Impact of VLSI Circuits on Automotive Electronics

Electronic equipment has been applied in various applications to the automobile for more than one decade. Considerations of fuel economy, environmental protection requirements, increasing demand for high safety, more convenience and better information for the driver can only be solved economically and with reliability by the use of LSI and VLSI circuits in automotive electronic systems. Innovations, both in the design and technology of integrated circuits, permit a rapid spread of automotive electronic control, This paper presents design and technological considerations for integrated circuits and is illustrated by using some examples that are typical for automotive application. Quality aspects and related reliability under automotive environment are described. A design methodology for automotive LSI circuits is outlined and its present capability is demonstrated.