Disassembling Volkswagen's engine ECU: Multiple mysterious chips inside

EEWorld netizen littleshrimp received an engine ECU removed from a scrap Volkswagen. After disassembling it layer by layer, he found many common classic chips, as well as many different designs. (The original post is from the EEWorld forum. Welcome to visit the link to communicate with the author of this article: https://www.eeworld.com.cn/aaXLy9K)

The chip-free setting on the back is curious, while the chip combination on the front shows its complex functionality. Its internal PCB layout presents a unique design. However, what is confusing is that some chips and most ST chips cannot find data sheets, which greatly hinders the in-depth understanding of their specific parameters and functions. In addition, the fixing method of the crystal oscillator is also unique. It is fixed with a base, which is in sharp contrast to the direct tin fixing method of common development boards. Moreover, the interfaces on the device are densely packed, but because their purpose is unclear, effective pin testing cannot be performed, which also sets obstacles for further exploration of its working principle and application scenarios. Let's follow our disassembly and find out!

It is uncertain on which car model this will be used.

There is something that looks like a vent on the back.

The device's shell craftsmanship is unique, and it is surrounded by a large amount of gray sealant. After years of baptism, its softness remains good. This may be to ensure that the internal components are protected from interference from the external environment, and to play a role in waterproofing, dustproofing and stabilizing the structure.

Inside the pore.

There is no chip on the back of the PCB, and the chips below are basically from Infineon and ST.

The main control chip adopts Infineon's C167CR solution, which should be the core brain of the entire system, responsible for coordinating and controlling the operation of various functions.

It is also equipped with AMD's 4Mbit FLASH.

Used to store programs and data; IDT (now acquired by Renesas)'s 256Kbit SRAM provides support for fast reading and writing of data.

TI's TPIC8101, as a vibration and engine knock sensor interface chip, undertakes the key task of sensing the engine's operating status.

Infineon's various chips also demonstrated their capabilities, such as the TLE 7209--2R 7A H-bridge driver chip used to drive the operation of related components.

Infineon's A2C56211 very low dropout triple regulator ensures a stable voltage supply.

Infineon's BTS4140N high-side power switch enables efficient power management.

EPCOS's telecommunication data line choke filters and prevents interference to the signal, while Infineon's TLE6250 high-speed CAN transceiver is responsible for data transmission.

The rest are some chips that cannot find data sheets.

What is strange is that there are no data sheets for most ST chips.

This crystal oscillator is fixed with a base. In the past, I saw that the development board was just a lump of tin.

The interfaces are densely packed, and I don't know what these pins are used for and cannot test them.

Although it is not yet certain which Volkswagen model this device is used for, this disassembly undoubtedly opens a window for us to understand its internal structure, laying the foundation for subsequent more in-depth research and analysis. It also inspires our enthusiasm for exploring its more unknown functions and application areas, and provides valuable reference and reference for the development of automotive electronic technology.

Do you like our articles? Welcome to follow our WeChat subscription account: Auto Development Circle (ID: AutoDevelopers) to browse more automotive electronics related content.