indie Semiconductor, an Autotech solutions innovator, has announced its first system-on-chip (SoC) for external automotive lighting. The new iND83080 is a highly integrated LED matrix controller that simplifies the design and reduces the cost of advanced, high-definition exterior lighting applications where individual LEDs are turned on and off to deliver pixel-level control.
“Pixel-level control of matrix LEDs can enhance road safety and the overall driver experience”
LEDs are becoming the predominant lighting technology in automotive applications due to their inherent power efficiency, high light intensity, increased lifetime and ruggedness, design flexibility and lower overall costs. Vehicle OEMs are increasingly deploying front lighting and turn signal implementations based on matrix-based LED designs that allow individual LEDs to be controlled independently. For front headlights, this enables highly controllable and precise illumination, and in combination with beam-forming creates an adaptive driving beam (ADB) that can accurately illuminate the path ahead, while minimizing the light that causes dangerous glare for oncoming drivers. Adaptive headlights are available on select vehicles in Europe and Japan, and earlier this year, the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced a ruling that permits automakers to add ADB for U.S. vehicles.
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Delivering pixel-level LED management requires LED matrix control semiconductors. The iND83080 matrix controller SoC is specifically designed to provide pixel-level control for ADB, dynamic turn signal and dynamic positioning lighting applications. indie’s differentiated SoC features modes that reduce data bus traffic to the lighting control unit by automatically generating on-chip pulse width modulation control (“Smart Mode”), as well as allowing the device to support two pre-programmable modes (“Standalone Mode”) without need for external control. On-chip integration of a high-accuracy, high-speed clock further simplifies system design, enables multi-chip synchronization and removes the need for external clock generation, thereby reducing component count.
“Pixel-level control of matrix LEDs can enhance road safety and the overall driver experience,” said Michael Wittmann, senior vice president of product marketing at indie Semiconductor. “Features such as ADB have been available to car buyers in Europe and Asia for a number of years and will soon become commonplace in the U.S. given the latest changes in federal regulations. By offering industry-leading performance and integration for automotive LED matrix deployments, indie’s first SoC for external automotive lighting provides leading vehicle OEMs and tier one’s significant flexibility, while speeding design and achieving substantial overall system-level cost savings.”
SOURCE: Businesswire