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Microprocessor requirements soar

  • Magazine Feature Article
  • AUTOFEB04_04
Published February 01, 2004 by SAE International in United States
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  • English

Networks and emissions control are driving the switch to more powerful 32-bit chips.

As automotive designers add more microcontrollers to their vehicles, they are also moving up in computing power, adopting 32-bit chips in a number of applications. The trends to increased networking, tighter emissions controls, and automated software coding are among the factors driving the movement upward in CPU (central processing unit) power. Powertrain applications were the first to use the powerful chips. Engine controllers, which must fire a precise amount of fuel into a chamber, have used 32-bit chips for some time, and other applications have also doubled word length.

“In powertrains, it's at least two to one, with 32 bits seeing twice the use of 16-bit chips,” said Tom Siegel, Manager of Integrated Circuits and Technology Development at Delphi. Many vendors say there will not be any 16-bit CPUs in the powertrain when current designs hit the market. “We're moving all our powertrain controllers to 32 bits,” said Angela McGruder, technical specialist at Siemens VDO Powertrain Electronics Group.