STMicroelectronics and Sensata Technologies have each introduced CMOS image sensors for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) applications. STMicro describes its VL5510 as a high dynamic range CMOS camera specifically for vision-based such as active braking and lane departure warning. Sensata said its CMOS-based Avocet image sensor offers a dynamic range up to 154dB in bright and low light conditions.
Marco Monti, general manager of the Powertrain and Safety Division within ST‘s Automotive Product Group, said the VL5510 sensor complements the dedicated vision-processor family developed by the company via its collaboration with Mobileye. Monti said the extended range of the VL5510 provides superb images even in extreme illumination conditions. more
ATX Group said it‘s developed a natural language “Browse By Voice” capability for drivers who want to surf the web without taking their hands off the wheel. The firm said drivers only to speak a search phrase, such as “What‘s the weather in Boston?” when a Google or Yahoo search engine main page is displayed on an in-vehicle display.
ATX said its voice platform should enable drivers to send text messages or emails without typing, and manage social networking, in addition to performing searches. “Voice is a natural method to converse in the car,” said Dr. Tom Schalk, ATX vice president of voice technologies. “Extending this to the Internet makes sense. We’re not only interested in finding the best and safest way to enable drivers to browse while driving, but we’re also interested in enabling other functionality in mobile devices such as outbound texting.”
Am I missing something? An advance in the deployment of in-vehicle speech recognition technology is to be applauded - especially one that involves natural language, doesn’t get hung up on regional pronunciations, need special training, etc. But search? If I type “weather in Boston,” Google gives me about 23,600,000 results. How do you comb through all of that data hands-free?
Dash Navigation‘s recent decision to stop marketing its traffic-centric, subscription-based, connected PND confirms the low perceived value of traffic service, according to ABI Research. “Current traffic solutions suffer from a lack of quality and reliability, with dissatisfied customers increasingly reluctant to keep paying recurring fees, according to ABI.
“While there is certainly an issue with convincing consumers to pay monthly fees for navigation content services, in the case of traffic the priority should be to increase the value of the offer before exploring new business models,” says ABI Research director Dominique Bonte.
“Predictive traffic makes time-dependent routing possible and provides customers with more trustworthy information, allowing them to prepare their trips more efficiently on Internet mapping sites and to calculate a more accurate Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA).
Texas Instruments has added two devices to its TAS54xx family of Class-D audio amplifiers. With greater integration and channel flexibility, the new amplifiers can reduce the system costs for automotive head units and external amplifier applications by as much as 50% without affecting electromagnetic compliance or audio performance. The amplifiers are scheduled for AEC-Q100 qualification
The TAS5412, with single-ended inputs, and the TAS5422, with differential inputs, provide improved system design flexibility when combined with TI’s existing four-channel amplifier devices, TAS5414A and TAS5424A. Car audio system architects can optimize designs that require two or six channels by matching the number of speakers more efficiently while maintaining high levels of integration. The new TAS5412 and TAS5422 are also designed to operate in car audio systems without a microcontroller, for system- level cost savings.
The TAS5412 and TAS5422 use the same patent-pending EMC technology as the TAS54×4A, which surpasses CISPR-25 Level 5 and many OEM-specific requirements, to ensure that high-power audio systems do not compromise vehicle operation. The TAS5412 and TAS5422 support higher voltage and current capabilities, enabling a higher maximum output power for applications where feature densities and system configurations require reduction in heat from the audio power amplifier. TI said the amplifiers incorporate patented PWM designs that provide excellent power supply rejection in the harsh electrical environment common in automotive applications.
The TAS5412 and TAS5422 are sampling now with volume production scheduled for the first quarter of 2009. The TAS5412 is $5.30 and the TAS5422 is $5.80 in 1000-piece quantities.
BMW Group Research and Technology (www.bmwgroup.com) and NXP Semiconductors (www.nxp.com) have developed a prototype of a multifunctional car key the capabilities of which include contactless payment, personalized access control, and applications such as public transport e-ticketing.
Powered by NXP’s SmartMX security chip, the prototype allows drivers to perform quick, secure and convenient electronic payments with a car key, creating new usage scenarios for future consumers. NXP will demonstrate the car key prototype during the CARTES & IDentification show in Paris November 4-6.
A traffic accident occurs every five seconds on U.S. roads killing over 42,000 Americans each year - equivalent to a full 737 flight crashing each day, according to the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America). Commuters waste more than seven million gallons of fuel daily, and the average rush hour commuter wastes almost a full work week each year stuck in traffic. The resulting financial cost to the U.S. economy exceeds $300 billion per year.
Organizers of the 15th World Congress on Intelligent Transportation Systems in New York this week constructed test beds on the west side of Manhattan and along the Long Island Expressway. The test beds are equipped with sensors and probes that transmit data to a traffic management center where transportation officials can detect bottlenecks as they form and initiate immediate responses, including travel advisories; respond to crashes more quickly, and deploy maintenance crews in response to changing weather conditions.
This blog focuses on issues and trends in the design and deployment of automotive electronics products, including chips, embedded systems, network topologies, standards, and system components for infotainment, telematics, ADAS, and more. It's a forum for engineers at every link in the value chain.
