A traditional fuel vehicle requires about 500 to 600 chips, and about 1,000 light -mixed cars, plug -in hybrids and pure electric vehicles require at least 2,000 chips.
This means that in the process of the rapid development of smart electric vehicles, not only the demand for advanced process chips has continued to increase, but also the demand for traditional chips will continue to increase. This is the MCU. In addition to the increase in the number of bicycles, the domain controller also brings new demand for high security, high reliability, and high computing power MCU.
MCU, MicroController Unit, known as a single -chip microcomputer/microcontroller/single -chip microcomputer, integrates the CPU, memory, and peripheral functions on a single chip to form a chip -level computer with control function. It is mainly used to achieve signal processing and control. The core of the intelligent control system.
MCUs and automotive electronics, industry, computers and networks, consumer electronics, home appliances and the Internet of Things are closely related to our lives. Car Electronics is the largest market in automotive electronics, and car electrons account for 33%globally.
MCU structure
MCU is mainly composed of central processor CPU, memory (ROM and RAM), input and output I/O interface, serial port, counter, etc.
CPU: Central Processing Unit, a central processor, is the core component inside MCU. The component components can complete the data arithmetic logic operation, bit variable processing, and data transmission operation. The control parts coordinate the work in accordance with a certain time sequentially to analyze and execute the instructions.
ROM: Read-only Memory is a program memory that is used to store programs written by manufacturers. The information is read in non-destructive way. Essence
RAM: Random Access Memory, is a data memory that directly exchange data with the CPU, and the data cannot be maintained after the power is lost. The program can be written and read at any time when running, which is generally used as a temporary data storage medium for operating systems or other running programs.
The relationship between CPU and MCU:
The CPU is the core of operational control. In addition to the CPU, the MCU also contains ROM or RAM, which is a chip -level chip. Common ones are SOC (System On Chip), which are called system -level chips that can store and run system -level code, run QNX, Linux and other operating systems, including multiple processor units (CPU+GPU +DSP+NPU+storage+interface unit).
MCU digits
The number refers to the width of the MCU each processing data. The higher the number of digits, the stronger the MCU data processing capacity. At present, the most important is 8, 16, and 32 digits, of which 32 bits account for the most and grow rapidly.
In automotive electronics applications, the cost of 8 -bit MCU is low and easy to develop. At present, it is mostly used for relatively simple control, such as lighting, rainwater, windows, seats, and doors. However, for more complicated aspects, such as instrument display, vehicle entertainment information systems, power control systems, chassis, driving assistance systems, etc., mainly 32 -bit, and iteration evolution of automotive electrification, intelligence, and networking, The computing power requirements for MCU are also getting higher and higher.
MCU car authentication
Before the MCU supplier enters the OEM supply chain system, it is generally necessary to complete three major certifications: the design stage must follow the functional security standard ISO 26262, the flow and packaging stage must follow the AEC-Q001 ~ 004 and IATF16949, as well as during the certification testing stage Follow AEC-Q100/Q104.
Among them, the ISO 26262 defines the four security levels of ASIL, from low to high, A, B, C, and D; AEC-Q100 is divided into four reliability levels, from low to high, 3, 2, 1, and 0, respectively, 3, 2, 1, and 0 Essence The AEC-Q100 series certification generally takes 1-2 years, while the ISO 26262 certification is more difficult and the cycle is longer.
The application of MCU in the smart electric vehicle industry
The application of MCU in the automotive industry is very wide. For example, the front table is the application from the body accessories, power systems, chassis, vehicle information entertainment, and intelligent driving. With the advent of the era of smart electric vehicles, people’s demand for MCU products will be even stronger.
Electricization:
1. Battery management system BMS: BMS needs to control the charge and discharge, temperature, and battery balancing. The main control board requires a MCU, and each slave console also requires one MCU;
2. Vehicle controller VCU: Electric vehicle energy management needs to increase the vehicle controller, and at the same time it is equipped with 32 -bit high -end MCUs, which are different from the plans of each factory;
3. Engine controller/gearbox controller: stock replacement, electric vehicle inverter control MCU alternative oil vehicle engine controller. Due to the high motor speed, the reducer needs to be decelerated. The gearbox controller.
Intelligence:
1. At present, the domestic automobile market is still in the L2 high -speed penetration stage. From the comprehensive cost and performance considerations, the OEM increases the ADAS function still adopts a distributed architecture. With the increase in loading rate, the MCU of the sensor information processing also increases accordingly.
2. Due to the increasing number of cockpit functions, the role of higher new energy chips is becoming more and more important, and the corresponding MCU status has declined.
Craft
The MCU itself has a priority requirements for computing power and does not have high requirements for advanced processes. At the same time, its built -in embedded storage itself also limits the improvement of the MCU process. Use the 28nm process with MCU products. The specifications of the vehicle regulations are mainly 8 -inch wafers. Some manufacturers, especially IDM, have begun to be transplanted on a 12 -inch platform.
The current 28nm and 40nm processes are the mainstream of the market.
Typical enterprises at home and abroad
Compared with consumption and industrial -grade MCUs, the car -level MCU has higher requirements in terms of operating environment, reliability and supply cycle. In addition It is difficult to enter, so the market structure of MCU is relatively concentrated in general. In 2021, the top five MCU companies in the world accounted for 82%.
At present, my country’s car -level MCU is still in the introduction period, and the supply chain has great potential for land and domestic alternativeization.
Post time: Jul-08-2023
