NXP Develops Automotive Ethernet Transceiver for In-Vehicle Networks
- NXP, the first automotive semiconductor company to adopt Broadcom's BroadR-Reach
- Establishment of 'OPEN Alliance Special Profit Organization' to promote Ethernet networks in the automotive industry

SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 09, 2011 – NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ: NXPI) today announced its entry into the automotive Ethernet business as the first automotive semiconductor supplier to deploy Broadcom’s BroadR-Reach® Ethernet technology for in-vehicle networking. NXP’s commitment to be the industry’s first supplier of in-vehicle networking electronics marks a significant milestone in establishing BroadR-Reach as the de facto open standard for in-vehicle Ethernet. In parallel, NXP, Broadcom, Freescale and Harman today announced the formation of the OPEN Alliance Special Interest Group to accelerate the adoption of Ethernet in the automotive industry.

NXP plans to leverage its expertise in automotive electronics, which boasts industry-leading quality and strong application know-how, to develop an automotive-grade portfolio of products for the Ethernet physical layer based on BroadR-Reach®. Major automakers are developing new designs based on Ethernet, a high-bandwidth, low-cost network technology, complementing existing IVN technologies such as CAN, LIN, LVDS, and FlexRay. BMW has been selling Ethernet-enabled vehicles since 2008.

As automotive environments become more complex and evolve into network environments based on power electronics, demand is increasing among OEMs and design engineers for IVN technologies that can handle high-bandwidth applications at low cost. Broadcom BroadR-Reach Ethernet technology has significant cost advantages over other high-bandwidth IVN technologies such as LVDS because it is based on the ability to operate over UTP cable. Single-conductor UTP is not only cheaper and lighter than shielded cables, but is already used in CAN-based and LIN-based control systems, enabling the application of BroadR-Reach to existing in-vehicle networks.

A prime example of a high-bandwidth IVN application is the camera security feature that may become mandatory in new cars in countries such as the United States. Currently, there is a risk of damage to the vehicle or injury to pedestrians in situations where the driver’s view is not fully secured, such as when backing out of a narrow alley or garage. By mounting a few network cameras on the outside of the vehicle, the driver can see a full 360-degree view of the vehicle on the dashboard. Other high-bandwidth applications that can support Ethernet include network infotainment.

Another advantage of Ethernet as an IVN technology is that it is recognized as an international standard that supports IP-based networking. This makes it easy to adapt existing personal and enterprise IP software and applications to automotive applications, thus accelerating the development of future networked vehicles.

“We are delighted that NXP, a leading supplier of innovative IVN technology, has selected BroadR-Reach as a licensee,” said Ali Abaye, senior director of PHY product marketing at Broadcom. “With BroadR-Reach technology available to other semiconductor suppliers, it will help drive widespread adoption of 100Mbps Ethernet as a standard for automotive networking applications,” he said.

“Ethernet is a natural fit for high-bandwidth IVN, and we believe BroadR-Reach is the best technology for this application,” said Rob Hoeben, director of Ethernet marketing and business development, NXP Semiconductors. “Partnering with Broadcom rather than launching another R&D program will help reduce development costs and accelerate adoption of this technology in the automotive industry. We have no doubt that licensing BroadR-Reach will help accelerate the adoption of IVN Ethernet as a true standard, and we plan to develop automotive-grade PHY products based on Broadcom’s BroadR-Reach IP.”

First samples of NXP products are expected to be available in 2013.