Automotive systems have tended to use custom standards such as MOST, but one of the leading automotive networking chip suppliers, SMSC, has produced a high-performance single-chip 10/100 Ethernet controller.
| Definition |
| Ethernet: A set of network cabling and network access protocol standards for bus topology computer networks invented by Xerox but now controlled by the a subcommittee of the IEEE. It is also generally used to describe a computer network which complies with these standards |
The device is designed specifically to meet the high reliability standards required by automotive applications. Using a high-performance Ethernet interface in today’s complex vehicle electrical systems may help diagnose issues faster and lower software maintenance time.
The need for higher speed interfaces is driven by the increasing size of embedded program and data memories. For example, a recent BMW 7 series has more than 1 GB of memory while the previous model had just short of 100 MB. Repair shops diagnose and fix problems, but also update the software and data embedded in the various control devices inside the car via the data link connector (DLC).
| Definition |
| GB: Giga bytes
Gb: Giga bits Byte: 8 bits |
This standardized connector only provides a slow communication interface so updating the software of a modern car via this interface can take hours. As a result, many car companies are working on an upgrade of the OBD connector to provide the car with a high-performance data interface for diagnostics and software downloads. This initiative is expected to lead to a new ISO/SAE standard that mandates Ethernet as part of the OBD interface for all cars.
The device from SMSC provides a simple, parallel host bus interface to the typical automotive embedded microcontrollers used inside a car. It can function as a network branch to the outside world connecting the car to a personal computer, diagnostic tool or a complex Ethernet network in the repair shop with power management, wake-on-LAN support allows network to wake-up electronics devices from sleep state, multiple low-power modes and built-in flow control support.
For more information, visit www.smsc.com