Zone architecture

As zone architectures condense software into fewer ECUs, there is a greater benefit to implementing corresponding embedded solutions across all computing, zone controller and edge modules. Our portfolio of microcontrollers and processors help you create scalable solutions, balancing cost and performance across all levels.

Portfolio options are for:

• Central computing that perform advanced processing for advanced driver assistance systems, infotainment and network management.
• Zone controllers that enable enhanced real-time control and gateway functionality for load actuation, power distribution and secure network bridging.
• Edge ECUs that optimize mixed-signal processing costs for local load and sensor management.

Zone architectures are adding intelligent and optimized power distribution by replacing melting fuses with smart semiconductor switches in power distribution boxes and local zone controllers. Semiconductor switches provide benefits such as resettable outputs and accurate I²t characteristics across temperature that help optimize wiring harness lengths and reduce wire gauges.

Our eFuse devices provide:

• Fully configurable features and settings through Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI).
• Configurable I²t curve, current limit, capacitive charging and pulse-width modulation settings.
  
• Low quiescent-current mode with adjustable load current wakeup.
  
• A daisy-chainable SPI to reduce microcontroller input/output demand.

Zone architectures rely on smart load drivers that help minimize microcontroller intervention during load or wiring fault conditions, provide software flexibility for over-the-air updates, and reduce printed circuit board and bill-of-materials cost across platforms and variants.

Our broad portfolio of load drivers feature:

• Advanced fault diagnostics to autonomously protect the load driver, cable and load through various fault conditions.
• Software configurability to change fault, load control and other device settings through Serial Peripheral Interface.
  
• A range of multifunction and multichannel devices including integrated field-effect transistor and gate-driver solutions to meet unique channel count and load requirements.

Zone architectures require reliable and secure in-vehicle network communication across all layers of the network for implementing over-the-air updates and sharing various types of data.

Our broad portfolio of interface and embedded solutions enable designers to:

• Optimize network processing and communication across all layers from edge electronic control units (ECUs), zone controllers and central computing modules.
  
• Balance in-vehicle network system cost at the intended bandwidth in order to fit your specific network architecture.
  
• Enable central computing capabilities and reduce over-the-air update times.
  
• Secure the network with integrated security features.

With so much at stake with your zone architecture solutions, functional safety provides the necessary risk-management framework. Our products include on-demand documentation such as functional safety failure-in-time rates and failure-mode distribution.