C to 95 °C / 2100AT: -40 °C to 105 °C)
• SLC NAND with adaptive FTL: on-die ECC, industrial temperature range, OTP data protection
• Xccela© flash: x8 (Octal SPI) SDR/DDR JEDEC xSPI standard compliant; up to 2 Gb full-featured flash, supports direct code execution and parametric data storage with up to 400MB/s reads, reducing pin count 5x compared with parallel NOR devices
• e.MMC with internal NAND management for simplifying development
• Micron i400 microSD card: 64 GB-1.5 TB densities; removable storage optimised for AI-enhaced industrial applications

This industry leadership means you can be confident that the EV charger you pull up to on a road trip is equipped with Micron’s rugged, industrial solutions – solutions that will efficiently power your EV and get you on your way.

Micron is a world leader in innovative memory solutions that transform how the world uses information. For over 45 years, our company has been instrumental to the world’s most significant technology advancements, delivering optimal memory and storage systems for a broad range of applications.

The post Building better EV charging stations appeared first on Future Markets Magazine.

Modern homes use solar panels, heat pumps, and battery energy storage systems. Passenger and cargo transportation are witnessing the growing adoption of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. Industry employs increasingly electric machinery and equipment, advanced energy storing systems and smart grids. At the heart of these advancements are efficient power semiconductors.

The Role of Semiconductors

Semiconductors are critical in the conversion, storage, and management of renewable energy. They improve the efficiency, reliability, and performance of renewable energy systems, minimise energy losses, and enable precise control over electrical currents and voltages within various system components. Moreover, new wide-bandgap semiconductor materials, such as silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN), offer superior performance compared to traditional silicon-based semiconductors, operating at higher temperatures, voltages, and frequencies.

1 Including UK; TWh – Terawatt hours; WBG – Wide-bandgap material; ² Reference: gas and steampower plant from Kraftwerke Mainz-Wiesbaden (above-average capacity of 2.2 billion kilowatt-hours per year; annual report 2020); Source: PECTA – 2020; Agora – The European Power Sector in 2020; IHS; Borderstep Institute 2015; EEA

Important Semiconductor Types

Nexperia, as a leading manufacturer of essential semiconductors (MOSFETs, small-signal discretes, ESD protection and logic ICs), continues to expand its power portfolio at the forefront of renewable energy technology:

• IGBTs are the current standard in renewable energy systems due to their high efficiency, fast switching capabilities, and cost competitiveness. They play a crucial role in inverters for solar panels and wind turbines, converting direct current (DC) generated by these sources into alternating current (AC) suitable for grid use.
• GaN and SiC devices are operating at higher temperatures, voltages and frequencies. This makes them ideal for high-power applications, such as EV Charging stations and industrial energy systems. Their high efficiency reduces energy losses and enhances the overall performance of renewable energy systems. Although today mainly used in automotive applications such as traction inverters or the vehicle’s on-board charger (OBC), the technology is maturing and finding its way into industrial applications.
• MOSFETs are essential in power management and control systems. They are used in solar inverters, EV chargers, and energy storage systems to regulate the flow of electricity, ensuring efficient and stable operation. Their ability to handle high currents and voltages makes them indispensable in renewable energy applications.
• Diodes and transistors are essential for the rectification and amplification of electrical signals. Diodes are used in solar panels to prevent backflow of current, while transistors are used in power conversion and control circuits. Their reliability and efficiency are vital for the smooth operation of renewable energy systems.
• Power management ICs (integrated circuits) play a key role in monitoring, control, and communication within renewable energy systems. Analog ICs are used for signal processing and conditioning, while logic ICs handle digital control and communication tasks. These ICs ensure precise control and coordination of various components within renewable energy systems, enhancing their efficiency and reliability.
• Energy harvesting involves dedicated power management ICs (PMICs) to efficiently convert energy collected from ambient sources, such as light captured by photovoltaic cells into a rechargeable battery. They enable the development of self-powered and environmentally friendly electronic devices, helping mitigate the environmental impact of billions of batteries discarded each year.

Nexperia, a global semiconductor leader based in the Netherlands, employs over 14,000 people across Europe, Asia, and the US. Shipping 100B+ products annually, Nexperia drives innovation in automotive, industrial, and consumer electronics, and aims for carbon neutrality by 2035.

The post How Semiconductors enable Green Energy appeared first on Future Markets Magazine.

Sustainability has been a guiding principle for us since the early 1990s. We have been transparently reporting on our progress, with our 27th annual Sustainability Report published this year.

We are committed to protecting the environment by minimising our overall footprint. In December 2020, we committed to becoming carbon neutral and to sourcing 100 % renewable energy by 2027. We are on track to achieve these commitments.

Acting responsibly across the product life cycle

Our responsibility begins with the raw materials we use. We are closely engaged with our suppliers and conduct due diligence in our supply chain. 100 percent of new material suppliers were assessed on sustainability risks last year. Our materials are sourced in compliance with the latest environmental and social guidelines. 100 percent of our products are conflict-mineral free.

We adopt an eco-design approach in product development where we carefully consider the impact of our future technologies and products on our planet’s resources. Our designers innovate to create low-carbon and power-efficient products. Our product management system tracks key indicators to encourage green designs wherever possible.

We reduce the impact of our manufacturing activities on resources and local communities, while building a resilient supply chain:

• We are committed to becoming carbon neutral on scope 1 and 2, and partially on scope 3 by 2027. In 2023 our scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions were down 45 % in absolute terms compared to 2018.
• We identify and deploy ways to reduce our electricity consumption on all ST sites. At the end of 2023 our annual energy saving since 2018 was 139 GWh.
• We are committed to tackling the challenges of water scarcity and wastewater treatment across our operations. In 2023 42 % of our water usage was recycled and reused.
• We strive for zero waste by minimising resource consumption, recycling, and implementing circular economy programs. In 2023, 96 % of waste was reused, recovered, or sent for recycling.
• We take a proactive approach to protecting biodiversity in the areas in which we operate.

We also strive to minimise the waste produced when disposing of our devices at end of life. We facilitate recycling for our customers and end users through our EcoPack program and Hazardous Substances Process Management approach. In 2023 95 percent of our products exceeded RoHS directives.

Developing technologies and products to meet sustainability challenges

We view sustainability as a question of balance. Minimising our own carbon footprint is critical, but we also focus on the positive impact of our products by developing solutions for a more sustainable society. By doing so, we enable our customers to create products that have a more positive impact on the world.

We have a comprehensive product stewardship program that aims to ensure sustainability is considered when we develop new products and technologies.

The first aspect is the concept of a “responsible product.” A product is “responsible” when it can demonstrate that it enables specific social or environmental benefits such as:

• Products that reduce power consumption
• Low carbon products that reduce the manufacturing footprint
• Green application such as renewal energy or car electrification
• Well-being applications that support health, safety or security of people
• In 2023, we identified 82 % of our new products as responsible

The second aspect is related to the benefits our products deliver during use (also referred to as the ‘handprint’ of our products). The benefits don’t just come from improved power-efficiency, but also from our focus on specific market segments that are helping to solve environmental and social challenges.

Handprint example

Our latest generation of automotive microcontrollers, Stellar, is an example of reduced energy consumption for next generation electric vehicles. A case study was conducted using the body platforms of a major manufacturer, to compare the emissions of a platform using Stellar MCUs, with a platform using current-generation MCUs.

The results showed a significant reduction in CO₂ emissions for the Stellar MCU solution throughout the manufacturing and lifetime of the vehicle.

Specifically:

• The MCU device manufacturing process produces 40 % less CO₂ emissions.
• Over the lifetime of the vehicle, the CO₂ emissions would be 30 % lower while maintaining the same level of performance.

At ST, we are creators and makers of semiconductor technologies, devices, and solutions. We help our customers and partners address their challenges and opportunities, and the need to support a more sustainable world. We are committed to carbon neutrality on scope 1 and 2 and partially scope 3 by 2027.

The post Technology for a Sustainable World, in a Sustainable Way appeared first on Future Markets Magazine.

Adaptive computing technology includes programmable solutions, such as FPGAs and adaptive SoCs, that allow manufacturers to change hardware functionality even after deployment, so systems can adapt to new requirements without new hardware. AMD is a leader in adaptive computing technology and offers a broad and scalable portfolio of FPGAs and adaptive SoCs.

Two applications where adaptive computing solutions can play a pivotal role in driving efficient performance include motor control and EV chargers.

Adaptive Computing Elevates Motor Performance

Inside traditional electric motors, FPGA-based adaptive SoCs help control the magnetic field generated in the stator so that interference between it and the rotor is minimised at any time to help produce motion, instead of just heat.

In an electric motor, there are three phases of currents that are injected to a power stage and they need to be controlled precisely, in microseconds. When you apply a specific algorithm, it reads the currents you are injecting into the stator, and it tries to figure out the currents that are being used in the motor so that it can estimate the torque. This control mechanism is called “field orientation.” It means you are orienting the mathematical field in an optimal way.

Adaptive SoCs help to ensure that the force to the rotor is applied in the optimal direction, helping to create the proper amount of current for every phase of the motor, and enabling it to operate at maximum efficiency. Without this information, the motor would spin inefficiently, consuming a lot of current, and eventually overheating, or it would spin and not efficiently produce the maximum amount of torque possible.

Another thing that’s important to motors is precise voltage control. Adaptive SoCs are particularly good at modulating voltage and electromagnetic interference (EMI) with built-in pulse-width modulation. Using this feature, you can switch the motor on pulses to control motor speed. You can also use it to mitigate EMI by spreading the noise over a wider bandwidth. With FPGA-based devices, you can create more sophisticated modulators with greater scalability and architectural flexibility to minimise EMI noise.

Adaptive Computing Can Accelerate EV Charging

Beyond motor control, another industrial challenge addressed by adaptive computing is EV Charging. One of the biggest challenges in the electric vehicle (EV) industry is the time it takes to recharge the batteries. Depending on where you go, it can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours to achieve a full charge.

It turns out the same technology that is used to manage and control motors can also be used to build fast EV Charging stations.

Adaptive computing can improve EV Charging in four key areas:

• Power and Control – Adaptive SoCs and SOMs from AMD offer complete control of the power system, independent from the underlying software updates in the main controller. They  also offer fast control loops that rapidly deliver power to a vehicle’s batteries.
• Simulation – Adaptive computing can enable simulations to help minimise the risk of additional necessary hardware iterations and optimise the control system and converter  performance.
• Safety and Security – Adaptive computing solutions from AMD use a hypervisor and multicores to bound different criticalities, and are safety-certifiable to automotive and industrial standards, including ASIL D and SiL3.
• Cloud and Web – AMD adaptive computing solutions enable integration with cloud services, Python support, JavaScript offloading and acceleration, and Ethernet connectivity.  Beyond EV Charging, AMD motor control methods can also be used for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging.

The AMD Kria™ KD240 Drives Starter Kit is an example of an adaptive computing solution that is ideal for motor control and EV Charging applications. This solution features scalable hardware that allows customers to fine-tune power, cost, and performance levels without changing their PCB. For more information, please visit: https://www.amd.com/kd240

For more than 50 years AMD has driven innovation in high-performance computing, graphics and  visualisation technologies. For more information about how AMD is enabling today and inspiring  tomorrow, visit the AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) website, blog, LinkedIn and  X pages.

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Touchscreens in POS displays

Consumers are accustomed to paying for goods and services with credit cards on POS terminals, which feature small low-cost displays, physical buttons that match virtual buttons on the screen, and mechanical keypads to enter card numbers and PIN codes.

Today, larger colour touchscreens are replacing the mechanical buttons and monochrome displays of the past. As well as being more attractive, touchscreen displays also remove the need for moving parts, thus improving reliability.

Another trend in larger touchscreen displays is the rise of electronic cash registers (ECRs). As it is not a secure payment device, ECRs are usually combined with a POS terminal to process payments.

POS security and PCI compliance

The security of user data, such as the Primary Account Number (PAN), credit card numbers and PIN, is of paramount importance. Magnetic stripe (swipe) card transactions have inherent security issues, so more secure methods include Dip (chip-and-PIN) and Tap (near-field communication: NFC).

However, touchscreens also have vulnerabilities. The transfer of touch data and PINs is vulnerable to tapping or man-in-the-middle attacks via touch sensor overlays and underlays, and even to attacks on the communication bus between the touch IC and the secure host MPU.

The touch controller firmware can be hacked to extract card details. The configuration of the touch controller can be modified to expose vulnerabilities, even on systems certified as secure.

Other security issues include extreme environmental noise, active NFC interference, extreme emissions and the need for resistance to moisture.

PCI compliance to the rescue

The major payment card brands have created the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC), which developed the PCI DSS to protect card holders’ data. Payment service providers and acceptance points have a responsibility for creating PCI-compliant products. PCI compliance requirements may change, which can affect the design of hardware, software and systems.

Most POS terminal vendors are now industry compliant with PCI Data Security Standards. If a payment system uses a separate payment module that is pre-certified to the PCI DSS for secure card transactions using a card reader with mechanical keypad, the touchscreen does not transmit any secure information via the communication lines. PCI PIN Transaction Security (PTS) certification of the touchscreen is only needed when the touchscreen is used for entering of credit card and/or PIN code data. This requires shielding the touchscreen’s communication interface or encrypting the touch message data.

General PCI certification requirements

Under PCI-PTS, PIN transaction requirements are:

• The system must shut down in the event of physical or software tampering
• Confidential user data may only be transferred when necessary (always encrypted) and stored only for as long as needed
• Conduct software updates or boot up only if software integrity can be verified
• Only authenticated users can update software
• Store key in a protected area and create mechanisms to protect key loading
• Device should self-test and report anomalies

The following features could be built into touch controller products at system level:

• 24-hourly reboot schedule
• 15-minute timeout on manual key entry
• Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) PIN encryption with ISO format 4
• Strict use of encryption keys for the intended purpose, with a separation between customer and manufacturer key hierarchies
• PAN encryption
• TR-34 Remote Key Loading (RKL) protocol

A PCI lab validates the touchscreen display to check that it meets the security requirements of the PIN Transaction Security standard. This validation includes the following tests:

• Assessing the vulnerability of the PIN entry to hacking
• Assessing access to sensitive data through tampering and examining the response mechanism
• Validation of the methods and documentation of the key management in production.

Getting to the point, quickly

Solutions such as Microchip’s maXTouch® controller portfolio can fulfil such complex system requirements. Its integrated analog front end and proprietary firmware can be configured for secure encrypted communication for any end user application.

A dedicated support team, such as Microchip Technology’s touch controller experts, can guide customers through their system level design and support them in the software/driver integration process, product testing and debugging.

The post Securer touchscreens can boost your POS security appeared first on Future Markets Magazine.

Human Machine Interfaces exemplify the well-known idiom “putting information at our fingertips”. By replacing the push-button with displays and graphical representations, they have transformed how people interact with technology. In the 1990s, HMIs ran on PCs and CRTs (Cathode Ray Tubes), and engineers had greater flexibility thanks to Ethernet, GPUs and Windows. However, ever since HMIs branched out from the world of personal computers to run on embedded systems and LCDs, they have become truly ubiquitous. Many analysts point to the smartphone as the canary in the coal mine that demonstrated that low-power arm architectures could run graphical interfaces. Additionally, software and sensor innovations have enabled energy-saving paradigms on battery-powered systems. However, this new reality has also given rise to some unique challenges.

What are HMIs and why are they challenging?

In the simplest terms, an HMI is a User Interface (UI) representing a system’s control and monitoring features. It is often interactive thanks to a touchscreen or buttons, and it is highly popular because it enhances productivity by making complex systems easier to use and data more easily digestible. However, because HMIs can now run on microcontrollers, users want to use them everywhere. Consequently, engineers must create portable interfaces suited for different screen sizes and hardware specifications. This means dealing with widely different constraints while keeping costs down. Moreover, HMIs keep growing in complexity as developers add features like over-the-air updates and machine learning capabilities that need a UI. Put simply, HMIs now have to perform more tasks and run on more platforms while keeping costs down.

A solution at the crossroad of hardware and software

To solve this challenge, ST has released devices like the STM32MP13, the STM32MP2 and the STM32U599, among others. The first two microprocessors feature a Cortex-A7 and Cortex-A35, respectively, which means that they can run embedded Linux and all its graphical frameworks. They are also some of the most cost-effective devices of their kind; the STM32MP13 costing less than four dollars. Both support numerous communication interfaces, like Gigabit Ethernet. The STM32MP2 even offers compatibility for time-sensitive networking, meaning engineers can integrate HMIs into systems with stringent constraints without blowing their bill of materials. Similarly, the STM32U599 MCU opens the door to HMIs that weren’t previously possible on microcontrollers at this price point thanks to its NeoChrom GPU. This ST technology provides new hardware acceleration to enable a higher frame rate and smoother animations. Consequently, UI makers are now showcasing interfaces on our devices to demonstrate how engineers can run more feature-rich HMIs on a wide gamut of processing devices while keeping costs down.

HMIs have also become more efficient and convenient thanks to new sensors. For instance, the new STHS34PF80 thermal metal-oxide semiconductor (TMOS) from ST uses an infrared sensor with a wavelength between 5 µm and 20 µm. It provides presence detection at a fraction of the power consumption and the cost of what a regular sensor using a more complex VCSEL would require. This vastly increases the overall efficiency, making HMIs a reality on more systems. Similarly, while ST works with numerous makers of graphical frameworks, the company also provides TouchGFX, a free framework that takes advantage of all the hardware features baked into STM32 devices. Hence, taking advantage of hardware IPs is as easy as pushing a button in TouchGFX Designer, thus considerably optimising workflows.

What’s next?

The popularisation of machine learning at the edge is leading users to ask for smarter HMIs with modular interfaces and contextual applications. That’s why the STM32MP2 comes with a neural network accelerator. ST understands that design teams need to jump on the bandwagon early if they are to stay ahead of the curve. Additionally, as more users expect an HMI on products that previously had none, engineers must find ways to bring them to more systems. Understanding how to navigate constraints is thus essential, which is why ST often provides webinars, blog posts, documentation and tech demos. The key to tomorrow’s innovations in HMIs doesn’t solely lie in a product portfolio but in a different mindset around how we, as an industry, create HMIs and how they will improve our relationship with technology over the next decade.

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Silicon carbide SiC is increasingly becoming the driver of electrification in mobility. The wide-band-gap material is highly efficient at high voltages and is the basis of 800-volt drive systems. SiC is thus paving the way for lighter electric vehicles with greater range. It is also essential for achieving fast battery charging times comparable to filling up conventional vehicles. 

Comprehensive SiC portfolio

With demand for SiC on the rise, choosing the right supplier and partner is critical. onsemi offers a wide range of high-efficiency smart power solutions based on SiC under the name “EliteSiC”: the product range includes SiC diodes, SiC MOSFETs, SiC modules and silicon and SiC hybrid modules. The newest additions to the lineup are the 1700-V EliteSiC MOSFET and two 1700-V avalanche-capable EliteSiC Schottky diodes. The new 1700-V EliteSiC devices offer best-in-class efficiency with reduced power dissipation, exemplifying the high performance and quality standards of the EliteSiC family of products. 

End to End Manufacturing

But it is not only with its leading technology that onsemi meets the requirements of industrial power infrastructure and industrial drive suppliers – thanks to its end-to-end SiC manufacturing capabilities, users can also rely on a high level of supply security. onsemi’s supply chain begins with the growing of the single-crystal silicon carbide material at its plant in Hudson, New Hampshire. The entire manufacturing process is vertically integrated throughout. This is the basis for high quality, enables complete cost control and rapid scaling of the production footprint, as well as process optimization through rapid feedback throughout the value chain.

Practical design experience 

In addition, onsemi provides technical support from specialized automotive professionals and DC fast charging station design experts. Complete ecosystem design tools and detailed technical documentation of physical, scalable SPICE models provide customers with additional support at every stage of their design and development.

Example DC fast charging station

With the increasing spread of electric vehicles, the demand for DC fast chargers is also growing. But their design is often still uncharted territory for application, product or development engineers. To show them what the key design considerations are and how they should be addressed, onsemi EMEA’s systems engineering team has designed an example 25-kW DC fast charger based on SiC Power Integrated Modules (PIM). 

The charger has bidirectional capabilities, covers a wide output voltage range and is capable of charging 400 V and 800 V batteries. The input voltage is rated for EU 400-Vac and U.S. 480-Vac three-phase networks. The power stage delivers 25 kW over the voltage range of 500 V to 1000 V. Below 500 V, output current is limited to 50 A, reducing power in accordance with the profiles of DC charging standards such as CCS or CHAdeMO. Isolated CAN, USB and UART interfaces enable communication between power supply blocks, charging system controller, vehicle, service and maintenance. 

Overall, the design follows the guidelines of IEC-61851-1 and IEC-61851-23 standards for electric vehicle charging. Accordingly, the development process started with the definition of system requirements, went through feasibility studies, and finally led to a final design in several iterations. This included performance simulations using SPICE models and control simulations using MATLAB and Simulink. Based on the final design, concrete circuit diagrams, the layout of the printed circuit board and finally real prototypes were created. 

Know-how from practice for practice

Through the development of the DC fast charger, the onsemi team gained important insights into the interaction of the components and the development process. Customers of onsemi can benefit directly from this know-how – many design challenges can thus be mastered quickly and the new system can be brought to market in a significantly shorter development time.

The post SiC – from single crystal to reference design appeared first on Future Markets Magazine.

Automotive mobility is changing radically. Advanced technologies and new mobility concepts are redefining how we drive. In the wake of megatrends like 5G, connectivity, smart cities, electrification and sustainability, cars are becoming smarter. They communicate with their environment (Car2X), take over driving functions, monitor their passengers and provide new experiences in terms of well-being, comfort and entertainment. 

ams OSRAM plays a crucial role in this transformation as a trusted partner for the leading car manufacturers and their suppliers. As an innovation and technology leader for more than 100 years, the company offers cutting-edge solutions to its customers to differentiate it from competitors. 

The ability of the company’s sensing and lighting technologies to capture and communicate with the environment makes it a key enabler for new mobility features. Light makes the environment visible; sensors make it safer. Their combination adds real value to road safety and comfort – inside and outside the cabin. 

Throughout its long history, ams OSRAM has set benchmarks in safety and comfort – known for delivering high-quality, automotive-certified solutions at scale, from functional illumination to standard forward lighting and signaling. As a trusted advisor for technology trends, the company engages in smart lighting and sensing solutions that shape the mobility of tomorrow, such as intelligent forward lighting, ambient lighting, in-cabin sensing, exterior sensing for automated vehicles, intelligent signaling, displays and projections. 

Automotive interior – safe and convenient journeys 

Tomorrow’s automotive interior will be fundamentally different in shape and functionality. With automated features increasingly taking over from the driver, cars will no longer simply be a means of moving from A to B. They are evolving into individualized living spaces and entertainment zones. In line with this trend, bigger and better displays are on the rise. New control systems are emerging – like smart surfaces or gesture control for seamless human-machine interaction – while customizable ambient light solutions support onboard wellbeing. 

On the way from assisted to fully autonomous driving, systems that monitor the driver and passengers become essential. Innovative sensor solutions for driver and in-cabin monitoring improve safety by capturing data on the vehicle’s occupants and forwarding it to its safety systems. AR head-up displays reduce distraction, revolutionizing the way information is presented to the driver. 

ams OSRAM offers its customers a unique product portfolio covering the key technologies needed to realize the future of automotive interiors. A broad range of high-quality IREDs, VCSEL emitters and 2D and 3D sensor components enable gesture control, driver monitoring and in-cabin monitoring. Miniaturized LED solutions and ambient light sensors illuminate displays and dynamically adjust their brightness. And edge emitting lasers provide the basis for next-generation head-up displays. 

ams OSRAM’s high-precision LEDs for customizable RGB ambient lighting not only offer car manufacturers a distinctive design element, they also help drivers stay concentrated and lower their stress levels, using the biological effects of light. With its technologies, ams OSRAM is shaping automotive mobility, making it safer, smarter and more comfortable.

New interior lighting opportunities – decoration, illumination and functionality 

ams OSRAM and TactoTek jointly boost possibilities for future automotive interior illumination by integrating side-looking automotive RGB LEDs in thin, smart structures using an innovative in-mold process. 

This opens new options for the car interior market. Molded into a thin plastic trim part with TactoTek‘s IMSE technology, the ams OSRAM RGB side-looker LED OSIRE® E5515 allows lightweight and thin applications designed for car interiors. This combination enables designers to build rich, seamless designs by merging surface decoration, illumination, and functionality into one smart surface, eliminating the boundaries that have held back designers when designing with conventional and current technologies. The broadest color gamut on the market means design freedom without compromising color quality and performance.

The post Safe and convenient automotive mobility appeared first on Future Markets Magazine.

We create a ‘funnel of innovation’ that allows us to develop the market-leading products and solutions that our customer need, and which fuel our future growth. It enables us to continue pushing the boundaries of disruption in technologies and applications, in line with our strategic vision objectives.

Advances in electrification and digitalization are creating innovative features and use cases for the mobility of tomorrow

Advances in electrification and digitalization are creating innovative features and solutions for the mobility of tomorrow. This is driven by the availability of higher performance and improved mileage vehicles as well as ecological awareness, government incentives and regulation. As the industry continues to evolve, vehicles are becoming more connected, efficient, and autonomous. STMicroelectronics is at the forefront of this change, developing cutting-edge technologies for Electromobility, Hybrid (HEV) and Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV). Our solutions enable new features such as advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and electric drive systems with more cost-effective battery technologies. We are committed to supporting our customers in shaping the future of mobility by providing solutions that improve the overall driving experience with new levels of performance and safety and reduce our impact on the environment.

Core technologies to enable safety and autonomous driving

Core technologies that enable safety and autonomous driving are critical to the future of mobility. ST is a leader in developing these technologies such as, our Silicon Carbide (SiC), and Vertical Intelligent Power technologies that provide power efficiency, control, protection and diagnostics. Our solutions provide the necessary data and processing power for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that constantly monitor the vehicle surroundings, alert the driver of hazardous road conditions, and take corrective actions. Additionally, we provide our customers with security solutions that protect vehicles and their passengers with advanced smart driving applications with secured vehicle connectivity. Our commitment is to make driving safer, greener and more connected through the combination of several of our technologies.

The unique properties of wide bandgap materials improve application performance

The unique properties of wide bandgap (WBG) materials, such as Silicon Carbide and Gallium Nitride, improve the efficiency and performance of traction inverters, DC-DC converters, and on-board chargers. Able to operate at higher voltages without compromising performance, these materials can work at higher frequencies and handle far higher temperatures more safely. These characteristics make it possible to reach unrivalled levels of miniaturization, reliability and power density, leading to reduced system costs. An independent device manufacturer (IDM) at the forefront of these technologies, ST is actively engaged in capacity expansion and development of a reliable, robust WBG supply chain.

ST’s proven record in secure connectivity and sensor technologies can serve as a platform for building mobility services

Mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) is an environment-friendly mode of transportation that is gaining popularity as a sustainable alternative to personally-owned vehicles. As the car evolves from a personal vehicle to a shared service provided by a fleet of driverless vehicles in a smart city environment, the level of offered services will grow dramatically. ST is committed to supporting this trend by providing our customers a wide range of solutions – from fleet management, to car sharing, from free parking place detection to road tolling. All these services rely on automotive sensors, processors and communication ICs. Already available in many advanced driving systems, our proven record in secure connectivity and sensor technologies can serve as the platform on which mobility services can be built. Leading to significant reductions in carbon emissions, traffic congestion, and parking demands, we believe MaaS is a key element in creating a more sustainable future for transportation.

The post Technology is driven by innovation appeared first on Future Markets Magazine.

Industrial businesses need solutions that enable them to converge operational and information technology networks, deploy predictive maintenance, and automate processes using robots to raise throughput and eliminate human errors.

A programmable system on module (SOM) can provide a suitable compute platform to solve these challenges. However, additional firmware and software infrastructure are needed and a heterogeneous processing engine and integrated programmable logic can add valuable flexibility to do this.

Network Convergence 

Converging Informational Technology (IT) with Operational Technology (OT) networks eases the information flow between systems on the factory floor and enterprise management.

While OT networks require real time, low-latency communications and are difficult to scale, IT networks are easier to scale but not deterministic. Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) facilitates convergence by enabling deterministic communications over Ethernet networks.

Correctly implementing TSN requires a solution that provides a low latency and deterministic response at network endpoints and switches. A suitable platform would comprise an Ethernet MAC, TSN bridge, TSN endpoint logic, and software handle network synchronisation, initialisation, and interfacing functions. 

Predictive Maintenance

Predictive monitoring lets operators schedule maintenance for convenient times, maximising uptime and minimizing Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). Processing at the edge and communicating the processed data to the cloud is the most viable solution for many industrial applications due to the volume of data and the resulting critical response time of the decision loop. The use of prognostics at the edge can provide significant benefits.

A challenge when building such systems lies in developing machine-learning (ML) applications for edge deployment. A suitable toolkit can provide ready-to-use high-performance ML algorithms that enable developers to build applications using popular machine learning frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, and Caffe. 

ROS 2-based Robotics

One of the most critical technologies for Industry 4.0 is the use of robotics to automate the production process. In manufacturing, these solutions can cover a wide range of applications from robotic arms working on a production line, to robots moving supplies and logistics around the manufacturing floor.

A high performance, low latency processing system is critical to interact with the environment safely. In particular, it is needed to control the robot’s moving parts, which comprise complex systems of actuators, drives, and mechanics, often called mechatronics. Because robots communicate internally using networks to achieve the required real-time control, a SOM that contains programmable logic brings two advantages. One is the ability to support any-to-any interfacing, which simplifies implementing connections to sensors and drives. Moreover, programmable logic can be used to implement deterministic networks, which is critical for the implementation of robot systems.

Many development projects leverage the Robot Operating System (ROS), which comprises a set of software libraries and tools for creating robot systems. While ROS has been recently updated to ROS 2, its native Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) development pipeline is designed explicitly for homogeneous CPU-based processing systems. 

In addition, monitoring and automation are added to the CI/CD pipeline to improve the process of application development, particularly at the integration and testing phases and during delivery and deployment. This automation minimises the manual execution of each of the steps of a CI/CD pipeline and roboticists to use the same conventions of ROS 2 with the same tooling for parts that are implemented in software or that are offloaded or accelerated in programmable logic. There is also a mechanism to benchmark the execution of a ROS 2 node application, which helps identify bottlenecks and specifically tailor one or more kernels as offloaded kernels in programmable logic.

Conclusion

High-performance adaptive edge computing is a pillar of industrial digital transformation. Programmable SOMs can simplify the creation of flexible, adaptive computing solutions and, with purpose designed IP including software stacks, can accelerate the development of a production-ready model.

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