In this roundup, we highlight three new developments from Diodes Incorporated, Waymo, and the transportation department that are making cars and highways safer and more connected.
With the rise of electric vehicles, autonomous driving, and connected car ecosystems, engineers are pressured to deliver more performant vehicles without sacrificing safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance.
Amid this backdrop, various players in the automotive industry—including Diodes Incorporated, Waymo, and the U.S. Department of Transportation—have announced new chip-level solutions, complete systems, and initiatives to bring the latest automotive developments to U.S. roads.
Diodes Releases Automotive Redriver
Diodes Incorporated recently announced a new, automotive-compliant crossbar multiplexer solution. The PI3DPX1225Q device is described as a highly integrated USB type-C DP-Alt DP 2.1 and USB 3.2 gen-2 linear redriver.
Diodes designed the PI3DPX1225Q for source-side applications, where it can optimize signal performance across various physical mediums by reducing inter-symbol interference jitters. It achieves this through adjustable equalization, output swing, and gain settings controlled via an I2C interface. The I2C interface operates at speeds up to 1 MHz, providing flexibility in tuning the device for specific application requirements.The device supports data rates up to 10 Gbps, making it compliant with VESA DP Alt 2.1 UHBR10 and USB 3.2 gen-2 standards. It also features a non-blocking linear redriver architecture, improving additive jitter performance compared to conventional CMOS-limiting redrivers. The device couples this feature with integrated linear equalization technology to allow the receiver’s decision feedback equalizer (DFE) to operate without interference.
The device also includes built-in control logic for handling type-C plug and unplug events, including orientation detection and flipping. The chip operates from a single 3.3-V power supply and is AEC-Q100 grade-3 qualified.
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Waymo Rolls Out New Autonomous Driving System
Waymo recently unveiled its sixth-generation Waymo Driver system to advance autonomous vehicle systems. The system is characterized by an upgraded suite of sensors, notable cost optimizations, and expanded operational capabilities.
The new generation integrates 13 cameras, four LiDAR units, six radar sensors, and an array of external audio receivers, all of which collaborate to provide a comprehensive 360-degree field of view around the vehicle. This sensor fusion enables the Waymo Driver to detect and interpret its environment up to 500 meters away regardless of weather conditions, including extreme heat, rain, fog, and snow.Waymo claims the new generation reduces the number of sensors without sacrificing any safety-critical redundancies. The new generation cut its sensor count with strategic sensor placement and other technological advances, making production more cost-efficient and enhancing performance. For instance, Waymo optimized its LiDAR system for better range and accuracy and calibrated its radar and camera systems to provide overlapping fields of view.
With millions of simulated miles and thousands of real-world miles already logged, Waymo hopes to expedite Driver’s deployment.
