As the graphics show below, semiconductor solutions are used in a wide array of automotive applications such as the camera and sensing system, dashboard, IVI (In-Vehicle Infotainment) system, ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistant System), autonomous driving central computing system and gateway. Semiconductors will be used even more extensively in the future, especially with the potential introduction of autonomous driving.

Samsung has been continuously cooperating with leading automobile manufacturers to make its semiconductor technologies available in the industry’s latest automobiles as well as next-generation cars. The company has participated in the Audi Progressive SemiConductor Program (PSCP) since 2015 with its advanced memory solutions and Exynos processors.

With its multiple operating system compatibility and support for multi-display, Samsung’s flagship Exynos processors enable powerful computing and graphics processing performance for today’s automobiles with highly graphical user interfaces. Along with its Exynos offerings, Samsung also plans to develop a wide array of logic IC solutions for upcoming automotive applications. Images sensors, working as the eyes of future vehicles, will have further improved frame rate and light sensitivity for thorough monitoring and sensing the driving environment.

When it comes to memory solutions, Samsung provides its high-performance, high-density LPDDR4 /LPDDR4X and GDDR6 DRAM lineups to address ever increasing demand for higher data bandwidth. For secure data storage, Samsung offers advanced eMMC and UFS solutions. All of these Samsung semiconductor solutions for automotive applications guarantee the highest performance levels among their kinds and are designed to endure tough environments inside the automobiles such as sudden temperature changes and continuous vibration.

Also offered by Samsung are LED components for interior and exterior lighting of automobiles such as cluster indicator lighting, headlamps and turn signal lamps. Based on upcoming technologies like pixel lighting, Samsung will be able to provide LED packages and modules that will enable more sophisticated and reliable lighting solutions.

“Samsung’s ISOCELL image sensors have made great leaps over the generations, with technologies such as ISOCELL for high color fidelity and Dual Pixel for ultra-fast autofocusing, bringing the smartphone camera ever closer to DSLR-grade photography,” said Ben K. Hur, vice president of System LSI marketing at Samsung Electronics. “With an added DRAM layer, Samsung’s new 3-stack ISOCELL Fast 2L3 will enable users to create more unique and mesmerizing content.”

Conventional image sensors are constructed with two silicon layers; a pixel array layer that converts light information into an electric signal, and an analog logic layer that processes the electric signal into digital code. The digital code is then sent via MIPI interface to the device’s mobile processor for further image tuning before being saved to the device’s DRAM. While all these steps are done instantaneously to implement features like zero-shutter lag, capturing smooth super-slow-motion video requires image readouts at a much higher rate.

Delivering an advanced solution, the Samsung ISOCELL Fast 2L3 is a high speed 3-stack CMOS image sensor designed with the company’s two-gigabit (Gb) LPDDR4 DRAM attached below the analog logic layer. With the integration, the image sensor can temporarily store a larger number of frames taken in high speed quickly onto the sensor’s DRAM layer before sending frames out to the mobile processor and then to the device’s DRAM. This not only allows the sensor to capture a full-frame snapshot at 1/120 of a second but also to record super-slow motion video at up to 960 frames per second (fps). With 960fps recording, which is 32 times the typical filming speed (30fps), recording moments such as a child hitting his or her first game-winning homerun, a baby taking his or her first step, or a friend doing a gazelle flip on a skateboard becomes much more dramatic.

In addition to super slow motion video, fast readout can hugely enhance the photography experience. Since the sensor captures an image at very high speeds, it significantly reduces the ‘jello-effect,’ or image distortion, when taking a picture of fast-moving objects, for example helicopter rotor blades. By storing multiple frames in the split of a second, the sensor can support 3-Dimensional Noise Reduction (3DNR) for clearer pictures when shooting in low-light, as well as real time high-dynamic-range (HDR) imaging, and detect even the slightest hint of movement for automatic instant slow-motion recording.

The image sensor is also equipped with Dual Pixel technology, which allows each and every one of the 12-million pixels of the image sensor to employ two photodiodes that respectively work as a phase detection auto-focus (PDAF) agent. With ultra-fast auto-focus in any lighting condition, it will be harder to miss capturing important moments before they pass by.

The Samsung ISOCELL Fast 2L3 is currently in mass production.

The Audi Progressive SemiConductor Program is designed to make the latest semiconductor technologies available in cars, while increasing reliability, with the aim of intensifying the role and engagement of semiconductor companies in the process. Based on the strategic partnership, Samsung will provide its latest leading-edge memory products including 20-nanometer LPDDR4 DRAM and 10-nanometer class eMMC (embedded multimedia card) 5.1 to Audi’s future infotainment, dashboard and ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) automotive applications.

“It is an exciting moment to offer our industry leading memory solutions to embrace the rapidly growing automotive industry,” said Dr. Kinam Kim, president of Semiconductor Business at Samsung Electronics’ Device Solutions Division. “Based on this partnership, Samsung will bring various benefits and advanced user experience to the global automotive market while providing high quality memory products with excellent performance and enhanced reliability.”

“Samsung is leading memory technology development with its high-performance, high-density DRAM and NAND flash memory solutions based on the industry’s most advanced process technology”, said Ricky Hudi, Executive Vice President Electronic Development at Audi. “Through the PSCP strategic partnership with Samsung, Audi will utilize Samsung’s high speed memory products to provide the best user experience to our customers. Both parties are committed to achieving the quality levels that people expect from the Audi brand”.

According to a recent report by Gartner, the global automotive semiconductor market is expected to grow from US $31.2 billion in revenue to US $32.7 billion in 2016 approximately, while the automotive memory market portion will reach a 4.6% percent share or about US $1.5 billion in 2016. The PSCP collaboration will illustrate next generation car applications at the highest safety and comfort level with enhanced reliability as well as improved performance, and will strengthen Samsung and Audi’s competitiveness in the global automotive industry.