Key IC Chips in Automotive Body Electronics and Lighting You Should Know

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Automotive body electronics define how drivers and even passengers interact with their vehicles. They play an important role in the modern world of automotive. They are among the top features that buyers look out for when it comes to buying vehicles.

Some of the key roles of automotive body electronics include body control, motor control, lighting, body security, power distribution, and safety control among others. With the gradual advancement of technology, new features and technologies are being introduced into vehicles.

 At the center of everything that entails automotive body electronics and lighting are the integrated circuits. Different types of ICs are used for managing and controlling electronics in automobiles.

So, which semiconductor chips are these and what do they do in automotive electronics? Keep reading as I strive to give comprehensive answers to these questions. 

IC chips in automotive body electronics and lighting

Let’s look at some of the most common IC chips that are used in automotive electronics and lighting.

· Power management ICs: All the electronics in vehicles rely on power. Power management ICs perform various power-related functions on vehicles. One of the functions is the distribution of power to different components of automotive body electronics.

· Battery management ICs: These are closely related to the power management chips. They monitor and control the process of charging a car’s battery.

· Memory ICs:  Some components that make up the automotive body electronics and lighting rely on different memory modules for storage and management.

· LED driver IC: Most modern vehicles have LED lights.  LED driver chips are used for controlling  LED lighting systems on vehicles.

· Display ICs: These are used for managing and controlling display actions in automotive body electronics and lighting.

· Interface ICs:  The main function of interface  ICs is to provide connections between different electronic devices and components.

· Microcontrollers:  These chips are responsible for data processing and execution. They are designed to perform arithmetic and logic functions. 

Types of electronic modules

Automotive body electronics and lighting are classified into different electronic modules. The classification is usually based on the functions and applications of the devices on a vehicle.

The first module is comfort-based. Automotive body electronics that belong to this category are specifically designed to enhance comfort when driving a vehicle. Some of the products that are classified under the comfort-based modules include roof control, ambient lighting, seat control, wireless charging, and door control features.

The control module is another popular type of module that falls under the automotive body electronics. As the name suggests, this type of module is specifically curated for controlling different mechanical actions on a vehicle. Some of the products that fall under this module include a power distribution system, body control, power window, mirror control, and wiper control features.

The safety module is also considered an important aspect of automotive body electronics and lighting. Several safety features depend on the electronics to function perfectly. Some of these features include anti-lock brakes, airbags, backup cameras, lane departure warning, lane assist, forward collision warning, and tire pressure monitors, among others.

Lighting modules: A device that emits light belongs to this module of automotive body electronics and lighting. Headlamps, brake lights, and reverse lights are just some of the top features that make up the lighting module.

Connectivity modules are used to facilitate seamless connections between objects and devices in a vehicle. The connection can either be wired or wireless. For example, the ability to connect your phone to the car’s entertainment system is made possible by Bluetooth technology, which is part of the connectivity module.

As you can see, automotive electronics cover all the essential aspects of a vehicle. If you are building a product, you simply need to identify the class or module that it will belong to. From there, you will embark on the process of getting the right IC chip for the solution.

Body control modules

A key aspect of IC chis in automotive body electronics and lighting is in the Body Control Module (BCM). This is a module that utilizes a vehicle’s busy system to communicate with different signals in the vehicle.

BCM is always considered as the brain of a vehicle’s body electronics. This is because it controls all the activities and operations of electronic devices and appliances that are located on different parts of a vehicle’s body. It sends and receives signals from all these electronics that make up a car’s body.

BCM is always considered a type of gateway ECU since it tends to interact with other ECUs to execute different instructions in a vehicle. This kind of architecture eliminates the need to use multiple wiring, something that is not only cumbersome but also a major safety risk.

Some of the key application areas in which BCM plays major roles include seat comfort, body movement control,  lighting, trunk opener, power doors, power windows, central locking, and car immobilizer, among others.

With the advancement of technology, the effectiveness and complexity of BCM have been continuously improving. Of course, this has a direct impact on the automotive body electronics and lighting.

One of the key changes is the miniaturization. The use of integrated circuits has resulted in the building of smaller modules that make up the automotive body electronics and lighting.

Conclusion

Are building a solution that will be part of the automotive body electronics? Getting the right IC chips will be one of the most important decisions that you will make. The best ICs will guarantee premium-quality and reliable products.

Start by knowing the types and specifications of the semiconductor chips that you would like to buy. From there, you can focus on where to buy IC chips for automotive body electronics and lighting.

 At ICRFQ, we are fully committed to partnering with buyers who want IC chips for their automotive solutions. We are a reputable IC supplier in China, stocking a wide range of ICs for automotive body electronics and lighting. With 20 years of experience in the industry, you can be sure of finding exactly what you are looking for. Talk to us directly and we will embark on the process of building a strong partnership with you.