New Microchip Software and Ethernet Switches for SDVs

The automotive industry is undergoing a significant transformation as OEMs increasingly adopt Ethernet technology to meet the growing demand for higher bandwidth, advanced features, enhanced security, and standardization. Microchip, a leading provider of semiconductor solutions, has introduced a new software platform and Ethernet switches specifically designed to address the evolving needs of automotive Ethernet networks.

The combination of LAN969x devices and the VelocityDRIVE software platform represents a major advancement in network configuration. By integrating the CORECONF YANG standard, Microchip is empowering designers to streamline software development and hardware network layer management. This approach not only reduces complexity and costs but also accelerates time to market for automotive OEMs.

Powered by a 1 GHz single-core Arm Cortex-A53 CPU, the LAN969x Ethernet switches offer high performance and multi-gigabit capabilities, with scalable bandwidth options ranging from 46 Gbps to 102 Gbps. The inclusion of Advanced Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) ensures precise timing and reliability for critical applications like Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Charlie Forni, vice president of Microchip’s USB and networking group, highlighted the significance of the VelocityDRIVE software platform in simplifying in-vehicle Ethernet networking for automotive customers. By leveraging the YANG configuration protocol, software development can be decoupled from specific hardware, enabling greater flexibility and interoperability across different Ethernet switches.

In addition to delivering high reliability and safety for automotive applications, the LAN969x switch family is designed to meet ASIL B Functional Safety and AEC-Q100 Automotive Qualification standards. These devices are optimized for systems with limited embedded memory and feature secure and fast boot capabilities, eliminating the need for costly external DDR memory.