Dialog Semiconductor Strengthens Relationship With Renesas by Powering Auto Platforms For Future Autonomous Vehicles
Dialog Semiconductor has been designing automotive power management IC (PMIC) solutions for Renesas Electronics’ R-Car family that are essentially drivable computers.
In 2010, Dialog Semiconductor’s PMIC was adopted by Renesas Electronics for mobile device platforms such as IP security cameras, car navigation systems, and portable media players. Renesas utilized Dialog’s PMIC to lower the system’s power dissipation by reducing the number of peripheral power supply and audio system components.
Image used courtesy of Dialog Semiconductor.
That also provided Renesas with a sufficient decrease in manufacturing costs due to not needing additional discrete components. As of early August of this year, Dialog Semiconductors has announced next-gen PMIC solutions that were incorporated in an automotive computing platform designed by Renesas, the R-Car M3, and R-Car E3.
Renesas R-Car SoC Platform
Renesas Electronics has developed various platforms of automotive infotainment systems that provide cognitive computing capabilities to handle heavy data traffic and information from vehicle sensors in real-time. The R-Car M3 System-on-Chip (SoC) platform requires precise voltage management and is capable of large amounts of data transfer between actuators and sensors. The M3 series is ideal for mid-range vehicles, optimizing the human interface systems such as the navigation system
Renesas’s R-Car E3 series brings enhanced 3D graphics rendering performance and a human-machine interface (HMI) that has security functions to protect against malfunctions and cyberattacks. The single-chip design enables the integration of a variety of systems, significantly reducing overall system development costs and achieving substantial space savings.
The R-Car E3 SoC offers enhanced 3D graphics rendering performance and increased security against both malfunctions and cyberattacks. Image used courtesy of Renesas Electronics.
Dialog’s PMIC
Power management such as the DA9063 supports dynamic voltage control (DVC) technology which enables power saving and the need for external components. The complex design of Renesas’s automotive infotainment system integrates three high-level ARM dual cores that require robust power management systems. These high power PMIC systems are the most suitable solution for dual and quad processors, providing 5 Amps to each core processor.
Processor core leakage is reduced by using the integrated rail switch controller to control external FET switches for ultra-fast power domain switching. Image used courtesy of Dialog Semiconductor.
Dialog Semiconductor also offers an auto-grade multi-phase buck converter, the DA9224, which is a PMIC that supports DDR memory rails in automotive infotainment systems. The DA9224 is able to deliver two 8 Amp outputs equipped with power switching and a soft-start up feature. The soft-start up is similar to a soft starter for induction motors; in-rush current can occur and the starter will protect the motor by anticipating the inrush current. This is how the PMIC system utilizes the soft start-up feature, limiting the inrush current from the input node and allows for secure control of activated power rail.
DA9224 is a PMIC feature adjustable soft-start and automatic phase shedding to protect the overall system. image used courtesy of Dialog Semiconductor.
Renesas R-Car M3 integrates Dialog’s DA9063 and R-Car E3 incorporates both DA9063 and DA9224. Renesas R-Car family has a wide variety of SoC system power specifications that can be easily met using the same PMIC devices, allowing designers to optimize their power requirements throughout the design process.
Dialog Semiconductor’s Senior Vice President of Automotive Business, Tom Sandoval credits the relationship with Renesas to innovative automotive solutions, “The expanded collaboration between Dialog and Renesas enables the leading automotive Tier-1 suppliers to deliver differentiated, reliable, high-performance, and cost-effective electronic systems based on the industry-leading R-Car platforms.”
Endless Power Solutions
The scalable architecture of the Renesas SoC platforms is complemented by the programmable architecture of Dialog power management ICs (PMICs), providing the system developer with flexibility throughout the design cycle.
By using Dialog’s highly integrated and efficient solutions, system designers have optimal flexibility to design a scalable power solution. In addition, Dialog’s unique partitioning into system and subsystem PMICs offer the advantages of hardware scalability and flexibility while distributing the power dissipation in adverse temperature environments.
