Automotive gateway research: Gateway under Zonal architecture, integration has become an important trend-EEWORLD

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The automotive gateway is the core component of the vehicle's electronic and electrical architecture. It is the hub of the in-car network and is responsible for data transmission, safety prevention and control, remote diagnosis and other functions. As the electronic and electrical architecture evolves from distributed to centralized domain architecture, the gateway also changes accordingly. The evolution route of the gateway is:

Phase 1: Traditional CAN gateway under distributed architecture

Phase 2: Centralized gateway under domain centralized architecture

The third stage: distributed gateway under Zonal architecture

1. Traditional CAN gateway under distributed architecture

The first stage of distributed ECU architecture refers to the hardware/software solutions provided by many single ECUs for each function. These functional ECU clusters are grouped together (such as power, chassis, body, safety and infotainment systems) and connected through traditional bus systems such as CAN, LIN or FlexRay™. Sensors and actuators are directly connected to the ECU, and interaction between domains is achieved through a CAN gateway.

2. Centralized gateway under domain centralized architecture

Stage 2: The "domain" of the domain controller generally refers to the functional domain, which can be divided into five main domains: powertrain, chassis control, body control, entertainment system (cockpit domain), and ADAS. The system interconnection within each domain still uses CAN and FlexRay communication buses. For communication between different domains, Ethernet with higher transmission performance is used as the backbone network to undertake the task of exchanging information. In this architecture, interaction between domains requires a centralized gateway. The gateway includes functionality for data exchange with the OEM automotive cloud and is therefore considered a "service gateway".

3. Distributed gateway under Zonal architecture

第三阶段：在Zonal架构中，中央网关将演变为HPC或中央计算机，域网关（Domain Gateway ）将演变为区域网关（Zonal Gateway）。网关承担的功能，不仅是车内网络通讯总线的路由功能，通过MCU+SoC的计算平台，开始承担更多复杂功能，如安全和功能域（如动力传动、底盘与安全、车身控制、信息娱乐和ADAS等）之间数据的互联、处理等。该架构最显著的优势是可大大减少线束，约可降低30%的重量和成本。

The third stage: distributed gateway under Zonal architecture

Source: ST

Currently, gateways are in the transition stage from centralized gateways under domain centralized architecture to distributed gateways under Zonal architecture.

In response to the main trend of cross-domain integration, many gateway chip suppliers have proposed corresponding solutions. For example, NXP released the S32G3 series of network processor chips at the end of 2021, which has real-time processing capabilities, service-oriented high-performance computing computing power, cross-domain integration and high-performance security processing, and provides complete software development tool support to meet service-oriented needs. Development needs of various new automotive electronic and electrical architectures such as gateways, on-board computers, domain controllers, regional processors, and security processors .

The S32G3 series network processor chips will be put into mass production in February 2023, and will be first used in the GAC Haopin Hyper GT in April 2023.

S32G3 series chip block diagram

Source: NXP

The G9H chip released by Xinchi Technology in July 2022 is mainly used in next-generation high-performance central gateways, vehicle-mounted computing units, cross-domain controllers and other scenarios. In addition to the body network interface , G9H also supports video input and output interfaces, including one MIPI DSI and two MIPI CSI. With the high-performance PowerVR 3D GPU, 3D instrumentation, DMS and other functions can be integrated into the central gateway to further reduce system costs. BOM cost.

G9H cross-domain integration

Source: Xinchi Technology

The products of gateway suppliers have also gradually developed from independent gateways to integrated gateways. The main integration methods are gateway and body domain integration, gateway and regional controller integration, gateway and central computer integration, etc. In 2023, more suppliers will release integrated gateway solutions.

For example, United Electronics released a cross-domain central computing platform product for the next generation of electronic and electrical architecture in April 2023, which integrates multiple functional domains such as central gateway, body control, and power. It is supported by Neusoft Reach for bottom software and middleware research and development.

United Electronics cross-domain central computing platform products

Source: United Electronics

For example, in May 2023, Jingwei Hengrun released the physical area control unit ZCU and the central computing platform product CCP:

ZCU: Integrate the vehicle's power distribution function, regional gateway routing function (100M Ethernet, CANFD, LIN, etc.), body comfort domain, new energy power domain, part of the chassis domain, and input and output signal acquisition control of air-conditioning thermal management.

CCP: Integrate central gateway, body and comfort control, new energy vehicle power control, air conditioning and thermal management, vehicle management, full data collection, OTA upgrade, SOA services and many other functions.

At present, the two products have completed research and development, testing and small batch production, and will be delivered in mass production by the end of 2023. Among them, CCP has established mass production supporting cooperation with four domestic mainstream car manufacturers.

Jingwei Hengrun CCP, ZCU products

Source: Jingwei Hengrun

As the technology of gateway chips and integrated gateways matures, OEMs’ “quasi-centralized” architecture solutions have also begun to be implemented, and mass-produced models will be launched between 2022 and 2024.