High-Speed Transceivers Aim at Software-Defined Vehicles

The insatiable demand of vehicles for higher bandwidth has taken on added importance with the trend toward software-defined vehicles, which chew even more bandwidth. To help meet these needed, Ethernovia, a startup specializing in Ethernet-based vehicle network technology, has developed Ethernet-based transceivers that support 10 Gbps, 5 Gbps, 2.5 Gbps and 1Gbps in the same device. The company expects these capabilities will help OEMs meet the rising data demands of SDV features, including advanced driver assistance systems, autonomy and over-the-air software while simultaneously simplifying thermal design.

The new transceivers are designated the ENT11100 and ENT11025. The former supports both IEEE 802.3ch multi-gigabit 10/5/2.5GBASE-T1 and IEEE 802.3bp 1000BASE-T1. The latter supports both IEEE 802.3ch multi-gigabit 2.5GBASE-T1 and IEEE 802.3bp 1000BASE-T1 and is software and pin compatible to the ENT1x100, providing a seamless migration path with a single PCB design.

Advanced Fab Process

Ethernovia manufactures the transceivers using an advanced 7nm process, which the company has been using since its inception. According to the company, the 7nm process enables power optimization and supports higher levels of integration, both resulting in low power, high port density solution.

Related:Startup Envisions Ethernet Future for Vehicles

“Electrification, increasing connectivity demands and the advancement of automated driving functions result in ever increasing requirements on fast and secure data transmission in the vehicle and to the cloud,” said Andreas Aal at Volkswagen Group, in a press release. “Ethernovia’s new PHY meets these demands by offering energy-efficient, high-bandwidth, low-latency data transmission paired with embedded co-optimized safety and security IP to enable a seamless and holistic architecture transition that paves the way up to future software-defined vehicles.”

The devices are the automotive semiconductor company’s first in a planned family of products encompassing a holistic hardware and software system for the next generation of centralized vehicle architecture. That will include a high-bandwidth, low-latency switch in the 7nm process currently being developed in strategic partnership with leading original equipment manufacturer Continental.

Ethernovia’s vision of a central Ethernet-based vehicle architecture. (Ethernovia)

The single port ENT11100 and ENT11025 are now sampling to customers with the quad port devices sampling later this year.

Ethernovia, a fabless semiconductor supplier, will work with a foundry partner to produce the parts. Samples are available now.