Automotive MEMS Accelerometer Design Verification: A Real Life Example


Standard Finite Element (FE) models, especially those that incorporate multiple physical domains, consist of detailed representations of a device that include a large number of Degrees of Freedom (DoF). The Degrees of Freedom in a design are the number of independent variables or parameters needed to describe the motion or state of the device. Generally, the larger the number of Degrees of Free... » read more

Heterogeneous Integration Issues And Developments


There are a slew of new developments in advanced packaging, from new materials, chiplets, and interconnect schemes, to challenges involving how to physically put chips in a package, metallization, thermal cycling, and parasitics in the interconnect path. Dick Otte, CEO of Promex Industries, talks about how this will change chip design and manufacturing, and how those changes are likely to unfol... » read more

Improving Chip Efficiency, Reliability, And Adaptability


Peter Schneider, director of Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits' Engineering of Adaptive Systems Division, sat down with Semiconductor Engineering to talk about new models and approaches for ensuring the integrity and responsiveness of systems, and how this can be done within a given power budget and at various speeds. What follows are excerpts of that conversation. SE: Where are y... » read more

Making Electric Vehicles Go Further With New Materials


It’s no secret that vehicle original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are aggressively pursuing electric vehicle (EV) development. Among the headwinds they face in selling their technology to consumers are price and vehicle range. Not surprisingly, there is a direct correlation between the two — in 2021, for any EV under $40,000, the average vehicle range was 187 miles, while the lowest veh... » read more

Physics-Based Radar Modeling: Driving Toward Increased Safety


Autonomous driving is revolutionizing the global automotive industry. With every new model, cars are smarter and more capable of independently responding to external signals like lane markings, road signs, other cars and pedestrians. However, formulating a correct response via artificial intelligence depends on the flawless performance of the car’s perception systems, including radar-ba... » read more

High Voltage Testing Races Ahead


Voltage requirements are increasing, especially for the EV market. Even devices that might be considered relatively low voltage, such as display drivers, are now pushing past established baselines. While working with high voltages is nothing new — many engineers can recall yellow caution tape in their workplaces — the sheer number and variety of new requirements have made testing at high... » read more

Peeling The Onion Of An Automotive IC Digital Twin


This paper defines the modern digital twin in the context of the automotive industry and as it applies to the ICs being deployed therein. Additionally, it surveys the implications arising from the need to use digital twins to connect the virtual and physical worlds for semiconductor suppliers delivering the next generation of automotive capabilities. Why should I care about digital twins? T... » read more

Embracing the Challenges Of Cybersecurity In Automotive Applications


The growth of electronics in cars is exposing a new vector for cyberattacks on car owners and automotive companies’ reputations. The potential human cost of an attack on the car’s electronics is driving urgency in the adoption of cybersecurity-aware practices, from OEMs and Tier 1s to every component supplier in the automotive industry. The standard “ISO/SAE 21434:2021 Road vehicles — C... » read more

Software Self-Test As A Safety Mechanism For Processing Units


The growing dependency of modern automobiles on electronic functions increases the need for a variety of integrated circuits (ICs) for safety-critical applications. Requirements coming from different in-car subsystems drives the need for chip manufacturers to create a wide range of specialized solutions. This, in turn, raises the bar for automotive IP suppliers and pushes them to offer configur... » read more

How To Make The Charging Infrastructure For Electric Vehicles Smart


Renewable energies and the increasing emergence of electric vehicles are putting a strain on the electricity grid. The former are not constantly available, and the latter require additional energy while charging. This leads to the need for introducing a new, smart charging infrastructure to avoid instabilities at the grid level. This white paper explains what is involved in making a charging in... » read more

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