“Automotive semiconductors”: A growth driver for the next-generation mobility market

You might not have known that today’s automobiles incorporate a variety of semiconductors. In fact, each of the cars we see in our everyday lives contain hundreds of semiconductor chips. With the automotive market moving toward autonomous driving vehicles, the importance of the automotive semiconductor market is increasing. Autonomous driving vehicles are like computers with wheels, and are a promising future growth driver for the IT industry. Today we’ll explore the world of automotive semiconductors. Next-generation mobility: A new direction for semiconductor industry progress

Automotive semiconductors are found in image sensors, navigation systems, car audios, and more. Automotive semiconductors are directly associated with driver safety, and are subject to higher standards of resilience and service life compared to the semiconductor products founds in other smart devices. With the appearance of electric vehicles and autonomous driving cars on the market, various IT firms are entering the foray alongside existing car manufacturers. On the heels of Europe and the USA, with established industry foundations, Samsung Electronics has recently been leading the Korean semiconductor industry in aggressive automotive system semiconductor investment. The automotive semiconductors powering autonomous driving vehicles

Even conventional automobiles carry 2 to 300 semiconductors, including electronic control devices and a suite of sensors gathering data inside and outside the vehicle. With smart cars based on AI (artificial intelligence) and new autonomous driving technologies coming to the market, exponential growth is expected in the number of semiconductors that find their way into the cars of the future. Major uses for automotive semiconductors are: In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) systems, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), and telematics systems. In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) services combine vehicle operation and status data with entertainment elements such as multimedia playback, and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) use electronic control technologies to recognize dangerous situations and help drivers avoid accidents. Lastly, telematics bring wireless communication technologies into the vehicle, providing a plethora of new functions including real-time traffic data, remote vehicle diagnostics, and location tracking for stolen vehicles. The new experiences and value provided by automotive semiconductors

▲Samsung Electronics’ Exynos 8890 automotive semiconductor

Samsung Electronics’ efforts to improve competitiveness in automotive semiconductors began with the “Exynos Auto” automotive processor and “ISOCELL Auto” automotive image sensor released last October. Samsung Electronics’ Exynos Auto products will be released under the “V series” lineup for infotainment (IVI) systems, the “A” series for ADAS systems, and the “T” series for telematics systems. “ISOCELL Auto” is based on Samsung Electronics’ ISOCELL technology, which creates high-quality images using ultra-fine pixels. By giving vehicles a better idea of real-time changes in road and surrounding environments, ISOCELL Auto helps to prevent accidents. Samsung Electronics announced in May that the Audi’s third-generation MIB (Modular Infotainment Platform) would feature Samsung’s “Exynos Auto 8890”. This represents just the start of Samsung’s efforts to increase its market presence. The “Exynos Auto 8890” is a powerful processor comprised of 8 CPU cores and 12 GPU cores for smooth handling of various infotainment functions. Safety is paramount for automotive semiconductors, which require a long-term effort in laying down a sturdy foundation of safety and reliability. We patiently look forward to the new value and experiences Samsung’s automotive semiconductor R&D will bring to our everyday lives.