Connected Car News:

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In connected car news are MIPI, Keysight, Ansys, NANOWEB, Airstream, etherWhere Partstack & Mercedes-Benz.

MIPI Alliance Completes MIPI I3C

The MIPI Alliance, an international organization that develops interface specifications for mobile and mobile-influenced industries, announced the successful completion of a MIPI I3C and Debug for I3C interoperability testing event in San Jose, Calif.

The June 26-27 plugfest, which coincided with MIPI’s 63rd member meeting, engaged 26 MIPI I3C/I3C Basic and Debug for I3C implementers from 10 companies in a range of interoperability testing (from initial to advanced) for their designs. An increase in participation and a broader array of devices from previous interoperability testing events signifies the growing importance and breadth of applications for the I3C specification.

Participants tested for interoperability between multi-vendor controller and target devices in a confidential environment with a mix of electronics manufacturers. Acute Technology Inc., Arasan Chip Systems Inc., Binho LLC, Cadence Design Systems, Inc., Intel Corporation, Introspect Technology, Microchip Technology Inc., Prodigy Technovations Pvt. Ltd., STMicroelectronics, and Tektronix Inc., were among the companies involved in the plugfest.

Specifications Tested

  • MIPI I3C is a scalable, two-wire utility and control bus interface for connecting peripherals to an application processor, giving developers unprecedented opportunities to craft innovative designs for an array of products—smartphones, personal computers, wearables, IoT devices, systems in automobiles and other devices. Designed as the successor to I2C, I3C incorporates key attributes of the traditional I2C and SPI interfaces to provide a high-performance, very-low-power solution with backward compatibility and a robust, flexible upgrade path. MIPI I3C is available to MIPI members.
  • The publicly available, royalty-free MIPI I3C Basic is a subset of I3C that bundles the most commonly needed I3C features for developers and other standards organizations. MIPI I3C Basic has been adopted into JEDEC’s Sideband Bus and DDR5 standards, and it has been adopted by ETSI Technical Committee Secure Element Technologies (TC SET) as a physical and logical link layer for the ETSI Smart Secure Platform (SSP).
  • MIPI Debug for I3C is a bare-metal interface that allows system designers to debug and test application processors, power management integrated circuits, modems and other power-managed components across a system via the I3C interface.

Public versions of MIPI I3C Basic and MIPI Debug for I3C are available to download and use by developers and the open-source community.

“Plugfests are pivotal gatherings for the evolution of innovation and an opportunity to work together to strengthen the ecosystem,” said Sanjiv Desai, chair of MIPI Alliance. “The MIPI I3C and Debug for I3C Plugfest exemplified the power of collaboration to foster seamless integration and efficiency across a breadth of applications, reinforcing the immense potential of the I3C specification.”

The next I3C and Debug for I3C plugfest is planned for 2024 in conjunction with the 67th member meeting in Taipei, Taiwan.

Keysight Tech & Ettifos 3GPP Release 16

Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS) and Ettifos have successfully conducted a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Release 16 (Rel-16) Sidelink radio conformance test between the Ettifos SIRIUS 5G-V2X sidelink platform and Keysight’s advanced test equipment, paving the way for 5G vehicle-to-everything (5G-V2X) advancements.

As demand for connected cars surges and autonomous driving gains momentum, the expansion of 5G for automotive use comes with specific requirements for successful implementation. Sidelink communications, a crucial feature for cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X), allows vehicles to share information and other elements of the road system independent of the network. The 5G New Radio (NR) V2X specification based on the Rel-16 standard, will provide higher throughput, enhanced reliability, and lower latency, while allowing vehicles to share rich, real-time data that support autonomous and connected driving experiences.

With the completion of the conformance test, the Keysight and Ettifos equipment have been verified to be compliant with Rel-16 standards. Now, developers have reliable tools to test advanced use cases designed for 5G-V2X. During the process, Keysight launched the first-to-market radio frequency (RF) physical layer test software apps supporting NR V2X for Keysight’s PathWave Signal Generation Desktop and X-Series RF vector signal generator. Solutions used for the conformance test include:

  • Keysight MXA Signal Analyzer
  • Keysight MXG X-Series RF Vector Signal Generator
  • Keysight PathWave Signal Generation for 5G NR
  • Keysight NR V2X Measurement Application

Keysight & Ansys TSMC N4P RF

Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS), Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNPS), and Ansys (Nasdaq: ANSS) announced a new reference design flow for TSMC N4P RF, the silicon foundry’s most advanced 4 nanometer (nm) radio frequency (RF) FinFET process technology. The reference flow is based on the Synopsys Custom Design Family and integrates the Ansys multiphysics platforms, which provides a complete RF design solution for customers seeking an open RF design environment with higher predictive accuracy and productivity. It provides designers with a choice of best-in-class solutions and includes validated integrations with radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) design and interactive electromagnetic (EM) analysis tools from Keysight and signoff power integrity and EM modeling from Ansys.

Next-generation wireless systems feature higher bandwidth, more connected devices, lower latency, and broader coverage. Design complexity of RF integrated circuits used for wireless data transmission such as transceivers and RF front-end components continues to grow. Higher circuit frequencies, smaller feature sizes, and complex layout-dependent-effects make high speed design physics challenging, requiring more accurate and comprehensive modeling and simulation to achieve the highest performance and robust product reliability.

The TSMC 4nm RF design reference flow improves design turnaround time and layout productivity in the Synopsys Custom Compiler™ design and layout environment. Reference design flow certification includes rigorous validation of TSMC’s 4nm RF process design kit (PDK) using critical design components including sub-6 GHz low noise amplifiers (LNAs) and LC-tuned voltage-controlled oscillators (LC VCOs). The reference flow features industry-leading tools that enable efficient passive device synthesis, EM model extraction, thermal-aware electromigration analysis extended to include device metal, and post-layout extraction with correct handling of circuit under inductor (CUI) structures.

In addition to Synopsys Custom Compiler, the open, modern reference flow incorporates:

Golden signoff accuracy circuit simulation performance from Synopsys PrimeSim™ simulation tools and PrimeSim™ Reliability Environment, and signoff physical verification and extraction solutions from Synopsys IC Validator™ and Synopsys StarRC™.

Ansys Totem™ provides thermal-aware signoff electromigration verification and power integrity analysis (EM/IR). RaptorX™ and Exalto™ provide signoff electromagnetic modeling, with unique CUI features enabling significant area and cost reductions of up to 50%. VeloceRF™ delivers fully automatic silicon layout synthesis for electromagnetic devices including multi-layer inductor spiral, baluns/transformers, and transmission lines to enable the highest circuit performance and accuracy.

Keysight PathWave ADS RFPro provides rapid, interactive EM-circuit co-simulation and analysis to find and fix layout-dependent-effects up front in the development cycle. PathWave RFIC design (GoldenGate) supports harmonic balance simulation in early chip design and verification process.

“Keysight, Synopsys, and Ansys have expanded their strategic technology collaboration with TSMC to deliver the next level in RF design for advanced 4nm RF technology,” said Niels Faché, vice president and general manager at Keysight EDA. “We’ve witnessed RF designers struggling to use older-generation solutions and flows that were never intended for today’s 5G/6G system-on-chip and RF subsystem designs. New layout-dependent-effects make detailed simulation and modeling that is signoff accurate a must-have. Other commercial tools and workflows do not always include these newest foundry requirements, and often lack the capacity to model modern analog designs with hundreds of coupled signal ports.”

“Synopsys, Ansys, and Keysight have harnessed decades of expertise in custom analog, RF, and multi-physics design to reduce risk and accelerate success for our mutual customers,” said Sanjay Bali, vice president strategy and product management EDA group at Synopsys. “Our latest collaboration with Ansys and Keysight on the new RF design reference flow supporting TSMC’s advanced 4nm process node provides an open and optimized flow that delivers exceptional quality-of-results for advanced 5G/6G wireless systems.”

“Multiphysics raises novel challenges for our customers to optimize power, area, reliability, and performance as RF frequencies climb into the millimeter wave and sub-THz range,” said John Lee, vice president and general manager, electronics, semiconductor, optics business at Ansys. “First-pass customer success depends upon applying best-in-class solutions across the design flow. In partnership with Keysight and Synopsys, Ansys is working closely with TSMC to make our industry-leading power integrity and electromagnetic modeling technology available in a custom design flow that responds to the needs of high-speed circuit designers.”

Meta Materials & Panasonic NANOWEB

 

Meta Materials Inc. (the Company or META), an advanced materials and nanotechnology company and a leading solution provider in the field of multi-functional transparent conductive materials, and Panasonic Industry Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Industry), an operating company in charge of device business within the Panasonic Group with a proprietary and scalable process technology which delivers fine line low resistance and high transparency conductive films, have been jointly developing a strategic collaboration from design to mass production. This joint effort is expected to strengthen the supply of NANOWEB® films and accelerate the growth of the transparent conductive film industry, offering new applications for the automotive and consumer electronics sectors, such as transparent film antennas, transparent film heaters, and transparent film electromagnetic shielding.

Airstream Apple CarPlay Apps

Airstream, Inc., maker of the iconic riveted aluminum travel trailers and best-in-class touring coaches, today announced that its Airstream Smart Control connected vehicle app will soon be available in Apple CarPlay, enhancing the RV experience by allowing owners of late-model Airstream Classic and Pottery Barn® Special Edition travel trailers to monitor important RV functions with reduced distraction while towing or adventuring away from their RV.

“Airstream Smart Control’s ability to put information at the owners’ fingertips allows them to spend more time enjoying their adventures,” said Airstream President and CEO Bob Wheeler. “CarPlay increases convenience and reduces driver distraction, which makes it a natural and powerful way to expand Smart Control’s utility and further improve the Airstream owner experience.”

Features now available in the Smart Control app on CarPlay include Tow Mode and Camp Mode. Tow Mode allows owners to monitor important RV systems, such as tank levels and battery status. Classic Travel Trailer owners can also use Tow Mode to monitor their trailer’s tire pressure to ensure proper inflation. Using Camp Mode owners can monitor the internal temperature and power systems when away from the travel trailer. Temperature is especially important for the well-being of pets patiently waiting for their owners to return to the Airstream. Using the Smart Control homepage, users can easily toggle between Tow and Camp modes.

Airstream is a member of the THOR Industries family of companies and partnered with THOR’s Global Innovation Team to add Apple CarPlay support to the Smart Control app. Representatives of THOR Industries and Airstream recently previewed the Smart Control experience in CarPlay to members of the RV industry and expect it to go live later this year. THOR’s suite of global connected vehicle apps is anticipated to be available on CarPlay in 2024.

etherWhere URSA-1

etherWhere Corporation, the low power leader in GNSS development, announced the availability of the URSA-1, their first product optimized for precise timing applications. The URSA-1 chip represents advancements in signal processing implementation and algorithms to achieve low power and lowest jitter for challenging applications such as 5G bases stations and Precision Time Protocol (PTP) for data center networks.

etherWhere’s innovations in silicon development and algorithm have achieved 1σ jitter of less than 4.0 nanoseconds in a 24-hour test. The record setting jitter performance is achieved in a small module of 10.1mm x 9.7mm with a power consumption of less than 33mW. This level of performance will enable new applications where strict timing accuracy is of utmost importance.

“etherWhere URSA-1 silicon has the potential to enable a range of products at VIAVI Solutions to meet stringent power and performance requirements from our customers,” stated Said Jackson, Vice President and General Manager, PNT at VIAVI. “The flexibility of the silicon allows for a smaller form factor and reduced power while still providing multi-protocol precise timing solution and exceeding market requirements.”

etherWhere’s silicon supports all four constellations of GPS, Galileo, Glonass and BeiDou. The URSA-1 features an embedded processor running proprietary algorithms and firmware, DSP accelerators for acquisition and tracking engine, low power RF frontend and an LNA.

“etherWhere’s patented technology is the result of many years of research and maturation of firmware in order to be able to achieve the low power and low jitter solution in URSA-1,” said Farrokh Farrokhi, Founder and President. etherWhere will continue to innovate in the field of geolocation to enable new applications that have been previously inaccessible.”

The customer EVK is comprehensive and consists of a module optimized for space and cost, fully functional firmware, PC mapping software and all the documentation to enable customers into the market. etherWhere is currently sampling the URSA-1 chip to customers for production.

Partstack Data Solutions

Partstack Corporation, a global provider of data solutions for the semiconductor and electronic components industry, today announced Partstack Marketplace—a complete semiconductor chip search platform designed by engineers for engineers, designers, and equipment manufacturers.

Did you survive the great chip shortage? Still on the front lines battling it out? Next time, (and there will almost certainly be a next time) arm your team with Partstack. Partstack brings global semiconductor buyers and sellers together to quickly locate, buy, or sell millions of hard-to-find semiconductor parts from over 2,500 unique manufacturers. Partstack launched to users on the one-year anniversary of President Biden’s $280 billion CHIPS Act—and more advanced site features are expected to roll out through 2023 and 2024.

“Our goal is to give our users unprecedented access to the semiconductor market’s most comprehensive component pricing and part availability data from a curated “stack” of diverse global suppliers,” said Jit Sivalogan, head of brand strategy at Partstack. “We’ve built in time-saving tools and features, including a “one-to-five” chip comparison tool, technical part specifications for design and regulatory compliance, and manufacturer financial and production site insights to support even today’s most sophisticated buyers.”

To help component buyers avoid counterfeit parts in their supply chains, Partstack offers datasheets, guides for chip testing best practices, and counterfeit component reporting features not available anywhere else.

Mercedes-Benz Pay at the Pump from the Car

Mercedes-Benz customers in Germany can now start the fueling process directly from their vehicle and pay digitally by fingerprint. Eliminating the need to enter a PIN or authenticate via mobile device, drivers can now leverage convenient payments to enhance the in-vehicle experience. The native in-car payment service via Mercedes pay+ will turn the car into a form of payment device and can be used to make payments at service stations using the fingerprint sensor integrated into the MBUX infotainment system. This is now live with Mastercard debit and credit cards in current Mercedes-Benz models.1

Fingerprint payment authorization at a gas station represents the first use case for native in-car payments at the point of sale, in addition to Mercedes-Benz as the world’s first automaker to integrate Mastercard’s Secure Card on File for Commerce platform into the car. This technology allows for transaction data to be encrypted using uniquely assigned cryptograms,2 in turn protecting sensitive payment information.

“With Mercedes pay+, we are making everyday life easier for our customers. From now on, they can pay their fuel bill directly from their car using their fingerprint – simply, securely, and conveniently. An intuitive payment process and a best-in-class customer experience lay the foundation for the success of digital offerings. We are pioneers in native in-car payment and are already working on the integration of further services,” said Franz Reiner, Chairman of the Board of Mercedes-Benz Mobility AG.

A study conducted by the German market research company GfK on behalf of Mastercard shows that around half of 18- to 39-year-olds would order and pay for services and goods directly via the infotainment display. The proponents would like to use in-car payment primarily for everyday car-related services: 60 percent would pay their gas bill or electric vehicle charging directly via the car.

“Digital payments are coming of age, and consumers want to embrace new forms that are infused into their everyday experiences and activities,” said Jorn Lambert, Chief Digital Officer at Mastercard. “Through our dynamic payments technology, we are proud to work hand in hand with Mercedes-Benz to bring safer, smarter, and more intelligent commerce experiences to its vehicles. We look forward to our continued efforts to drive further innovation in this area in Germany and around the world.”

Emerging Payments Analyst Christopher Miller, Javelin added, “This joint effort between Mastercard and Mercedes-Benz to enable native in-car payments for fueling is an example of a real-world step towards a more seamless and integrated payments ecosystem that brings together consumer need, the right data, and payment credentials to reduce payment friction while retaining payment security. The announcement highlights the importance of payments experiences that are truly integrated from end-to-end – from authentication hardware in the vehicle, to calculation of fuel costs and needs, to email delivery of receipts. Payment flows that are truly differentiated will persuade consumers to adopt emerging technologies such as pay-by-car. Delivering on these types of experiences requires partners with the capability to coordinate all of these different components into something that is easy for consumers to both use and understand.”

How in-car payment with fingerprint works

When a driver reaches a connected service station and switches off the engine, the Mercedes me Fuel & Pay service will start automatically on the MBUX infotainment system.3 Once started, the driver can simply select the appropriate gas pump. Even before refueling, the system will calculate the maximum total amount based on the current fuel price and the amount of fuel when the tank is full. And rather than authorizing the payment via a mobile device, the driver will complete their transaction seamlessly through fingerprint authentication.4 After refueling, the driver will see the amount of fuel refueled and the invoice amount to their Mastercard debit or credit cards on the MBUX display. Payment will be made automatically, and the driver will be able to leave the gas station without having to walk to the checkout area. The invoice is then sent to the customer by e-mail.

Where to find Mercedes me Fuel & Pay

Contactless payment via Mercedes me Fuel & Pay and fingerprint sensor is now possible at over 3,600 cooperating gas stations in Germany. Consumers can use their German-issued5 Mastercard credit or debit cards for native in-car payment by registering their card in the Mercedes me user account and activating it in the vehicle via the MBUX infotainment system Mercedes pay+.

Fingerprint payments from the car will be extended soon to other vehicle-related services and to other European markets.