ELECTRONICS I MARCH 2014 9

~ +49 89 218 938 400

Enter 200~ www.fme.fujitsu.com

Fujitsu Semiconductor EuropeI

MEMORY AND PERIPHERALSAs this device runs on a line bufferprinciple (i.e. the image is displayed line­by-line), no external frame buffer isneededfor storing graphicsbeforedisplay.As a result, memory requirementsaremore economical. Internal memoryconsists of 32kBof FlashROMplus 64kBof RAM,usedto store commandsequencesfor systemand interfaceconfiguration aswell asa small numberof bitmaps (icons).This latest GDCsatisfies more

ambitious industry requirementswhilemaintaining cost efficiency. In a marketas competitive as the automotive sector,this offers an unquestionableadvantage.

also possible.HDCPtechnology (High­Bandwidth Digital Content Protection) isalso offered, which supports on-demanddata encryption and decryption forcopyright-protected material or forpreventing unauthorised accessto data.Audio can also be transmitted via the

video link, which can handle up to eight32-bit audio channels(I'S supported).The Media Independent Interface (Mil),which enablesthe application to usetheAPIX2as an Ethernet PHY(physicallayer), offers up to lOoMbit/s full-duplexEthernet functionality.The sideband link is a key component

within APIX,as it is usedto transmit andreceivecontrol data betweenthe hostprocessorand peripherals.The integratedA-shell (automotive shell) implements adedicated protocol to ensurecorrect datapacket addressing,facilitating accessandcontrol for display unit features.The link is bidirectional, too: the device

feeds all coordinates and statesgenerated by instrumentation back tothe head unit, where they are processedto generate an appropriate response.The latest version replacesits

predecessor'ssprite enginewith a pixelengine basedon a reducedversion of theIRISgraphiccore. It enablesthe blendingof two picture streams(video from APIXplus in-memory graphics)and seamlessswitching betweenthem. Graphicfeaturesare roundedoff with two CLUTs(colourlook-up tables), a dithering unit and asignature unit for functional safety (ASIL).

CONNECTINGINOUSTRY.COM / E::LE::CTRONICS

GRAPHICS DISPLAY ENHANCEMENTFujitsu SemiconductorEurope,hasprogressedits graphicsdisplay controller(GDC)MB88F332'Indigo' technology bydeveloping its next generation MB88F334'Indigo2' (plus versions'Indigoz-S' and'Indigoz-N') which is a processorcreatedfor display applications in automotive.Eventhough the trend is towards full

virtual instrument clustersin motorvehicles,particularly for up-marketmodels,the sector is still dominated bymixed systems,which showthe requiredinformation to the driver by a combinationof mechanicaland discreteelementsalongsidegraphicaldisplays.This latest GDCusesa standaloneGPU

(graphics processingunit) controlledremotely by a host processorthrough anAPIX(Automotive PIXellink) interface. Itusesthe APIX2version of this technology,which offers a bandwidth of 3Gbit/s forboth video and control data from thehost processorto the display controller,even over considerabledistances.Theability to transmit two uncompressed

video streamswi'ih separatecontent (e.g.instrument cluster plusvehicleapplication,or separate rear seatentertainmentvideos)simultaneouslyand in real time is

Figure 1:The MB88F334 "lndigo2"from FujitsuSemiconductor: Agraphics displaycontroller for staying incommand

Today, the biggest challenge facingany technology is that of keeping

pacewith the growing demandsof theindustry in terms of requirements.Constant requestsfor more functionalityand more efficient operation, performanceand power consumption create a marketwhose playersare all striving to deliveran appealingproduct to the end customer.This is particularlytrue in the automotive

sector,where such requirements alsohaveto keepto an ever-tighter schedule.The needfor more intuitive control ofin-car features on the part of the userhasalso becomea must: drivers need tobe able to enjoy the full range offunctionality the vehicle has to offerwhile staying safeat the wheel.This hasboosteddevelopmentsin HMI

(Human-Machine Interface),which aspiresto createa complete userexperience,notonly in terms of ancillary features suchasinfotainment but with regardsto keyfunctionality offered by the instrumentcluster anddriver assistsystems.There is a needfor modular, scalable

solutions that are able to interactseamlesslyand transparently with theend user. In this scenario,the displaycontroller hasa critic,alrole to play

Manuel Haj-Saleh, Graphics Competence Centre ApplicationEngineer at Fujitsu Semiconductor Europe, discusses the latestgraphics display controller created for display applications inautomotive, that are taking the driver experience to the next level

The ultimate user experience

FEATURE. DISPLAYS & USER INTERFACES