MUNICH, Germany — In the discussion about in-car communications and telematics, Infineon focuses on Bluetooth and WiFi for the internal data connectivity; for telematics, the company bets on e-Call and similar applications and is preparing a vehicle-optimized mobile radio platform.
The integration of multimedia consumer devices into the automotive electronics landscape poses strong challenges to auto makers and component suppliers. In this context, wireless connectivity increasingly appears as the technology of choice since it does not require expensive and inflexible cabling solutions. Semiconductor vendors hold a key position in this area of potential conflicts.
In this context, Infineon's strategy provides for two pillars: Bluetooth (with Enhanced Data Rate), and WiiFi (802.11x), explained Christian Winkelmeyr, Vice President Mobile Platform Program Management for the Munich-based chip vendor. Wireless USB (WUSB) is not seen as an alternative since it is unclear to which standard the industry will settle eventually. "The fog over WUSB has not yet lifted", said Winkelmeyr. Instead, Infineon considers integrating WLAN functionality into its own mobile phone platforms, Winkelmeyr said, hinting that several high-end mobile multimedia and mobile phone products on the market are already offering this functionality.
However, the challenges for integration are not at the physical layer, the Infineon manager pointed out. "When it comes to integrating mobile consumer devices into cars, the PHY is less of a problem, the difficulties are more at the software level," he explained. "Here, standard interfaces are lacking and existing interfaces are open only in part."
Since the physical layer is not the main field of problems, it is not so important if the connection is wired or wireless, he added. "More or less all devices today are equipped with USB, and it is no problem to plug them in. But at the software level, there is no connection."
Another growth field for car-relevant data communication is telematics. The adoption of telematics systems will be driven by essentially three categories of applications. eCall (automatic emergency call), road tolling, and Stolen Vehicle Tracking (SVT).
Nation-wide highway toll systems for trucks are in the implementation phase in the Netherlands and in the UK. Germany will follow when it launches the second generation of its Toll Collect system that is already installed. SVT, already a major application in the luxury car segment, will become mandatory in Brazil in 2009 and is expected to gain more acceptance in Europe and other markets as well. All these applications require a combination of a mobile telecommunications platform and GPS navigation to work.
Being a major supplier for both product groups, Infineon is prepared to secure a large chunk of this market for itself. For this application trio, Infineon is currently about to finalize a cost-optimized platform which will be adaptable to support 2G, 2,5G and 3G, according to the requirements in the respective country.
The platform, which currently bears the project name TOP (Telematics Open Platform), is scheduled to be ready as a prototype in fall — as soon as the industry will settle on a protocol standard for eCall applications. The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) is scheduled to give a recommendation by end of October. Currently, three proposals are in the race, one each from Airbiquity, Qualcomm and RIM.
Infineon is agnostic as to the standards, explained Dietmar Messner, Program Manager Platforms in Infineon's Communication Solutions division. "We are talking to all parties involved," Messner said. In any case, the company hopes to have its TOP platform ready for volume production next spring.
Again, the challenges are in the software realm. "70 percent of development costs and manpower account for software," Messner said.
For the future, the Infineon experts predict that the software for in-car devices will become increasingly updateable — either in a car repair shop or online through the air interface. "This regards to software, firmware and even functionality", Messner said.
