Renesas Electronics has announced the availability of the R-Car D1 series, as the first system-on-a-chip (SoC) member of the R-Car family specialized for 3D instrument panel systems in vehicles.
Renesas presents the new series to provide a seamless migration path for automotive system manufacturers, as more and more automotive systems are expected to switch to 3D graphical instrument panel systems.
As the use of color LCD panels in instrument cluster systems becomes more widespread, gauge control and graphic display are being combined even in smaller and mid-sized cars. The trend toward "fewer gauges" displays is already increasing in high-end cars, where visibility and convenience are desired, along with attractive displays featuring 3D graphics on large, high-resolution panels. In the future, screen size and resolution are expected to continue increasing, even in graphic displays used in mid-range and lower-end cars, along with the use of cluster systems that provide 3D graphics similar to those used in high-end vehicles.
The R-Car D1 provides the necessary functionality and performance, and because Renesas users can leverage the R-Car consortium ecosystem of over 170 companies, they will be able to rapidly develop 3D graphical instrument panel systems. Renesas will promote the more widespread use of 3D graphics.
The Renesas R-Car family of SoCs implements high-functionality human-machine interfaces (HMIs) for high-end automotive cockpit systems. Renesas also offers gauge control support through its RH850/D1X microcontrollers, which are also ideal for mid-range and entry-level automotive systems.
Availability:
Samples of the R-Car D1 series are now available. Mass production is scheduled to begin in March 2017 and is expected to reach a volume of 100,000 units by March 2018. (Availability is subject to change without notice.)
