HPC - The Transformation of the Automotive Electrical System
Here's how a connector meets this challenge
The increased electrical demands resulting from the shift toward e-mobility, autonomous driving, and infotainment systems with 4K HD resolution require new in-vehicle electrical architecture in the automotive industry. The traditional decentralized wiring harness architecture is reaching its limits due to its complexity and the required high-speed capabilities. ept offers the right board-to-board connectors to meet these challenges.
Definition of the vehicle electrical system: Decentralized, domain- and zone-based architecture
The traditional distributed architecture in automobiles consists of up to 100 control units, with each unit assigned a specific function: engine management, airbags, ABS/ESP, seat adjustment, climate control, and much more. Each control unit operates independently and communicates with other units via gateways.
Over the past decades, the decentralized architecture has undergone significant growth, with each new functionality requiring an additional control unit. Today, however, it is reaching its limits: increasing functionalities significantly raise the installation and wiring costs within the vehicle.
In domain architecture, the control units are grouped into different functional areas. Each domain is responsible for a specific area of the vehicle, such as powertrain, infotainment, or safety. The overarching control of a domain is performed by a standalone high-performance computer (HPC). This coordinates the control units within its domain. For the safety functional area, these would include, for example, control units for driver assistance systems, ABS/ESP, and steering systems.
Compared to decentralized architecture, the reduced number of installed control units decreases wiring and installation costs. The domain architecture can thus also effectively contribute to cost and weight reduction compared to the decentralized architecture. Additionally, new functions can be integrated later with minimal effort.
In zone architecture, the structure is not based on domains but on local zones. For example, multiple functionalities are bundled within a single zone in the vehicle. Accordingly, functions such as the powertrain and infotainment can also be combined and processed in a single zone controller. The various zone controllers are managed by a central HPC. The advantage is clear: a reduction in the number of control units and their wiring by up to 50 percent.
Over the past decades, the decentralized architecture has undergone significant growth, with each new functionality requiring an additional control unit. Today, however, it is reaching its limits: increasing functionalities significantly raise the installation and wiring costs within the vehicle.
In domain architecture, the control units are grouped into different functional areas. Each domain is responsible for a specific area of the vehicle, such as powertrain, infotainment, or safety. The overarching control of a domain is performed by a standalone high-performance computer (HPC). This coordinates the control units within its domain. For the safety functional area, these would include, for example, control units for driver assistance systems, ABS/ESP, and steering systems.
Compared to decentralized architecture, the reduced number of installed control units decreases wiring and installation costs. The domain architecture can thus also effectively contribute to cost and weight reduction compared to the decentralized architecture. Additionally, new functions can be integrated later with minimal effort.
In zone architecture, the structure is not based on domains but on local zones. For example, multiple functionalities are bundled within a single zone in the vehicle. Accordingly, functions such as the powertrain and infotainment can also be combined and processed in a single zone controller. The various zone controllers are managed by a central HPC. The advantage is clear: a reduction in the number of control units and their wiring by up to 50 percent.
Requirements for the HPC and its connectors
The demands this places on an HPC are significant: not least, the processing of imaging data in the infotainment sector or in camera systems for autonomous driving requires secure, high-speed data transmission with low latency. At the same time, signal transmission must not fail under any circumstances—its reliability must be guaranteed at all times.
High performance, fast, and above all, reliable data transmission—sometimes under adverse environmental conditions—are therefore also requirements placed on the connectors used.
High performance, fast, and above all, reliable data transmission—sometimes under adverse environmental conditions—are therefore also requirements placed on the connectors used.
What should you consider when choosing the right connector for HPC?
Ensure the "readability" of a signal, for example, using an eye diagram. This indicates whether a transmitted signal can be unambiguously assigned to the digital states 1 or 0 at the receiver.
Pay special attention to shielding your high-speed signals. A connector can act as both a source of interference and a sink. For this reason, it is recommended to use a shielding plate to protect sensitive signals from external interference.
For example, use coupling inductance to select the appropriate connector based on its electromagnetic compatibility, thereby avoiding costly and time-consuming trial-and-error testing in the EMC lab.
Choose a signal transmission system that ensures uninterrupted performance even under extreme environmental conditions, such as vibrations and shocks. In this context, contact design, the contact system, and connection technology play a crucial role.
Free white paper with a detailed guide to selecting the right connector for HPC
How does the eye diagram work in detail, and how is it used in practice?
What should you consider when shielding a connector? What exactly is coupling inductance, and how does it help in selecting the right connector for HPC applications?
Which contact design, contact system, and connection technology ensures reliable data transmission under the most extreme environmental conditions, and what factors must be taken into account? You
will find the answers to these questions, along with detailed explanations and practical examples, in our free white paper.
Download the white paper »
What should you consider when shielding a connector? What exactly is coupling inductance, and how does it help in selecting the right connector for HPC applications?
Which contact design, contact system, and connection technology ensures reliable data transmission under the most extreme environmental conditions, and what factors must be taken into account? You
will find the answers to these questions, along with detailed explanations and practical examples, in our free white paper.
Download the white paper »
Conclusion
Current developments in the automotive industry are constantly placing new demands on the connectors used in vehicles. At first glance, it might seem that the role of these connectors is becoming less significant due to the reduced number of control units. Upon closer inspection, however, it becomes clear that their role is actually gaining importance precisely because of this shift toward centralized data processing using HPC: Reliability in signal transmission has never been more critical than it is today.
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