This design aims to broaden the range of applications, including those in mass-market vehicles and contributes to spread of smart vehicle cockpits.
The surge in demand for smart cockpits and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in modern vehicles has intensified the need for advanced automotive electronics. The performance and reliability of PMICs and SerDes ICs are crucial, as they directly influence the overall stability and efficiency of vehicular electronic systems. ROHM’s PMICs and SerDes ICs are known for their high integration levels and ability to maintain stable high-speed data transmission, making them ideal for these applications.
ROHM and Nanjing SemiDrive Technology Ltd., China’s largest manufacturer of system-on-chip (SoC) for smart cockpits, have co-developed a new smart cockpit reference design. The REF66004 reference design combines SemiDrive’s X9M and X9E SoCs with ROHM’s PMICs, SerDes ICs, and other components, offering a comprehensive solution for modern vehicle cockpits. It supports multiple display projections and ADAS camera systems, ensuring high efficiency and stability. A reference board based on this design is available on request, featuring the capability to run multiple operating systems on a single SoC and offering robust hardware security management. SemiDrive’s X9 series, which supports various applications from instrument clusters to intelligent monitoring systems, has already seen significant success, with over one million units shipped and a well-established production system.
This design primarily utilizes SemiDrive’s X9M and X9E automotive SoCs and integrates several components, including Power Management ICs (PMICs), Serializer/Deserializer (SerDes) ICs, LED driver ICs, and more. The reference design is supported by a three-board system: the CoreBoard, the SerDes Board, and the Display Board. This reference board has been adopted by several automakers, enhancing the functionality of vehicle cockpits and other applications. It includes the BD96801Q12-C SoC PMIC and BD9SA01F80-C buck converter IC for SoC operation, along with the BD39031MUF-C general-purpose PMIC for ADAS, which powers the SerDes IC. The solution supports up to three display projections and four ADAS cameras, such as surround-view cameras. ROHM plans to continue developing products that enhance automotive safety and comfort.
Zhang Qiang, Chairman of Nanjing SemiDrive Technology Ltd., emphasized the increasing demand for advanced automotive electronics as vehicles become smarter. He highlighted SemiDrive’s commitment to providing essential components like automotive SoCs and controllers for next-generation automotive electrical/electronic architectures. Partnering with ROHM, which offers a diverse range of semiconductors for ADAS and cockpits, is seen as crucial for achieving next-generation cockpit solutions. He praised ROHM’s SerDes ICs and PMICs as key components in their reference design. Tetsuo Tateishi, Senior Corporate Officer at ROHM, expressed satisfaction with the collaborative development of the reference design. He noted the growing importance of automotive analog semiconductors, such as SerDes ICs and PMICs, as ADAS and multifunctional cockpits evolve. Tateishi highlighted ROHM’s innovative PMICs, which provide flexible, high-efficiency power supplies tailored to specific circuit requirements. He looked forward to deepening the partnership with SemiDrive to advance next-generation cockpit technologies and accelerate the development of a broad range of automotive products.
Bothe the companies has tested this reference design, which includes a bill of materials (BOM), schematics, and more. Additional information about the reference design is available on the company’s website. To learn more about this reference design, click here.
