Automotive electronics
Encyclopedia
Automotive electronics are the electronics
used in the automobile
s.
It includes body electronics, in car entertainment
, carputer
s, chassis electronics and telematics
.
Automotive electronics
Automotive electronics first began with the need for better controls for the engine. In fact, the first electronic part in an automobile was called an ECU which actually means” Engine control unit”, but as they used similar electronic control for other automotive application they called it the same ECU but with a more general meaning “Electronic control unit”. A modern car may have up to 100 electronic control units and a commercial vehicle up to 40.
Automotive electronics or automotive embedded systems are distributed systems and according to different domains in the automotive field they can be classified into:
It controls different things like,
In a Diesel Engine for example
-Fuel injection rate
-Emission control, Nox control
-Regeneration of oxidation catalytic converter
-Turbocharger control
-Cooling system control
-Throttle control
In a Gasoline engine
-Lambda control
-OBD OnBoard diagnosis
-Cooling system control
-Ignition system control
-Lubrication system control (only few has electronic control)
-Fuel injection rate control
-Throttle control
Lot more engine parameters are actively monitored and controlled in real-time.
There are lots of sensors about 20-50, which measure pressure, temperature, flow, engine speed, oxygen level and NOx level and more parameters at different points in an engine. All these sensed signals are sent to the ECU, the ECU has a logic and does the control. The ECU output is connected to different actuators like throttle valve actuation, actuation of an EGR valve, rack actuator in VGT Turbocharger, pulse width actuation in a fuel injector, dosing injector actuation and lots more about 20-30 actuators.
Many semi automatic transmissions which have a fully automatic clutch or a semi-auto clutch (only declutching) use electronics for its operation and control.
Also fully automatic transmissions use controls for their operation.
The engine control unit and the transmission control interchange messages, sensed signals and control signals for their operation.
All the above system forms an infotainment system.
The developments methods of these systems vary according to the manufacturer.
Different tools are used for both hardware and software development.
Electronics
Electronics is the branch of science, engineering and technology that deals with electrical circuits involving active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies...
used in the automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
s.
It includes body electronics, in car entertainment
In car entertainment
In-Car Entertainment, , is a collection of hardware devices installed into automobiles, or other forms of transportation, to provide audio and/or audio/visual entertainment, as well as automotive navigation systems...
, carputer
Carputer
Carputer is the predominant term used to describe a category of mobile computer designed or modified to specifically be installed and run in automobiles...
s, chassis electronics and telematics
Telematics
Telematics typically is any integrated use of telecommunications and informatics, also known as ICT...
.
Automotive electronics
Automotive electronics first began with the need for better controls for the engine. In fact, the first electronic part in an automobile was called an ECU which actually means” Engine control unit”, but as they used similar electronic control for other automotive application they called it the same ECU but with a more general meaning “Electronic control unit”. A modern car may have up to 100 electronic control units and a commercial vehicle up to 40.
Automotive electronics or automotive embedded systems are distributed systems and according to different domains in the automotive field they can be classified into:
- Engine Electronics
- Transmission Electronics
- Chassis Electronics
- Active Safety
- Driver assistance
- Passenger Comfort
- Infotainment systems
Engine Electronics
One of the most demanding electronic part of an automobile is the engine control unit. Engine controls demand one of the highest real time deadlines, as the engine itself is very fast and complex part of the automobile. Of all the electronics in any car the computing power of the engine control unit is the highest, typically a 32-bit processor.It controls different things like,
In a Diesel Engine for example
-Fuel injection rate
-Emission control, Nox control
-Regeneration of oxidation catalytic converter
-Turbocharger control
-Cooling system control
-Throttle control
In a Gasoline engine
-Lambda control
-OBD OnBoard diagnosis
-Cooling system control
-Ignition system control
-Lubrication system control (only few has electronic control)
-Fuel injection rate control
-Throttle control
Lot more engine parameters are actively monitored and controlled in real-time.
There are lots of sensors about 20-50, which measure pressure, temperature, flow, engine speed, oxygen level and NOx level and more parameters at different points in an engine. All these sensed signals are sent to the ECU, the ECU has a logic and does the control. The ECU output is connected to different actuators like throttle valve actuation, actuation of an EGR valve, rack actuator in VGT Turbocharger, pulse width actuation in a fuel injector, dosing injector actuation and lots more about 20-30 actuators.
Transmission Electronics
This controls the transmission system; mainly it controls the shifting process of the gears. For a better shift comfort, lower torque interrupt while shafting -these electronics are used in a manual transmission.Many semi automatic transmissions which have a fully automatic clutch or a semi-auto clutch (only declutching) use electronics for its operation and control.
Also fully automatic transmissions use controls for their operation.
The engine control unit and the transmission control interchange messages, sensed signals and control signals for their operation.
Chassis Electronics
The chassis systems has lot of sub-systems which monitors different parameters and are controlled actively.- ABS - Anti-lock braking system
- TC – Traction control system
- EBD – Electronic brake distribution
- ESP – Electronic Stability Program
Active Safety
These systems are always ready to act when there is a collision or to prevent it when it scenes the situation.- Air Bags
- Hill Decent Control
- Emergency Brake assist system
Driver assistance
- Lane assist system
- Speed assist system
- Blind spot detection
- Park assist System
- Adaptive Cruise Control System
Passenger Comfort
- Automatic Climate control
- Electronic seat adjustment with memory
- Automatic wipers
- Automatic Headlamps – adjusts beam automatically
Infotainment systems
- Navigation system
- Music system
- Information access
All the above system forms an infotainment system.
The developments methods of these systems vary according to the manufacturer.
Different tools are used for both hardware and software development.
External links
- International Automotive Electronics Congress
- Society of Automotive Engineers
- Clemson Vehicular Electronics Laboratory (Automotive Electronics Section)