In conversation with Matthias Kaestner, Corporate Vice President, Microchip’s Automotive Business Unit, let us explore more on the solutions that Microchip provides for E-Mobility and Intelligent Systems.
Electronics Era: Could you please share Microchip’s key product offerings related to automotive electrification and intelligent systems?
Matthias Kaestner: Microchip Technology provides key solutions for E-Mobility and intelligent systems, including dsPIC® Digital Signal Controllers (DSCs), scalable microcontrollers and microprocessors from 8-bit to 32-bit, SiC power devices, battery management systems, EV charging, connectivity solutions, security and a wide range of analog and power products, supporting the development of efficient, connected, and secure EVs and infrastructure.
Electronics Era: In the automotive chip sector, each company has its own strengths. What are Microchip’s unique advantages as compared to industry peers?
Matthias Kaestner: Microchip has a long history of supporting our automotive clients with embedded control system solutions, including automotive-grade ICs and discrete devices, software, development tools and reference designs. By being able to provide all of this, Microchip is uniquely positioned to offer our automotive clients a complete solution for their application development needs. Additionally, our broad portfolio of semiconductor solutions including microcontrollers and microprocessors, FPGAs, analog, connectivity, security, timing, and more, is unmatched in the industry.
Electronics Era: As the automotive domain control architecture evolves, the industry is moving towards decoupling hardware and software. Arm-based MCUs, MPUs and SoCs offer greater scalability and flexibility, resulting in many automotive MCU manufacturers with proprietary cores adopting Arm-based MCU products. How does Microchip view this trend? Will the PIC® and AVR® MCU product series continue to expand their product lines in the automotive sector in the future?
Matthias Kaestner: PIC® and AVR® microcontrollers are a reliable choice in the automotive industry, particularly for applications like point-of-input (capacitive touch buttons and switchgear) and point-of-control (seat motors, blower motors, mirrors, and window actuators). For our clients, the key considerations in these applications are functionality, ease of implementation, and robustness. Microchip’s proprietary PIC and AVR architectures enable us to achieve the lowest system power, while allowing clients to customize their applications using our Core Independent Peripherals. These peripherals are specifically designed to address challenges in sensor integration, motor control, and chip-to-chip communication, making development easier and more efficient. We are committed to continually refining our portfolio to meet the evolving needs of the automotive sector.
In addition, Microchip’s PIC32C and SAM Arm®-based 32-bit MCUs are used in many applications ranging from in cabin touch (steering wheel, center console, and door controls) all the way up to ADAS systems to implement safety critical functions. Microchip’s 32-bit MCUs offer a wide range of scalability and connectivity (LIN, CAN FD, 10BASE-T1S Single Pair Ethernet) options as well solutions for ISO 26262 Functional Safety and ISO 21434 Cybersecurity.
Electronics Era: As the first batch of electric vehicles’ batteries approach the end of their lifecycle, there is growing industry focus on the full lifecycle management of batteries. Wireless Battery Management Systems (BMS) is gaining popularity and is expected to be implemented soon. Is Microchip focusing on or developing wireless BMS technology?
Matthias Kaestner: Microchip is developing SOH (state of health) and SOC (state of charge) algorithms and reference designs for wired modular high-voltage battery management system solutions, which could easily be replicated to develop wireless solutions.
Electronics Era: DMS (Driver Monitoring Systems) is expected to become a standard feature in new vehicles in the coming years, which will greatly drive the demand for related chips. What are Microchip’s development plans in this area? How does Microchip support customer requirements for sensor fusion and hardware pre-integration?
Matthias Kaestner: Microchip develops integrated circuits for Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS) by leveraging its advanced position and location sensor technologies to enhance sensor fusion and hardware pre-integration. Microchip’s sensors, such as inductive position sensors and our capacitive touch products, provide precise and reliable data crucial for monitoring driver behavior and vehicle dynamics. To support customer requirements, Microchip offers comprehensive development tools, reference designs, and software libraries that facilitate seamless integration of multiple sensors. This enables efficient sensor fusion, combining data from various sources to deliver accurate and real-time monitoring. Additionally, Microchip’s scalable and flexible MCU and FPGA solutions ensure that DMS can be easily integrated into existing vehicle architectures, reducing development time and costs for customers.
Electronics Era: Automotive chips are required to meet certain functional safety standards, such as ISO 26262 or ASIL-D. How does Microchip ensure that its automotive-grade chips meet functional safety requirements?
Matthias Kaestner: Microchip is developing our automotive-grade devices to be compliant with the ISO 26262 Functional Safety Standard supporting ASIL B to ASIL D safety levels. Security is equally important, and Microchip has been certified to the ISO/SAE 21434 Cybersecurity for Road Vehicles standard. This means security is a core focus through our entire product development cycle from concept, design, production, maintenance through decommissioning. Functional safety and cybersecurity are critical requirements for all the major OEMs.
