Automotive Engineering - April 2024 - 25

PRODUCT
BRIEFS
SPOTLIGHT: SIMULATION
AND ANALYSIS TOOLS
Driving simulation
Gate driver ICs
ROHM Semiconductor
(Kyoto, Japan) introduced
the BD2311NVX-LB gate
driver IC that has been optimized
for GaN devices.
ROHM states that the new
unit achieves gate drive
speeds of nanoseconds,
which makes them suitable
for high-speed switching with a minimum gate input pulse
width of 1.25 ns. This speed reportedly contributes to smaller,
more energy efficient and higher performance applications.
ROHM states that it has developed a unique method to suppress
the gate voltage overshoots and has implemented it into
this driver. In addition, the optimum GaN device can be selected
by adjusting the gate resistance based on application requirements.
It also features a gate overvoltage suppression feature.
https://www.rohm.com/
VI-grade (Darmstadt, Germany) announced a collaboration
with Varjo (Helsinki, Finland) to develop headsets aimed at
enhancing the experience of VI-grade's professional driving
simulators. VI-grade's driving simulators offer the ability to
simulate testing of ride and handling, NVH, ADAS and HMI.
Varjo states that its XR technology will enhance the user
experience of VI-grade's simulators by providing improved
realism, dynamic motion and lifelike visuals. By integrating
Varjo's XR headsets into its simulation ecosystem, VI-grade
claims that its driving simulators are significantly enhancing
the user's experience with a greater sense of realism. Varjo's
XR-3 and XR-4 headsets will be integrated with VI-grade's
standard virtual environment, VI-WorldSim, which offers
multi-agent AI traffic behavior and sensor fusion.
https://www.vi-grade.com/
https://varjo.com/
Current sensors
Asahi Kasei Microdevices (Düsseldorf,
Germany) has begun mass production
of the CZ39 series of coreless current
sensors. The company states that the
CZ39 device family is suited for EV applications
thanks to its 100-ns response
time, low heat generation and noise immunity.
These properties are compatible
with silicon carbide- and gallium nitride-based power devices.
The CZ39 series also reportedly allows for the implementation
of substantially smaller, lighter and more accurate onboard
charging systems for EVs. The CZ39 series features a highsensitivity
compound Hall element that enables a response
time of 100 ns and can quickly signal the system to interrupt
current flow during an overcurrent condition.
https://www.asahi-kasei.com/
AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING
Light testing
Dynamic Research Inc. (Torrance,
California) has developed new testing
capabilities for adaptive driving
beams (ADB). The company states
that ADBs enable a vehicle's high
beams to be used continuously as the
system automatically adjusts the direction
and intensity of the light
beam to prevent glare for surrounding
traffic. This reportedly improves visibility for the driver
and better illuminates hazards such as pedestrians. NHTSA
recently revised its FMVSS 108 headlight standard to enable
vehicles in the U.S. to be equipped with ADB technology. This
has been accompanied by a new test procedure to evaluate
the performance of these headlights.
https://www.dynres.com/
Isolation valves
Eaton (Southfield, Michigan) launched a
fuel tank isolation valve for hybrid vehicles.
Eaton's FTIV reportedly is easier to
mount, 27% lighter, 39% smaller and contains
24% fewer components than its predecessor.
Eaton states that its engineers
reduced the size of the FTIV by improving
the magnetic force produced by the isolation
valve while at the same time reducing the amount of
copper. Additionally, the new FTIV is designed to be easier to
mount in a variety of challenging tank configurations within
the vehicle. Eaton states that it has agreements to supply its
FTIV to two global automotive customers.
https://www.eaton.com
April 2024 25
https://www.rohm.com/ https://www.vi-grade.com/ https://varjo.com/ https://www.dynres.com/ https://www.asahi-kasei.com/ https://www.eaton.com
Automotive Engineering - April 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Automotive Engineering - April 2024
