The automotive chip shortage that erupted at the end of 2020 has been spreading throughout the automotive industry and continues to escalate, affecting most automotive manufacturers to varying degrees.MCUs are the hardest hit area of the “shortage”.According to analysis reports, although there are many types of automotive chips, the most in demand are MCUs.MCU (Microcontroller Unit), also known as a microcontroller or single-chip microcomputer, integrates CPU, memory, I/O ports, clock, A/D conversion, PWM, and data transmission interfaces such as SPI, I2C, and ISP into a single chip, forming a chip-level computer.The main function of an MCU is signal processing and control, and it has a wide range of applications in consumer electronics, computers and communications, industrial, automotive, and IoT fields. Previously, domestic MCU chip manufacturers primarily focused on consumer-grade applications and could not meet automotive-grade standards.After a long period of accumulation and refinement, the domestic 32-bit automotive-grade MCU series products developed by CHIPWAYS have already been mass-produced in several vehicle models, assisting tier 1 manufacturers and automakers in alleviating the automotive chip shortage.
CHIPWAYS: The First Domestic Supplier of Mass-Produced 32-bit Automotive MCUsThe automotive-grade 32-bit MCU product series XL6600 developed by CHIPWAYS is based on the ARM Cortex-M3 core and was mass-produced in 2017, gaining a significant first-mover advantage.This product not only breaks the monopoly of international manufacturers, attracting widespread attention in the automotive industry, but also, after small-batch automotive pre-installation shipments, its performance is comparable to that of major international manufacturers, making it a popular alternative product for domestic automotive-grade 32-bit MCUs, and it can be supplied in normal mass quantities.The key features of this product include: ARM Cortex-M3 high-performance 32-bit core with a maximum frequency of 96MHz; support for various communication interfaces such as CAN, LIN, UART, I2C, SPI; focusing on low power consumption and high performance. This product provides scalable solutions suitable for a wide range of body electronics applications. It also supports development tools such as MDK and provides reference designs for BLDC motor control to help customers get started quickly.
Automotive-Grade 32-bit MCU: XL6600 Series1. True Automotive-Grade ChipAutomotive-grade chips involve a full industry chain requirement including chip design, wafer fabrication, packaging testing, product testing, and product lifecycle. CHIPWAYS‘s automotive-grade 32-bit MCU products are true automotive-grade chips that meet automotive-grade specifications:
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Chip Design: Core technology for automotive-grade chip design; automotive-grade chip platform and architecture; compliance with automotive-grade functional safety ISO26262 standards and achieving ASIL-B
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Wafer Fabrication: Utilizes automotive-grade wafer production lines, compliant with ISO/IATF 16949 standards
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Packaging Testing: Utilizes automotive-grade packaging production lines, compliant with ISO/IATF 16949 standards
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Product Testing: Automotive-grade reliability testing, passing AEC-Q100 testing standards
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Product Yield: Meets the high yield requirements for automotive-grade chip products
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Product Lifecycle: Meets the ultra-long supply cycle requirements for automotive-grade chips
2. Complete Product Software and Hardware SupportCHIPWAYS can provide comprehensive software and hardware tools, making development so easy.(1) Supporting Hardware: FreeDemo Board
(2) Supporting Software: Software Development Kit SDK
Software Development Kit (SDK) Diagram(3) Provides MCU Integrated Development EnvironmentCHIPWAYS Code Editor (C2E) is a new generation integrated development environment designed by CHIPWAYS for MCU series product development. It is based on the Eclipse platform and adopts a method of separate management and maintenance of platform and chip driver packages, making it more convenient for users to use and manage.
CHIPWAYS Code Editor3. Provides AUTOSAR MCAL SoftwareCHIPWAYS ‘s AUTOSAR MCAL has been continuously optimized to maximize the functionality and performance of the microcontroller (MCU). As a high-quality domestic automotive-grade chip supplier, by providing AUTOSAR MCAL related to the MCU, customers can fully optimize their automotive software development. Automotive electronic component suppliers can develop basic software (BSW) integrated with Chipways’ MCAL for customer use.
AUTOSAR Software Diagram4. Automotive Chip Automation Testing Platform
CHIPWAYS’ automotive chip automation testing platform is an independently developed automated testing system for automotive-grade chips, which has obtained two national patents:
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It can perform exhaustive functional verification of each module of the chip, validating every function of the chip through hundreds of thousands of test cases, ensuring the chip functions normally and without faults, and the number of test cases continues to increase;
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It can conduct continuous testing of the chip around the clock, ensuring the chip functions normally under various working conditions. The testing intensity is high, efficiency is great, and stability is ensured, completing functional tests that manual testing cannot achieve;
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It can dynamically add, delete, modify test cases, conduct tests, and output test reports for complex testing activities.
5. Product Mass Production, Wide Applications(1) Application Case: Electric Tailgate Controller
The MCU is the core of the electric tailgate control module, and its stability and reliability are crucial to the entire system. The CHIPWAYS automotive-grade 32-bit microcontroller XL6600 series chip, using the ARM Cortex-M3 core, with a frequency of up to 96MHz, has excellent performance, high reliability, and low power consumption, enabling various control functions such as opening, closing, and anti-pinch for the automotive tailgate, making it very suitable for various body control application scenarios such as electric tailgate control modules.
The architecture of the electric tailgate solution is shown below:
Automotive Electric Tailgate Control System Block Diagram(2) Application Case: Anti-Pinch Window ControllerThe CHIPWAYS anti-pinch window control solution is based on a relay scheme for automotive anti-pinch window lifting controllers, integrating the CHIPWAYS XL6600 MCU chip, XL3600 Hall chip, and other related components. This solution’s hardware and software design meet the functional and performance specifications required by mainstream automotive manufacturers, and the anti-pinch design complies with GB11552-2009, ECE R21, 74/60/EEC, FMVSS118/CMVSS118 standards and requirements. The software platform includes CHIPWAYS anti-pinch control library files, driver library files, upper computer tool software, and supporting development testing tools.
Anti-Pinch Window Control Solution System Block Diagram(3) Application Case: Motor ControllerThe CHIPWAYS motor control solution is designed by combining the characteristics of BLDC and PMSM motors, integrating the CHIPWAYS XL6600 MCU chip and other related components, providing a motor drive library that includes various motor control algorithms. It is suitable for motor control in most automotive body parts, industrial motor control, and motor control in consumer products.
Motor Control Solution System Block Diagram(4) Application Case: Pre-Installed ETC ControllerThe CHIPWAYS pre-installed ETC solution, using the CHIPWAYS automotive-grade 32-bit microcontroller XL6600 series chip, focuses on high performance, high reliability, and low power consumption. Whether in specific performance indicators, computing power, and various interfaces, or the reliability and safety of automotive-grade chips, it meets the regulatory requirements for pre-installed ETC solutions.The schematic diagram of the OBU (On-Board Unit) solution using the XL6600 series product is shown below:
OBU (On-Board Unit) Solution Schematic Diagram
6. Clear Product Roadmap and Technology Evolution
As one of the earliest domestic companies focusing on automotive semiconductor chips, CHIPWAYS actively participates in the formulation of a significant milestone for the future development of China’s automotive industry – the “Energy Saving and New Energy Vehicle Technology Roadmap 2.0”.Dr. Qin Ling, CEO of CHIPWAYS, is one of the main authors of the “Energy Saving and New Energy Vehicle Technology Roadmap 2.0” “New Energy Vehicle Electric Drive Assembly System Special Group”, representing the company in the technical roadmap 2.0’s thematic discussions and formulation work.Dr. Qin Ling, along with industry experts, conducted multiple rounds of thematic discussions and reviews, contributing key insights in the field of automotive semiconductor design technology, particularly in the “Main Control Chip Technology Roadmap” of Chapter 7 of the “New Energy Vehicle Electric Drive Assembly System Technology Roadmap”.
Chapter 7 New Energy Vehicle Electric Drive Assembly System Technology RoadmapAbout CHIPWAYS: A Pioneer in Domestic Automotive SemiconductorsCHIPWAYS is an automotive semiconductor chip design company focused on the research and sales of automotive intelligent sensing and control chips. CHIPWAYS is a governing unit of the China Automotive Chip Industry Innovation Strategic Alliance and a quality member of associations such as the Shanghai Pudong Automotive Electronics Innovation and Intelligent Industry Alliance. The company’s core team mainly consists of former core team members from Spreadtrum, senior experts from the international semiconductor and automotive industries, and several returnee PhDs.The company possesses a series of key core technologies for intelligent automotive sensing and control chips and has obtained multiple patents. The company has now mass-produced and sold automotive-grade Hall sensor chips XL3600 series and automotive-grade microcontroller MCU chips XL6600 series, with products such as the new energy vehicle multi-cell battery pack monitor BMS AFE chips XL8800/XL8820 series also set to be launched soon. Currently, the company has achieved a leading advantage in the field of automotive electronic body control.Add: 601/603, 570 Shengxia Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Pudong, ShanghaiWeb: www.chipways.comE-mail: [email protected]
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