ROHM Semiconductor and Nanjing SemiDrive Technology Ltd., China’s
largest SoC manufacturer for smart cockpits, today announced they
have jointly developed a smart cockpit reference design. The design
is primarily based on SemiDrive’s X9M and X9E automotive SoCs, and
includes PMICs, SerDes ICs, LED driver IC, and other components
from ROHM. A reference board based on this design is also
available, consisting of three boards: the Core Board, the SerDes
Board, and the Display Board.
In recent years, the proliferation of smart
cockpits and ADAS in vehicles has increased the demand for
automotive electronics and components. The performance of PMICs and
SerDes ICs, which are at the heart of electronic systems in
vehicles, has a direct impact on the stability and efficiency of
the entire system. In this context, ROHM PMICs and SerDes ICs
achieve a high level of integration in power supply blocks, while
supporting increased stability during high-speed data
transmission.
ROHM and SemiDrive have been exchanging
technologies since 2019, particularly in the development of
applications for vehicle cockpits. In 2022, the companies entered
into a strategic partnership for development of advanced
technologies in the automotive sector. This resulted in ROHM
components, such as PMICs and SerDes ICs, being integrated into the
reference board for SemiDrive's X9H In-Vehicle SoC. The reference
board has since been adopted by a number of automakers to provide
advanced functionality for cockpits and other vehicle
applications.
Now, ROHM and SemiDrive have collaborated on the
development of the REF66004 reference design featuring the
vehicle-mounted SoCs X9M and X9E. As such, the REF66004 is expected
to further expand the application line-up, including in popular
mass-market models. In addition to the SerDes IC used in the X9H
reference board, ROHM also provides the BD96801Q12-C SoC PMIC and
BD9SA01F80-C buck converter IC for driving the SoC, as well as the
BD39031MUF-C general-purpose PMIC for ADAS that supplies power to
the SerDes IC. This solution supports operation of up to three
display projections and four ADAS cameras (surround-view camera).
Going forward, ROHM will continue to develop products for car
infotainment systems that contribute to improving automotive safety
and comfort.
Zhang Qiang, Chairman, Nanjing SemiDrive
Technology Ltd.:“As vehicles become increasingly smart, so too
does the demand for car electronics and components. SemiDrive is
focused on providing core components, such as automotive SoCs and
controllers, for next-generation automotive Electrical/Electronic
architectures. Partnering with ROHM, which offers a rich portfolio
of semiconductors for ADAS and cockpits, will greatly contribute to
achieving next-generation cockpit solutions. In particular, ROHM
SerDes ICs and PMICs, which leverage original analog technology,
are key components in our reference design. We look forward to
continuing our collaboration with ROHM to provide innovative
solutions in a wide range of automotive fields.”
Tetsuo Tateishi, Member of the Board, Senior
Corporate Officer, in Charge of Research and Development, IT, Legal
and Intellectual Property, and LSI Business, ROHM Co., Ltd.“We
are pleased to have developed this reference design in
collaboration with SemiDrive, a company with extensive experience
in automotive SoCs. As ADAS evolves and cockpits become more
multifunctional, the role of automotive analog semiconductors, such
as SerDes ICs and PMICs, is becoming increasingly important. At the
same time, the new PMIC provided by ROHM for SoCs represents a
novel concept in power ICs that can flexibly adapt to
next-generation automotive power system configurations. Going
forward, we will continue to deepen our partnership with SemiDrive
to increase our understanding of next-generation cockpits and
accelerate the development of a wide range of products,
contributing to further evolution in the automotive sector.”
REF66004 Reference Design Incorporating X9M,
X9E, and ROHM ProductsThis reference design, available on
ROHM’s website, combines SemiDrive’s X9M and X9E SoCs for smart
cockpits with ROHM PMICs for SoCs and ADAS, SerDes ICs (for
display/camera), LVDS splitter IC, and LED driver IC for vehicle
displays. The design offers a cockpit solution capable of driving
up to three screen projections and four cameras. In addition,
ROHM's new PMICs for SoC enable arbitrary output voltage setting
and sequence control via internal memory (One Time Programmable
Memory), allowing flexible, high efficiency power supplies to be
achieved that are tailored to circuit requirements.
A reference board based on this design is also
available individually on request, capable of running multiple
operating systems on a single SoC, taking advantage of SemiDrive’s
unique hardware virtualization capabilities. At the same time, a
hardware security management module enables the transmission of
commands from the operating system to the SoC and GPU. By swapping
different SemiDrive SoCs with compatible pinouts, application
specifications can be changed quickly and without circuit
changes.
SemiDrive's X9 Series of Automotive
SoCsRanging from entry-level to flagship models, SemiDrive’s X9
series of in-vehicle SoCs, which supports a variety of
applications, including instrument clusters, car infotainment,
cockpit domain control, and intelligent monitoring systems, has
already completed shipments exceeding one million units. In
addition, a sufficient production system has been established
through extensive mass production experience.
https://www.semidrive.com/en/product/X9
ROHM's Reference Design PageDetails of
ROHM’s reference design REF66004 and information on equipped
products are available on ROHM’s website. REF66004-EVK-00x
reference boards (REF66004-EVK-001/002/003) are also offered.
Please contact a sales representative or visit ROHM’s website for
more information on reference boards.
https://www.rohm.com/reference-designs/ref66004
Nanjing SemiDrive Technology Ltd.A
provider of high performance and reliable automotive SoCs,
SemiDrive is the first automotive SoC manufacturer to comply with
major automotive-related standards, including AEC-Q100, ISO 26262
(ASIL B/D) and China Commercial PIN Certification. For the future
of smart mobility, SemiDrive offers a lineup of products and
solutions ideally suited for next-generation E/E architectures,
such as smart cockpits, smart control systems, and autonomous
driving. SemiDrive’s automotive SoCs have already achieved
large-scale production, with over 260 customers, nearly 200
projects, and shipments exceeding three million units. In addition
to engaging with over 90% of automakers in China, we also do
business with global automotive manufacturers. Please visit
SemiDrive’s website for more information:
https://www.semidrive.com/en
ROHM Co., Ltd.ROHM, a leading
semiconductor and electronic component manufacturer, was
established in 1958. From the automotive and industrial equipment
markets to the consumer and communication sectors, ROHM supplies
ICs, discretes, and electronic components featuring superior
quality and reliability through a global sales and development
network. Its strengths in the power and analog product markets
allow ROHM to propose optimized solutions for entire systems that
combine peripheral components (i.e., transistors, diodes,
resistors) with the latest SiC power devices as well as drive ICs
that maximize their performance. Additional information:
https://www.rohm.com/
Terminology
-
SoC (System-on-a-Chip): A type of integrated circuit that
incorporates a CPU (Central Processing Unit), memory, interface,
and other elements on a single substrate. Widely used in
automotive, consumer, and industrial applications due to its high
processing capacity, power efficiency, and space savings.
-
PMIC (Power Management IC): An IC that contains multiple power
supply systems and functions for power management and sequence
control on a single chip. It is becoming more commonplace in
applications with multiple power supply systems in both the
automotive and consumer sectors by significantly reducing space and
development load vs conventional circuit configurations using
individual components (i.e., DC-DC Converter IC, LDO,
discretes).
-
SerDes IC: A generic term for ICs typically used in pairs to
convert communication methods for the purpose of high-speed data
transmission. The serializer converts data into a form that can be
easily transmitted at high speed (parallel to serial bus) while the
deserializer converts the transmitted data back to its original
format (serial to parallel bus).
- Smart Cockpit Reference Board - Design Overview
Keng Ly
ROHM Semiconductor
(248) 348-9920
kly@rohmsemiconductor.com
Heather Savage
BWW Communications
(408) 507-4398
heather.savage@bwwcomms.com