Delphi Opens Electrical and Electronics World For Automakers With Integrated Vehicle E/E System
23 February 1998
Delphi Opens Electrical and Electronics World For Automakers With Integrated Vehicle E/E System
TROY, Mich., Feb. 23 -- Delphi Automotive Systems opens the
door for OEMs to use breakthrough technologies that enable extensive
electrical and electronics (E/E) content to be integrated into an advanced
Integrated Vehicle E/E System.
The system, introduced today at the 1998 SAE International Congress and
Exposition in Detroit, integrates electrical and electronic content within a
single architecture.
"This integration work marks a radically new direction for E/E
architecture because it provides our customers with one optimal system," said
Robert Steele, Delphi senior staff engineer. "It's going to help OEMs
efficiently and dependably manage the total vehicle E/E system cost and
complexity."
Delphi's integrated vehicle E/E system, developed by the company's Packard
Electric Systems and Delco Electronics Systems divisions, uses technologies
such as network communications (multiplexing), optical data transmission,
multi-drop wiring, E/E centers, and electronics integrated into smart
switches, connectors, sensors and actuators. "The fully optimized system is
then adaptable to content and design changes for various vehicle platforms,"
Steele said.
Delphi's vision for an optimized E/E system is one that is smaller,
lighter, smarter and more cost-efficient, while solving challenges in
packaging, cost and quality. This systems approach accommodates future
feature proliferation and customization with increased flexibility and
efficiency, while meeting today's demands for more electronic control and
coordination, Steele said.
Three examples of sub-systems that utilize integrated E/E architecture
are:
* Modular Overhead Console (OHC) -- The modular overhead console
integrates electronics features and attaches to the vehicle interior with a
Dock-&-Lock(TM) connection. Switches are integrated into the housing, and
electronics are integrated onto a flex circuit or can be added as discrete
modules with a solderless low-insertion force connection. Advanced data
transmission technology incorporates high-speed fiber optic data interfaces
for real-time distribution of data throughout the network. The OHC features a
remote keyless entry system and is easily expandable to incorporate features
such as personal communications, roadside-to-vehicle communications, pagers
and theft-deterrent systems. The modular OHC reduces cost, mass and solves
customer-packaging concerns. Improvements are realized in product reliability
and installation time with added flexibility for location of devices.
* Electrical/Electronic Centers -- Traditional electrical centers
provide a centralized location for high- and low-current bussing, circuit
protection and switching devices. Delphi is now embedding electronics into
the electrical center. This further improves the system by reducing the
number of components and electrical interfaces. This reduction in components
also improves reliability and buildability while reducing mass, size and cost.
* Advanced Door E/E Sub-System -- Using the integrated vehicle E/E
systems approach in a door sub-system results in fewer parts to mount, a
smaller and simpler wiring harness, and increased flexibility. Advanced door
subsystems use multiplex nodes with integrated electronics such as smart
connectors, sensors, switches and actuators (mechatronics). The nodes are
linked via a three-lead multi-drop wiring system featuring multiplexed data
communication and shared power and ground. These features, which can be added
to the door with a software change and a connection to the multi-drop wiring,
allow for faster product introductions and increased responsiveness to market
changes. Through software changes, manufacturers can make a "running" change
without dramatically altering the overall vehicle design. Automobile
manufacturers are then able to reduce cost, mass and packaging volume, and
improve reliability and assembly time in the vehicle.
Steele said Delphi's integrated vehicle E/E systems concept acts as the
"system manager," ensuring that every component speaks the same language
through standardized protocol for digital communications. Delphi also can
apply its systems approach in conjunction with customer-specified components
through the use of smart connectors on the wiring harness, or work with the
component supplier to integrate the communications and control electronics
into the component.
With Delphi's continued development of the technology, future enhancements
of the integrated vehicle E/E system concept will see expansion of the
application of "plug-and-play" features in the network.
Delphi Automotive Systems, with headquarters in Troy, Mich., USA, is the
world's most diversified supplier of automotive components and systems. With
the recent integration of Delphi Delco Electronics Systems, Delphi operates
208 manufacturing facilities, 46 ventures and 27 technical centers in 36
countries. Regional headquarters are located in Paris, Tokyo and Sao Paulo.
Delphi can now be found on the Internet at http://www.delphiauto.com.
"NEXT CENTURY WINNERS" FACT SHEET
ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC (E/E) SYSTEMS
NEWS
Delphi's approach to the integrated electrical/electronic system combines
electrical and electronic content into one optimal system, using multiple
technologies (see below). The total vehicle integrated E/E systems approach
can also be applied to modular assemblies.
OPERATION
Highlighted E/E technologies include:
Network Communications (Multiplexing)
* Multiplexing is the transmission of multiple signals over a common
medium.
* Network communications allows electronic controllers to share
information -- eliminating the need for individual wires. This helps
packaging, as well as reduces weight and simplifies the wiring harness.
* Information is shared rather than duplicated, improving service repair,
diagnostics and the flexibility to change options.
Fiber Optic Data Transmission
* Plastic optical fiber allows high-speed data communications without
electromagnetic compatibility issues, at a lower cost than twisted-,
shielded- or coaxial-cable alternatives.
* Typical applications would be networks with data rates higher than 500
kbps, such as digital audio, video and navigation, or high-speed
vehicle control networks.
Multi-Drop Wiring
* Multi-drop wiring is an interconnect system for connecting multiple
smart devices to a shared B+, data and ground. This approach allows
the addition of a feature with a simple software change and an
additional connection to the existing shared B+, data and ground
leads.
* Multi-drop wiring reduces the number of leads, terminals and module
input/output count, simplifying the assembly of the wiring harness and
module.
Electrical/Electronic Centers
* E/E centers combine fuse and relay centers, splices and harness-to-
harness interconnects and now introduce logic and shared splicing.
* E/E centers reduce components and increase system reliability, reduce
mass and size, reduce cost and investment, and improve buildability.
Electronics-Integrated Smart Switches, Connectors, Sensors and Actuators
* The addition of electronics to these products provides the ability to
communicate via a multiplex network.
* Information from a number of devices can be communicated to the control
module via a single input.
* Smart switches, connectors, sensors and actuators reduce interfaces and
facilitate smaller connection systems and smaller control modules.
BENEFITS
* Smaller, easier-to-package E/E centers.
* Smaller, easier-to-install wiring harnesses and connectors.
* Fewer electrical interfaces.
* Reduced mass.
* Increased function flexibility.
* Simplified component and vehicle assembly.
* More efficient power generation and storage-enabling functions, such as
energy management and fault management.
* Improved system reliability.
SOURCE Delphi Automotive Systems