Range extenders can extend the driving range for an electric vehicle ...

applications austriamicrosystems offers stacked-die solutions
which include two independent sensors, isolated from each other
in one small package.
BLDC applications require a high-speed interface for real
time measurements. Each of the company’s target applications
requires different key features for programming and diagnostics.
With its wide portfolio of rotary encoders it is able to provide the
right solution to its end customers.
Customers rely on austriamicrosystems’ encoder solutions
because of their robustness, their insensitivity to external influences
and their accurate performance.
AI: How have austriamicrosystems’ rotary encoders
impacted its automotive clients?
Gessner: Rotary encoders by austriamicrosystems are
designed to replace dust sensitive optical encoders, expensive
resolvers and unreliable potentiometers. The encoders
have helped clients by enabling non-contact measurement
without moving parts in the chip and with no further required
components. The rotary encoders provide the highest reliability
at low costs.
For safety critical applications like steering or gas pedal
redundancy, rotary encoders are a must-have. austriamicrosystems
is able to provide a redundant, stacked-die solution. This failsafe,
built-in redundancy magnetic angular encoder includes two
sensors in one package, fully electrical and isolated from each
other. The dual die, as well as the single die solution, are fully
qualified to AEC-Q100 with an operating ambient temperature
range from -40°C up to 150°C.
AI: Tell us about the importance of battery management
related to current and future applications in car
and developments by austriamicrosystems to fit those
requirements.
ABOVE: The austriamicrosystems head office.
LEFT TOP: Testing a microchip
LEFT BOTTOM: Wafer production at austriamicrosystems
Gessner: For years we have seen comprehensive OEM
programs and governmental sponsorships aiming at vehicle
electrification for CO2 reduction. Today we see two major directions
in developments. The first is electrification of conventional internal
combustion engine type vehicles for efficiency increase.
The second direction is towards full hybridization or full
electric vehicles. This second direction is quite uncertain due to
limitations in the current electrical energy storage technologies.
austriamicrosystems is prepared to address both directions with
its existing products and with its future product developments.
Li-Ion battery management is at the limit in terms of electronic
solutions in performance and price. austriamicrosystems started
developments of less expensive, and more effective next generation
battery management ICs for Li-Ion batteries and ultra capacitors
to provide better performance in state of charge, state of health,
state of function acquisition, cell balancing and battery diagnosis.
AI: What are the benefits of your FlexRay products
compared to the competition and how do you see the
development of FlexRay in the future?
Gessner: austriamicrosystems has set a new standard for
FlexRay network reliability by increasing the immunity level of its
FlexRay transceiver products.
It has also developed the Bit-Reshaper embedded in the
AS8224 FlexRay Active Star Device. This enables network
topologies with extended cable lengths and an increased number
of ECUs (electronic control units) connected to the FlexRay bus.
austriamicrosystems works on FlexRay solutions offering
benefits for the complete system layout and system stability. It is
also fully compliant to the FlexRay standard.
Although FlexRay is established, it is still a very young technology,
but austriamicrosystems believes that it will eventually be just as
common as CAN and LIN are today. AI
Automotive Industries 63