The fastest growing automotive semiconductor market: Ethernet switches at the core of automotive electronic architecture

With the continuous evolution of automotive electronic architecture, the demand for Ethernet switches has skyrocketed. Mid- and low-end models require at least one Ethernet switch chip , mid-to-high-end models require at least three, and high-end models such as Mercedes-Benz EQS top-end models will use these. 5-7 pieces, the average price per piece is between 20-40 US dollars.

First of all, we must point out the difference between automotive Ethernet and traditional Ethernet. The biggest feature of automotive Ethernet is that it is a single twisted pair.  

IEEE develops physical layer standards for automotive Ethernet.

Domain controllers usher in the era of automotive Ethernet. Domain controllers are inseparable from Ethernet, because each domain controller requires at least an Ethernet physical layer chip or an Ethernet switch containing the physical layer. Ethernet switches and physical layers were first used in cockpits. All cockpit systems where information interacts with instruments use at least one Ethernet switch and one physical layer chip. All vehicles equipped with lidar or 4D millimeter wave radar also need at least one Ethernet switch and one Ethernet physical layer chip. Each lidar must be equipped with an Ethernet physical layer chip. All models that support OTA or Ethernet OBD diagnosis The gateway or T-Box also requires at least one Ethernet switch and one Ethernet physical layer chip.

In the future, high-precision positioning, high-precision maps, and V2X will all require an Ethernet physical layer chip and at least one Ethernet switch. Those that require cascading of multiple SoCs require extremely expensive PCIe switch chips. It is estimated that by 2028, each vehicle will use 2-4 Ethernet switch chips and 2-4 physical layer chips on average. The Ethernet switch/physical layer chip market size will be approximately US$800 million in 2023, and is expected to reach US$2.5 billion in 2028.

Currently, mainstream mid-to-high-end models adopt domain controller architecture. Ethernet switches are mainly used in two fields, one is inside the domain controller and the other is the gateway. The cockpit domain and AD AS domain will require at least one Ethernet switch. The gateway can be in the body control domain or in the T-Box.

Advanced cockpit domains will require up to 4 domain controller chips, such as the top-of-the-line Mercedes-Benz S-Class.  

NIO uses one 88EA6321 switch and two 88Q2112 physical layers, while Great Wall uses one 88Q5050 switch and one 88Q2112 physical layer.

The next generation T-BOX design recommended by NXP , the Ethernet switch is the SJA1110B in the picture.

The next-generation automotive gateway design recommended by Infineon , the Ethernet switch is the 88Q5050 in the picture, and four pieces are used for the physical layer.

Nvidia's ADAS development platform Hyperion uses two Ethernet switch chips, 88Q5072 and 88Q6113, and eight Ethernet physical layer chips. The model is Marvell's 88Q4364. It and Broadcom 's BCM8989X are currently the only physical layer chips that support 10G automotive Ethernet. The ADAS domain usually uses one Ethernet switch chip, and advanced ADAS systems use 2-3 Ethernet switch chips.

The Zonal era or central computing era, which can also be called the software-defined car era, will use more Ethernet switches, and each vehicle may require 6-7 Ethernet switches.  

In a typical central computing Zonal architecture, each Zonal gateway contains an Ethernet switch.

Typical Zonal gateway design

  Ethernet switches are the core of automotive electronic architecture, which determines the advancement and security of automotive electronic architecture.

Ethernet switches are automotive electronic system health monitors

The Ethernet switch software system is complex and requires the cooperation of AUTOSAR software manufacturers. At the same time, AUTOSAR software manufacturers will also select the best-selling Ethernet switch chips and customize a set of basic AUTOSAR software for them. Tier1 can choose to purchase the chip and the accompanying AUTOSAR software. , for example, the VECTOR in the picture above customized AUTOSAR for Marvell's 88Q5050 gateway system.

For ADAS systems, VECTOR chose Marvell's 88Q5072. In May 2022, Vector released the first software solution that supports AUTOSAR and is suitable for Marvell Brightlane Ethernet switch 88Q5072. The software running in the switch CPU follows the AUTOSAR methodology in terms of model definition, distribution and module development. By moving a large amount of Ethernet communication -related code to run on the switch, the CPU resources of the host microcontroller are released to run other tasks more efficiently. Additionally, Vector's switch software supports certain security-related features such as firewall and MACsec. This is also the most widely used 88Q5072.

The L2-L7 layers of Automotive Ethernet have a set of software protocol stack standards, namely TSN (Time Sensitive Network ). Sometimes Ethernet switches that support the TSN protocol are also called TSN switches.

Currently, Marvell’s MV-Q6222/Q6223 has the highest level of support for TSN. This is also an Ethernet switch designed specifically for Zonal.

MV-Q6223 central computing Ethernet switch has up to 6 10G level deserializers. Supports TSN's 802.1AS-2020, 802.1Qat/Qav/Qbu/Qbv/Qci/Qcr, 802.1CB.

The main players in automotive Ethernet switches and physical layers include NXP, Marvell, Broadcom, Microchip , Texas Instruments and Realtek. Marvell has the highest market share, about 50%, and a very high high-end market share, at least 90%. Whether it is the physical layer or the switch, Marvell is very powerful, with the widest product line distribution and the highest price.

NXP has a market share of about 15%. Its main products are physical layer chips, which are concentrated in low-end products with low bandwidth and few channels. The Gigabit Ethernet physical layer will not be available until December 2022. There are only two types of Ethernet switches, only one Gigabit switch, the SJA1110, and TSN only supports 802.1AS. However, NXP gateway products are highly competitive, and NXP relies on gateways to drive sales of Ethernet physical layer and switches.

Broadcom is the dominant player in the field of network communications , with super strength and a market share of about 15%. It has a complete product line, ranging from high, middle and low-end. Its flagship product BCM8958X has a maximum switching bandwidth of 55 Gb/s, 16 ports , and supports up to 6 10GbE. Ethernet port. However, Broadcom's product line is too broad and its promotion efforts are poor. It only contacts major manufacturers and its main customers are BMW and General Motors.

Microchip acquired Micrel for US$840 million in 2015 and gained a ticket to the Ethernet market. Its high-end products are extremely expensive, with bandwidths up to 128Gb/s and up to four 2 5G Ethernet ports. Texas Instruments only has automotive Ethernet physical layer products.

Realtek Semiconductor 's Ethernet switches usually contain Phy and focus on the market with high cost performance. The market share is about 15%. Volkswagen, Tesla , Jaguar Land Rover, BMW, and Hyundai are all its customers. In addition to the above-mentioned players, domestic Yutai Microelectronics is also interested in developing the automotive Ethernet physical layer market.