Synaptics and Murata collaborate on automotive wireless

Synaptics Incorporated and Murata Manufacturing have joined forces in a strategic partnership aimed at developing an advanced turnkey wireless connectivity module tailored for automotive Tier 1 suppliers and OEMs. The collaboration will focus on integrating the Synaptics Veros™ Wi-Fi and Bluetooth combo SoCs, known for their highly integrated RF front end, into a module co-created with Murata. These wireless SoCs are engineered to strike a balance between performance, low system design cost, and power efficiency, all while delivering exceptional throughput even in the high-temperature environments typical of automotive applications.

Meeting the stringent demands of the automotive market necessitates solutions that can withstand harsh operating conditions, ensure interoperability across diverse environments, and offer long-term reliability. Leveraging its Veros portfolio, which draws on decades of field-tested technology and IoT connectivity expertise, Synaptics aims to provide sustained support to manufacturers in the automotive sector. The SYN4383 Wi-Fi 6E and SYN4384 Wi-Fi 7 automotive products are designed to be pin-to-pin compatible with software upgradability, while the SYN4390 introduces high-throughput Wi-Fi 7 capabilities to this domain. Synaptics has outlined a robust wireless roadmap that includes plans for Wi-Fi 8 to address the evolving needs of next-generation automotive innovations.

“Murata remains at the forefront of RF and wireless module design, offering high-performance, compact components engineered for seamless integration into cutting-edge systems,” remarked Masatomo Hashimoto, Director of the Communication Module Division within Murata’s Communication and Sensor Business Unit. The Veros Seamless Intelligent Connectivity concept embodies Synaptics’ comprehensive wireless portfolio, incorporating features designed to enhance performance, interoperability, coexistence, energy efficiency, and bill of materials integration. Veros also includes built-in support for Synaptics Astra™, the AI-Native compute platform tailored for the IoT.

In a significant development in July 2023, Synaptics expanded its wireless license agreement with Broadcom by introducing new products and technologies, while extending its exclusive rights from the original 2020 agreement in certain markets for an additional three years, now running until 2026. This expanded agreement encompasses leading-edge offerings such as Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, and Bluetooth Enterprise True Wireless Stereo (TWS) IP from Broadcom, solidifying Synaptics’ position as a key player in the wireless technology domain.