From Automotive to the Industrial IoT - solutions for embedded systems
06/07/2018
Like every year the embedded world in Nuremberg, Germany was the number one place to be for everyone working with embedded systems. From February 27th to March 1st more than 32,000 trade visitors caught up on security for electronic systems, distributed intelligence, the Internet of Things, e-mobility, energy efficiency and more. With more than 1,000 exhibitors the trade show covered the entire spectrum from components through modules and full systems, operating systems, hard and software to services.
Of course, ROHM Semiconductor was at embedded world 2018, too. The demos at booth 3A-332 attracted many visitors by displaying the wide range of products and solutions suitable for Automotive and Industrial IoT/Industry 4.0. This included Sensors, Communication ICs, Motor Drivers and GPICs (like low noise OpAmps), Controller ICs, Power Management ICs, and Machine Health Monitoring.
One of the highlights at the booth was RASMID™ (ROHM Advanced Smart Micro Device), the world’s smallest class package lineup of discrete semiconductors. The demo showed how ROHM is continually cultivating new methods to create the smallest devices in the industry. But other topics were covered at ROHM’s booth, too.
Timing Controller ICs for Automotive
In recent years the adoption of LCDs in vehicles for the instrument cluster, navigation, electronic mirrors, and other systems has risen significantly. At the same time the demand for larger, higher resolution displays increased. To meet these needs, more driver and controller channels are needed. However, this makes system configuration and operation verification more difficult, strengthening the demand for chipset solutions. In addition, in applications such as clusters or electronic mirrors where malfunctions can lead to serious accidents functional safety is required.
At the embedded world ROHM showed their new chipsets, which integrate a gamma correction IC, timing controller (T-CON), source driver, and gate driver for driving HD/FHD class displays (the highest resolution currently on the market). A PMIC ensures optimum drive operation. Each IC is designed to share information as needed, achieving automotive-grade reliability and for the first time supporting functional safety in devices of displays. In addition, chipset optimization allowed ROHM to cover a wide range of specifications while integrating a fail detection function in the timing controller to verify operation at the same time.
Machine Health Monitoring
Manufacturers depend on the good condition of their equipment to produce reliably. Maintenance at exactly the right moment can maximize the up-time of assets. Machine Health Monitoring helps finding the right moment for maintenance by supervising several parameters of the machines. For example, changing vibrations of a motor can point to a bearing reaching the end of its lifetime. Measuring these vibrations with acceleration sensors, manufacturers could change the bearing before it actually fails.
The possibilities go farther: Acceleration sensors could also be used to get information about the condition of buildings. Color sensors can be used to detect specific objects. Interested engineers usedthe dedicated demo at ROHM’s booth to learn about the usage of sensors in the automation process.
Wireless charging and Power Management
Another ongoing trend addressed by ROHM is wireless charging. At the embedded world the company presented the world's first Qi 1.2 certified wireless power transmitter IC BD57020MWV and receiver IC BD57015GWL. The demonstrated kit The demonstrated kit consists of a transmitter and a receiver module, a LED load module, a Quick Start guide and various power adapters.
Many visitors found ROHM’s holistic portfolio of power management ICs for embedded systems in industrial and automotive applications particularly interesting. ROHM’s PMICs are designed to offer optimum integration for System on Chip (SoC) Solutions including Intel and Renesas. A first platform in ADAS with highest functional safety ratings was shown on the ROHM booth.