|
September 9th, 2005
SRS Labs, Inc. (NASDAQ: SRSL), one of the most popular sources of
audio technology for chip companies, has entered the automotive market through an agreement with Philips. As part of that
agreement, Philips will incorporate SRS Circle Surround Automotive, also referred to as CS Auto, into the Philips’ SAF7730
series of automotive radio chips. Lenka Koloma, director strategic IC partners and sales at SRS Labs indicated that Philips’
DSP based chip was a way to immediately reach the tier one automotive market, "By working with Philips to offer CS Auto in
the leading automotive DSP chip, we are able to immediately reach and support major OEMs, tier one and aftermarket manufacturers
to enable them to bring the home theater experience to the car."
The technology SRS Labs offers is said permit more flexibility in
the placement of speakers in the automobile and reduce speaker hardware requirements, but at the same time maintain or even
improve high quality surround sound.
August 26th, 2005
Freescale indicated, with the recent announcement of volume production
of its FlexRay MFR4200 controller chip, that X-by-wire automotive subsystems for applications such as braking, steering, suspension
and throttle control, will eventually become standard in tomorrow’s car. Tomorrow’s autos are planned to have
an internal wireless network that connects to wireless motors, sensors, brakes and transmissions, not to mention fuel economy
control systems. Furthermore, tomorrow’s autos are expected to be linked with other automobiles to form the basis for
car-to-car communications. Such car-to-car communication systems could provide direct driver-to-driver communications, as
well as provide vital navigation statistics about the velocity, acceleration and distance of other nearby and even distant
automobiles.
The FlexRay standard, besides enabling very advanced navigation
and communications features, should also increase vehicle stability and safety, as well as increase communications throughput
over 10 fold from current CAN network based automobiles. According to Juergen Weyer, vice president and general manager of
Freescale's Transportation & Standard Products Group in Europe, Middle East and Africa, "We believe FlexRay is destined
to be the de facto global standard for innovative high-speed control applications in the car. The list of manufacturers embracing
the protocol -- including Audi, BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Ford, GM, Toyota and Volkswagen -- underscores the momentum FlexRay
has already achieved. As a core partner in the FlexRay Consortium, we're working to help proliferate the standard."
Freescale expects that FlexRay-enabled vehicles will arrive on the
market sometime in 2006.
|
