Embedded World 2017 - Automotive AEC-Q100 Grade 3 packet switches

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Diodes Incorporated has introduced the PI7C9X2G304SLQ and PI7C9X2G404SLQ, representing the first-ever packet switches to be automotive-qualified to AEC-Q100 grade 3.

These PCI Express (PCIe) 3‑Port/4‑Lane and 4‑Port/4‑Lane Packet Switches have been designed to meet automotive industry requirements, targeting applications in infotainment, telematics and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). They feature advanced power management, hot-plug connectivity and an integrated 100MHz clock buffer to ease design and lower BOM cost.

Based on Diodes’ PI7C9X2G PCIe2 Packet Switch family, both devices are able to offer compliance with AEC-Q100 Grade 3 over the full automotive temperature range of -40C to +85C, while meeting PCISIG PCIe rev. 2.1 to assure good interoperability.

With an MTBF rate of over 50 million hours, these automotive devices are highly reliable and are characterised by low power dissipation - typically 650mW in normal L0 mode and just 200mW in L1 mode - which eases thermal design. High performance is also ensured by the family’s low latency, which is typically 150ns for a packet running through the switch without blocking.

To meet non-automotive requirements for greater fan-out, port-extension flexibility, and to support multiple-host functionality for failover operation, Diodes has also introduced 9‑port/12‑lane and 16‑port/16‑lane versions of its PCIe Packet Switches, the PI7C9X2G912GP and PI7C9X2G1616PR. These support multiple x2 downstream ports, making them suitable for a wide range of embedded system, networking, telecom and storage applications, such as backplanes, industrial process controllers, switches, routers, gateways, base stations, RAID controllers, solid state drives, and NAS equipment.

Diodes’ automotive-grade PI7C9X2G304SLQ and PI7C9X2G404SLQ Packet Switches are offered in a 128-pin LQFP package. The 9‑port/12‑lane PI7C9X2G912GP Packet Switch is packaged in a 196-pin PBGA, while the 16‑port/16‑lane PI7C9X2G1616PR comes in a 324-pin HSBGA package.