Car Networking with FPGAs

Automotive electronic systems are becoming increasingly complex at the same time new interfaces and protocols are being introduced. Computer processors control many functions in the car, from anti-lock braking systems (ABS) and fuel injection units to cutting-edge entertainment systems.

Altera’s Cyclone FPGA series and suite of complementary solutions provide an unparalleled flexibility to mix-and-match functionality with pricing that is competitive with ASICs and ASSPs.

Car networks (Figure 1) are usually divided into body and power train control networks and telematics and multimedia sub-networks. A central controller (known as an "Auto PC" in Europe) is the core element of an automotive system. The central controller allows you to operate the different electronic systems and control units. To communicate with these electronic control units, the central controller must have access to all types of buses through the gateway controller, which acts as a router between the different electrical and optical buses in a car.

Figure 1. Next-Generation Car Network

Notes:

DVB = digital video broadcast
GSM = global system for mobile communication
UMTS = universal mobile telecommunications system
DAB = digital audio broadcast
DMB = digital multimedia broadcast
GPS = global positioning system
DSP = digital signal processing
WLAN = wireless local area network
UWB = ultra wideband
CAN = controller area network
LIN = local interconnect network

CAN and local interconnect network protocols carry the communication between the electronic control units within the body and powertrain systems. In the future, FlexRay or a timing-triggered CAN will be used for an advanced, high data-rate control system for combining multiple sensors and electronic control units.

With the rapid expansion of digital and wireless (e.g., GSM and UMTS) technology, end-users will have access to various advanced services such as digital video, audio, and multimedia broadcasts. The telematics and multimedia sub-networks provide various telematic services, including wireless links to portable devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) and digital audio or video sub-systems. The telematics and multimedia sub-systems commonly use media oriented systems transport (MOST), FireWire (IDB 1394), and USBs to connect to the gateway.

Altera has a variety of solutions to meet next-generation car network requirements. You can choose from several flexible and low-cost Cyclone FPGA families to combine many different IP core building blocks, such as CAN, MOST, or FlexRay controllers/interfaces or video and image processing solutions. For a more intelligent solution, take advantage of Altera's Nios II 32-bit embedded processor. No competitive soft processor comes close to matching the performance, utility, and cost-efficiency of a Nios processor in a Cyclone FPGA. Since Nios II is a soft core processor, it can be easily ported to new or future FPGAs, making it an obsolete-proof microcontroller architecture.