FlexRay networking standard for motor vehicles and the benefits it will deliver to the automotive in

Fujitsu Microelectronics America, has issued a new technology backgrounder describing the FlexRay networking standard for motor vehicles and the benefits it will deliver to the automotive industry.

Entitled “Taking Full Advantage of the FlexRay Network for Motor Vehicles,” the technology backgrounder includes a comprehensive overview of the emerging FlexRay protocol, including performance comparisons with existing communications standards such as the Control Area Network (CAN). The paper describes the benefits of FlexRay’s high bandwidth and data rates, redundancy, flexibility, and time-triggered methodology, along with the benefits these features provide for new engine control, passenger safety, comfort and other applications. The paper also describes the frame format, topology, bus signals, and node status transitions in the network protocol; identifies various operational states of a FlexRay node; and details the header, payload and trailer segments of a typical FlexRay frame.

“The advent of the FlexRay protocol is exciting and positive news that will create substantial improvement in automotive electronics, enhancing safety, comfort and control of new automobiles,” said Akio Nezu, senior marketing manager of the Embedded Solutions Group for Fujitsu Microelectronics America. “Fujitsu has been working with the FlexRay Consortium on the standard, and we have developed initial FlexRay devices along with a complete evaluation kit to help our customers start their designs. This new white paper will contribute to our customers’ understanding.”

Developed out of necessity by leading automotive electronics suppliers worldwide, FlexRay enables a set of new communications capabilities that will enhance the reliability of various automotive systems. Eventually, it will enable complete X-by-Wire applications. For more information about FlexRay, please visit http://www.flexray.com/ .