The 2012 Audi new car models will be the first following National Semiconductor’s arrangement with Audi AG to provide analog integrated circuits (ICs) and subsystems for Modular Infotainment Device technology for Audi’s next-generation vehicles.
Building on an existing relationship – National’s FPD-Link solution for car infotainment is already in use across the Audi vehicle lineup – the fruits of this agreement will first be seen with start of production of the 2012 Audi A3 model, expanding in subsequent years to include additional Audi vehicles and models.
Working with National’s engineers, Audi selected the National FPD-Link III Ser/Des automotive infotainment chipset. It allows uncompressed HD video from the Audi MMI’s central processing unit to be distributed to the high-resolution displays spread throughout the front and rear of the vehicle. By enabling a protected digital signal, the content (for instance, a Blu-ray movie or three-dimensional map data) may not be hacked or infiltrated.
National’s FPD-Link III Ser/Des chipset transports HD digital video, audio, clocking and encrypted key exchange for content protection over a single twisted pair cable. The FPD-Link III technology also has been accepted by the Digital Content Protection (DCP, LLC), the licensing body for High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) as an approved HDCP technology.
The FPD-Link III family extends beyond Infotainment to include automotive-grade chipsets for Audi’s driver-assist video cameras. That technology improves driver safety and response time, helping drivers monitor road conditions, detect hazards and avoid collisions.