AUTOMOTIVE
The Impact of Automotive Megatrends on Electronics Manufacturing and Flash Memory
By Jennifer Higgins, Marketing & Communications Manager, Data I/O Corporation
A
utomotive megatrends, particularly those for connected and autonomous vehicles, are shaping the evolution of Flash Memory technologies and defining new programming requirements for automotive electronics manufacturing.
The automotive electronics market is rapidly expanding, driven by five key megatrends: autonomous driving, infotainment, electrification, connectivity, and security. Industry analysts predict a threefold rise in demand for automotive semiconductors within the next eight years. These next-generation automotive applications require more storage for advanced features and event recording. UFS (Universal Flash Storage) has emerged as the preferred memory solution for IVI (In-Vehicle Infotainment) and ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) applications. By 2025, over half of these automotive applications will utilise UFS devices, with the majority transitioning from eMMC to UFS by 2030. This shift is driven by a notable increase in programmable content with faster processing speeds for read/write operations, that cater to new requirements for advanced Flash Memory capabilities.
Impact of Automotive Trends on System Architecture and Manufacturing Processes
Connected and autonomous cars are evolving from a hardware-centric to a software- centric design to support new complex features, communication protocols, and security requirements. This is driving changes to the automotive electronics architecture and new flash memory demands. Within the automotive electronics architecture, the shift from a traditional distributed architecture consolidates a multitude of distinct ECUs (Engine Control Units) into a domain-controlled architecture with fewer, more powerful ECUs to support enhanced performance, efficiency, safety, security, and connectivity. The domain architecture consolidates functions like ADAS and infotainment into distinct domains, streamlining resource usage. As vehicles progress towards a more integrated autonomous design, automotive electronics designs will continue transitioning to a centralised or zone-focused approach. This change necessitates advancements in semiconductor technology with higher
18 MARCH 2024 | ELECTRONICS FOR ENGINEERS
performance and processing power, increased programmable content, additional storage, and bolstered security.
To meet these demands, automotive electronics are transitioning from eMMC to UFS, which offers faster data access and superior memory capacity. This shift poses challenges for manufacturing, including: • •
Maintaining throughput as file sizes grow.
Ensuring data retention for high-density Flash memory during x-ray and reflow processes.
• •
Achieving a cost-effective transition from eMMC to UFS.
Strategic planning is essential for
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