Infineon Technologies once again joins hands with universities to develop China's automotive electronics market

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Infineon Technologies once again joins hands with universities to develop China's automotive electronics market [Copy link]

Source: International Electronics Business News Pan Jiutang

As China's automotive electronics industry is in its infancy, universities and research institutions still play an important role in automotive electronics research and development. Not long ago, Infineon Technologies, Europe's largest and the world's second largest automotive semiconductor supplier, announced the official establishment of the Tianjin University-Infineon Automotive Electronics Joint Laboratory, which combines the two functions of "automotive electronics technology research and development" and "talent training and teaching". This is also the second time that Infineon has cooperated with Chinese universities in automotive electronics research and development after the Shanghai Tongji University Automotive Electronics Laboratory. Unlike Tongji University, which focuses on body electronics, the new joint laboratory will focus on powertrain, including engine management systems, vehicle (EV, HEV and motorcycles, etc.) powertrain control and vehicle infotainment electronic technology.

　　Pan Xiandi, President and Executive Director of Infineon Technologies Asia Pacific, told Electronic Business International: "China's automotive industry has entered a stage of rapid development, which is also a critical period for independent innovation. As the most effective means to drive 70% of technological innovation in the automotive field, automotive electronics technology has naturally become the forefront of independent innovation in China's automotive industry. In recent years, China's automotive electronics industry is developing towards high-end fields such as safety control with high technical content, showing strong market potential. China's automotive electronics industry has basically maintained an annual growth rate of 30%. According to forecasts, the demand for China's automotive semiconductor market will reach US$1.5 billion in 2009."

　　As for why he chose to cooperate with Tianjin University, he explained that Tianjin is a key automobile production base supported by China, with a strong demand for automotive electronics, and Tianjin University plays an important role in the innovation of automotive electronics technology. It has carried out in-depth research in the fields of diesel engine, gasoline engine and clean fuel engine control, electric vehicle and hybrid vehicle control, and electronic motorcycle technology, and has achieved a large number of automotive electronics technology results with great market potential. "We hope to cooperate with Tianjin University to cultivate automotive electronics technology talents, bring advanced technology to China, and use the platform of Tianjin University to strengthen close cooperation with the local automotive industry." Pan Xiandi said.

　　In fact, as early as September 2004, Tianjin University and Infineon signed a five-year framework agreement for the construction of the "Tianjin University-Infineon Automotive Electronics Joint Laboratory". In January 2005, the two parties signed a joint research project contract for the "Two-cylinder Motorcycle Electronic Control Management System ECU". In March this year, the two parties launched the "Sedan Engine ECU Based on Advanced 32-bit Microprocessors" project.

　　Generally speaking, it is difficult to commercialize university laboratory projects. In this regard, Pierre Meyer, Senior Director of Global University Affairs of Infineon, said: "Infineon has 25 years of technology accumulation in the automotive industry and understands what automakers need, so we can act as an intermediary. Usually Infineon provides some parameters, and the university completes the plan according to these parameters. Then we find OEMs to verify whether the plan is feasible. In addition, the university can also find some companies to industrialize the plan." Dr. Xie Hui, Director of the Joint Laboratory, also said: "The research and development direction and research topics of the laboratory are determined by market demand. Infineon has a large market research team, and they can provide several major demand directions. Because our research and development meets market demand, many companies have taken the initiative to ask to join."

　　In fact, the "Dual-cylinder Motorcycle Electronic Control Management System ECU" project started by the two parties in January 2005 has achieved initial success. In less than a year, the laboratory has developed an electronic fuel injection motorcycle ECU based on Infineon's 16-bit MCU XC164CM series, which has attracted the attention of many domestic motorcycle companies. Road tests are currently being carried out and industrial applications are imminent. Xie Hui said that it is expected that after 2007, electronically controlled motorcycles will be on the road in large numbers. The key is to see when the national emission regulations will be issued. He explained that compared with traditional carburetors, electronic control can significantly reduce emissions. Motorcycle emission regulations are still implementing the Euro II standard. If the country requires Euro III, electronic control motorcycles will be on the road in large numbers, just as the current carburetors for cars have been converted to electronic control. Xie Hui pointed out: "At present, both parties are committed to using more integrated devices to reduce costs, so that the cost of the entire electronic control management system can be reduced to RMB 600."

　　In addition to the electronic injection motorcycle ECU, the two parties have also launched the "Car Engine ECU Based on Advanced 32-bit Microprocessors" project, which focuses on the engine control unit software and hardware architecture based on the international standard system architecture and carries out high-level research and development work. Li Liyang, senior manager of Infineon's automotive, industrial and diversified electronics market division, said that China has entered the era of technological innovation, and simple 4-bit and 8-bit MCUs can no longer meet the needs. He emphasized: "Infineon's 32-bit MCU TriCore architecture is a three-core MCU that combines MCU+μP+DSP, which is particularly suitable for automotive applications." Dr. Patric Leteinturier, senior director of Infineon's automotive systems, said that taking the powertrain as an example, Japanese systems do not have as strict requirements on the powertrain control chip as European and American systems, which emphasize real-time control and computing capabilities. As more and more manufacturers accept Autostar, it means that the industry will have higher requirements for MCU control and computing capabilities, and in the 32-bit and 64-bit markets, TriCore's real-time control performance is excellent.

　　However, for Chinese automotive electronics manufacturers, it will take a long time to enter these high-end fields. Clause Geisler, Vice President and General Manager of the Automotive Powertrain Business Unit of Infineon Technologies, Automotive, Industrial and Diversified Electronics Market Division, suggested: "Powertrain and safety systems involve safety and life issues. The systems are relatively complex and take a long time. Body electronics are relatively simple and the risks taken by companies are relatively small. For example, it is not a big problem if the automatic window system suddenly stops working. Therefore, for Chinese manufacturers, starting with body electronics is a better choice." He also warned: "Chinese manufacturers should not only focus on the Chinese market, but also be prepared to export complete machines or parts to all parts of the world. This requires special attention to quality issues, because if major problems occur in cars overseas, it will have a very negative impact on the entire Chinese auto industry. Therefore, Chinese manufacturers should work towards the goal of zero-defect quality management like overseas manufacturers."