The use of different types of
microcontrollers to handle different operations like processing needs,
automobiles, electrical systems, and applications has increased rapidly.
Applications of microcontrollers
are found in various large equipments to smaller devices such as
mainframe computers, air conditioning units, and airplane navigation
system, digital watches, PDAs and cell phones. In specific, the
existence of various microcontrollers in automobiles plays a vital role,
as verified by the existence of 25-35 ECU (electronic control unit) in
the typical ford vehicle. Especially, the range of ECUs in luxury cars
like the BMW seven series is from 60-65. Microcontrollers manage ECU
functions such as seats, power windows, braking, steering, taillights
and headlights. This article reviews the different microcontrollers used
in automobiles and also their applications.
Different Microcontrollers in Automobiles
Different Types of Microcontrollers
A microcontroller is a small chip used as an embedded system. Some microcontrollers may consume work at clock rate frequencies and four bit expressions that generally include:
Different Types of Microcontrollers
- An 8-bit or 16-bit microprocessor.
- Flash memory and PROM
- Serial and Parallel I/O
- Signal generators and Timers
- Analog to Digital & Digital to Analog Conversion
The use of various microcontrollers is
increasing in automobile’s electronics along with the rest of the
electronic control units. Basically, different types of microcontrollers
used in automobiles are AVR microcontroller,
8051 microcontroller, PIC microcontroller, etc. These types of
microcontrollers need a chip that comprises a CPU, RAM (random-access
memory), program memory, and programmable I/Ps and O/Ps. Present
microcontrollers enhance the control of automobiles range. This range is
from 8bit-32bit Harvard architecture with low-cost CPUs, high
performance and efficient data storage in memory.
Different Microcontrollers Used in Automobile
Different Microcontrollers used in an automobile can communicate with one another through a multiplexing.
These microcontrollers can manage related systems separately by using a
BUS to communicate with other networks when they are required to
perform a function. The combination of several linked networks includes
the CAN (controller area networks).
Present controller area networks permit complex interactions, that
involve sensory systems, car speed, outdoor rain ffall interactions, in
car temperatures with performance controls for air conditioning
maintenance, the audio visual multimedia systems and braking mechanisms.
The communication in the automobiles, which is established by different mictrocontrollers
has control over both fail safe systems and automotive fault
tolerant systems wherein the microcontrollers can not only serve to
respond mishaps and faults that occur to the car (anti lock brake
interference, accelerator and broken lights), but also to duplicate as
secondary units that continuously check the primary microcontroller in
the event of microcontroller itself failing. An example of fault
tolerance is, when the car tires slip on a snow filled road. The
incident not only activated a response from the car driver, but the
incident is also sensed by a sensor microcontroller, which will then
activate the anti clock braking system when the car driver bangs on the
brakes.
Infineon Tri-core Microcontroller
Tri-core is a 32- bit microcontroller, which is developed
by Infineon.These microcontrollers are assembled in over 50 automotive
brands which means, every second vehicle designed today includes a
Tri-core based microcontroller. It is responsible for keeping the
exhaust emissions and fuel consumption as low as possible. Tri-core
microcontrollers are used in the gear boxes to control the injection,
central control units for combustion engines’ ignition: Progressively,
they are also being used in electrical and hybrid vehicle drives.
Tricore Microcontroller
Atmel AVR Microcontroller
Atmel AVR (Alf-Egil-Bogen-Vegard-Wollan-RISC)
microcontrollers distribute the power, performance and flexibility for
automobile applications. This microcontroller consists of the Harvard
architecture. So the device runs very fast with a reduced number of
machine level instructions. The AVR microcontrollers are classified into
three types: Tiny AVR, Mega AVR and Xmega AVR. The main features of AVR
microcontrollers compared to other microcontrolles include inbuilt ADC,
6-sleep modes serial data communication and internal oscillator, etc.
Atmel AVR Microcontroller
PIC Microcontroller
The short form of the peripheral
interface microcontroller is PIC. It is programmed and controlled in
such a way that, it performs multiple tasks and controls a generation
line. These microcontrollers are used in numerous applications like
smart phones, automobiles, audio accessories and medical devices. The
presently available PIC microcontrollers
in the market are PIC16F84 to PIC16C84 which are affordable flash
microcontrollers. Where, PIC18F458 and PIC18F258 microcontrollers are
widely used in automobiles.
PIC Microcontroller
Renesas Microcontroller
Renesas is the latest automotive
microcontroller family, which offers high performance and low power
consumption over a wide extent of items. This microcontroller offers
embedded safety characteristics and functional security for advanced
automotive applications. These microcontrollers offer the most useful
microcontroller families in the world. For example, RX family offers
various type of devices with memory variations from 32K flash/4K RAM to
an incredible 8 flash/512K RAM. This RX family microcontroller uses 32
bit enhanced Harvard CISC architecture to attain very high performance.
Renesas Microcontroller
8051 Microcontroller
The 8051 microcontroller
is 40 pin microcontroller and is based on Harvard architecture wherein
the program memory and data memory is different.This microcontroller is
used in a large number of machines like automobiles as it can be easily
integrated around a machine.
8051 Microcontroller
Microcontroller Growth in the Automobile
Growth of the microcontrollers in
automobiles is categorized into three types such as low end vehicles,
mid range vehicles and luxury vehicles which is shown in the below
figure.
Microcontroller Growth in Automobiles
Most of the electronic control systems
in automobiles are enhanced. For example, consider the airbag systems
wherein two frontal airbags are common today. These are joined further
by the rear passenger airbags and several other airbags. Likewise
steering, suspension, braking, body control functions and power train
will be further developed by implementing more advanced electronic
systems. Furthermore, the complexity of systems can become more. In the
next few years, stability management systems, GPS based navigation systems, By-wire steering and braking systems, voice recognition; collision warning systems will get introduced.
Applications of Microcontroller in Automobiles
Vehicle Control
- 16 bit microcontrollers are mostly used
- Computational performance key decision factor
- Design Cycle is 3 to 4 years
Power train
- 16 to 32 bit Microcontrollers are used mostly
- Computational Performance Key Decision Factor.
- Design Cycle is 4 to 5 years
Driver Information
- 8- Bit microcontrollers are used mostly
- High Integration and low EMI Key decision factor
- Design Cycle is 3 to 4 years
Therefore, the modern days different
types of microcontrollers have marked a revolutionary change in every
aspect of the automobile designing and manufacturing processes because
of their adaptability and flexibility. Furthermore, any queries
regarding this topic or microcontroller based projects or electronics projects, you can give your feedback in the comment section below.
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