dSpace integrates development and test for smart charging

The DS5366 Smart Charging Solution from dSpace offers automobile manufacturers and charging station providers developing and testing technologies for smart charging. International standards are adhered to and interoperability guaranteed, says the company. There is support for developers of onboard chargers, charging columns and, in the future, inductive charging systems.

The DS5366 Smart Charging Solution integrates existing test systems and a test depth that can be adjusted, depending on customer requirements. Extensive manipulations are possible, both at the electrical and at the protocol level. The software element of the solution contains an open model and there is a special hardware module for communication, according to ISO 15118, for an adaptation to the powerline communication.

All communication events are logged to allow for manual or automatic checks of the intended behaviour and compliance with the protocol specification. This can also be used to perform an error diagnosis to support conformance testing.

Typical applications are tests of the on-board chargers and charging stations, as well as the communication modules according to various charging standards. It can also be used in error simulation during communication. The dSpace DS5366 Smart Charging Solution enables the simulation of a variety of charging stations in the lab, emulates communication errors, and ensures that the engine control unit (ECU) functions without errors.

It will also be possible to test the compatibility between the developed charging stations and numerous simulated vehicles during tests on the charging station, dSpace adds.

For the development of on-board chargers, if no software or hardware is available for charging communication during the development of a vehicle charge controller, the DS5366 can replace the vehicle ECUs or their communication controllers for testing in-vehicle prototypes.

In combination with dSpace Automotive Simulation Models (ASM), which is the tool suite for simulating motors, vehicle dynamics, electric components, and the traffic environment, the DS5366 can be used for battery-powered electric vehicles, including real-time, high-voltage battery simulation. The models include emulation of a charging station in which the charging voltage depends on the vehicle power consumption, which is determined by the charging control unit that is tested in the vehicle. If no charge controller is available, ASM lets users simulate a controller using a constant current constant voltage (CCCV) charging process. Demo models are prepared in such a way that all signals required for communication with the control units are available to test control algorithms and the interfaces between all devices, according to CHAdeMO, ISO 15118, and GB/T 20234.2 standards.

http://www.dspace.de

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Harman’s development tool enhances vehicles’ in-cabin experience

To support innovation in vehicles’ in-cabin experiences, Harman’s AudioworX is an open-framework unified audio platform that enables rapid design using either Harman’s software or proprietary tools. Using the platform, vehicle manufacturers can differentiate brands yet also quickly adapt to the latest consumer preferences.

It is built on Harman’s acoustic, signal processing to provide personalised in-vehicle audio and entertainment in entry level to luxury vehicles, with Individual Sound Zones (ISZ), virtual venues, Clari-Fi and quantum logic immersion (QLI).

AudioworX has combined with networking, software comms and cloud computing technology company, NTT and collaborated to customise its beam forming, echo cancellation and other communications technologies to create personalised in-cabin communication and noise management solutions.

“NTT brings a level of telecommunications expertise and experience that, when combined with the power and flexibility of the AudioworX platform, helps to unlock an elevated environment for in-car communication,” said Chris Ludwig, vice president, EPIC experience team, Harman Lifestyle Automotive.

Harman AudioworX is available now to OEMs and software developers.

Harman designs and engineers connected products for automotive makers, consumers, and enterprises worldwide including connected car systems, audio and visual products, enterprise automation solutions and services supporting the IoT.

More than 50 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with Harman audio and connected car systems. Its software services power billions of mobile devices and systems that are connected, integrated and secure across all platforms, from work and home to car and mobile. Harman’s workforce extends across the Americas, Europe, and Asia.

http://www.harman.com

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Three-phase SiC MOSFET IPM focuses on e-mobility

For e-mobility applications, a three-phase SiC MOSFET intelligent power module (IPM) from Cissoid has been designed to improve time to market for electric vehicle (EV) OEMs.

The IPM technology includes a three-phase water-cooled SiC MOSFET module with built-in gate drivers. For OEMs and electric motor manufacturers willing to adopt SiC-based inverters for more efficient and compact motor drives, the IPM is claimed to optimise the electrical, mechanical and thermal design of the power module and its proximity control for automotive and industrial markets.

The first product in this scalable platform, a three-phase 1200V/450A SiC MOSFET IPM, features low conduction losses, with 3.25mOhms on resistance and low switching losses, with 8.3mJ turn-on and 11.2mJ turn-off energies at 600V/300A. It reduces losses by at least a factor three, says Cissoid, compared with the highest performing IGBT power modules. Cissoid’s module is water-cooled through a lightweight AlSiC pin-fin baseplate for a junction-to-fluid thermal resistance of 0.15°C/W. The power module is rated for junction temperature up to +175 degrees C. The IPM withstands isolation voltages up to 3,600V (50Hz,  60 seconds).

 The built-in gate driver includes three on-board isolated power supplies (one per phase) delivering each up to 5W allowing it to easily drive the power module up to 25KHz and at ambient temperatures up to +125 degrees C. Peak gate current up to 10A and immunity to high dV/dt (>50KV/µs) enable fast switching of the power module and low switching losses. Protection functions include under-voltage lockout (UVLO), active Miller clamping (AMC), desaturation detection and soft shutdown (SSD).

Dave Hutton, CEO at Cissoid, believes: “With this new SiC intelligent power modules, which is the outcome of years of experience in the development of power modules and gate drivers for extreme temperature and voltage environments, we are happy to deliver our first IPM samples to early SiC adopters and to support the automotive industry in its transition towards highly efficient e-mobility solutions.”

http://www.cissoid.com

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Embedded safety controller is ‘first to be ASIL-D certified to ISO 26262:2018’

Infineon Technologies second generation Aurix (TC3xx) microcontrollers are the first embedded safety controllers worldwide to be certified for the highest automotive safety integrity level (ASIL D), according to the latest version of the ISO 26262 standard.

This standard describes a globally binding procedure for the development and production of safety-critical systems in cars. In December 2018, the current version of the standard replaced the original version from 2011. The certificate was issued by SGS TUEV Saar.

“This certification underpins our leadership in automotive safety,” said Peter Schaefer, vice-president and general manager automotive microcontrollers at Infineon. “We defined the safety architecture of our second generation Aurix microcontrollers before the new version of ISO 26262 was even available, and yet it fulfills all requirements for an ASIL D safety controller. We have achieved this through a holistic approach to safety that resulted in a sophisticated and robust architecture. Second generation Aurix microcontrollers thus provide the safety and trust necessary to make automated driving happen.”

AURIX TC3xx devices have up to six processor cores with 300 MHz clock frequency each. Up to four of them have an additional Lockstep core. With around 3,000 DMIPS, Aurix allows for functionally safe computing power supporting ASIL D among safety microcontrollers. Other features include safe internal communication buses and a distributed memory protection system.

Aurix allows the integration of software with different safety levels from different sources. This allows multiple operating systems and applications, such as steering, braking, airbag and driver assistance systems, to be hosted on a common platform.

As well as computing platforms for automated driving using Aurix as their safety host controller, the microcontrollers are used in radar systems for processing sensor data, in engine and transmission control, brake, airbag and steering systems, central gateways, domain control units, hybrid and electric cars, among other applications.

http://www.infineon.com

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