(Jun 26, 2024) Recently, advanced technologies such as AI and Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) have been applied to the automotive industry, transforming these technologies into products and energizing the entire automotive supply chain. Additionally, the market penetration rate of electric vehicles is rising, leading car makers, tier-one suppliers, cloud service providers, and high-tech design houses to embrace the concept of "software defines vehicle." Macroblock is excited to participate in Shanghai International Auto Lamp Exhibition (ALE 2024) to debut a series of automotive LED driver ICs that echo the mainstream of intelligent driving and personalization.

Fig. 1 Macroblock participates in ALE 2024

Smart Cockpit-Chasing Extreme Immersive Driving Experience

The smart cockpit integrates AI and V2X technologies. According to the five senses theory, humans receive 87% of external information mainly through vision. As a result, the visual performance of automotive displays will determine whether drivers can have an immersive driving experience.

The smart cockpit displays include the dashboard, central display, passenger entertainment display, and head-up display (HUD). At ALE 2024, Macroblock presents LCD displays with mini-LED backlight technology (PCB and glass substrate) in 12.3" and 15.6" sizes, and a W-HUD. These demonstrations utilize AM LED driver ICs (MBI6306Q/MBI6304Q) and scan-type LED driver ICs (MBI6353Q), respectively.

Fig. 2 Macroblock presents LCD displays with mini-LED backlight technology (PCB and glass substrate) for the smart cockpit display application

Macroblock launches the AM LED driver ICs MBI6304Q and MBI6306Q in 2024. The MBI6304Q features 4 channels, a wide current range (3-70mA), high voltage (45V), mixed mode dimming technology, and 16-bit color depth. The MBI6306Q is a 6-channel IC that supports small currents of 0.1-10mA and 8-bit PAM dimming. For the passenger entertainment display, we adopt the MBI6306Q, a mini IC that allows the structure of the LED and driver IC to be on the same side of the PCB. This helps to achieve the goal of creating a slim module.

Fig. 3 Macroblock demonstrates a mini-LED backlight module with glass substrate (MBI6306Q)

Macroblock's dashboard and central display demonstrations have adopted the MBI6353Q, a 48-channel driver IC with up to 4-scan design. This allows one MBI6353Q to control 192 dimming zones, and by using only three MBI6353Q, a common 576-zone dimming solution can be achieved. With MBI6353Q's PAM/PWM hybrid mode dimming technology and wide current range of 4-100mA, the high contrast display provides excellent visual performance, regardless of whether you drive in bright sunlight or low-light conditions.

The demonstration of the W-HUD also highlights the excellent features of the MBI6353Q. The W-HUD is equipped with a wedge glass design that reduces ghost image problems, and its peak brightness is up to 10,000 nits, enabling clear image display even under bright sunlight and increasing driving safety. Furthermore, some car makers consider removing dashboards and making the HUD the primary driver's display. For instance, Li Auto’s L9 uses a HUD and steering wheel assistant display instead of a dashboard. This approach could free up more space and offer more design possibilities for the driver’s space. 

Fig. 4 The W-HUD applies MBI6353Q to reach peak brightness up to 10,000 nits

Another highlight of the smart cockpit demonstration zone is the micro-LED side mirror embedded with the common-cathode LED driver IC, MBI5780Q. Placing the side mirror inside the car can reduce wind resistance, and decrease power consumption. The micro-LED side mirror offers high brightness to minimize the effects of sunlight, sophisticated image quality, and 16-bit grayscale, which improves performance and reliability, and strengthens driving safety.

Fig. 5. The micro-LED side mirror offers high-quality visual performance (MBI5780Q)

Smart Cockpit Partners: JS Optoelectronics, Enflex, LED Young (HUD)

Automotive Smart Lighting Trend- Embedded AI and Personalization for Adaptive Driving Beam (ADB), Ambient Light, and Emblem Light

The ADB demonstration integrates ELAN's ADAS system, LEXTAR's LEDs, and Macroblock's MBI6353Q, which supports 4,096 steps of brightness adjustment. This allows the ADB to adjust lighting zones and luminance by LEDs in units, helping to prevent glare for other drivers and passengers and improving road safety.

Fig. 6. The AI-embedded ADB can improve road safety (MBI6353Q)

The ambient light in automotive lighting is an excellent way to showcase a driver's taste. Macroblock's MBI6034Q can be applied to three types of ambient light: point, linear, and planar. MBI6034Q features a 28V sustaining voltage and supports up to eight cascaded LEDs. Due to the separated structure of the LED and driver IC, there are more options for LED packages, which help to solve heat dissipation and EMI problems, especially for high-power light sources. MBI6034Q also has open/short detection, meeting ASIL-B safety requirements. At our booth, we demonstrate the linear ambient light with a smart dimming function to create breathing and running water light effects. Moreover, each color driven by MBI6034Q has a 16-bit grayscale, providing rich colors that reveal the driver's emotions.

Fig. 7. The linear ambient light with a smart dimming function to create breathing and running water light effects (MBI6034Q)

Many car makers are also paying more attention to emblem lights as they can add a lively style to the vehicle's appearance through changes in light effects. Macroblock's linear driver IC, MBI1841Q can be applied to these solutions by flexibly matching the light board design.

The External Message Bridge of V2X-Grille Light and Full-width Rear Light

V2X technology enables not only vehicle-to-device communication but also vehicle-to-passenger interaction. This has led to the increasing implementation of interactive matrix displays in cars, including grille and full-width rear lights. These displays feature high brightness and flexible designs, making the displayed text and images easy to read even in sunlight. Moreover, V2X allows real-time updates of messages displayed on the interactive matrix displays. As a result, we are seeing more and more of these displays in new car models, such as the SAR Mecha Dragon by GWM Auto. 

Fig. 8. V2X increases the implementation of interactive matrix displays in cars (MBI5353Q)

Macroblock demonstrates interactive matrix displays in the grille and full-width rear lights. These displays utilize LED driver IC MBI5353Q and MOSFET IC MBI5989Q, which are capable of displaying 16-bit grayscale and achieving an 8KHz visual refresh rate. This allows clear messages to be displayed, contributing to improving road safety.

The Business Opportunity of Advertising Displays in Charging Stations

The EV penetration rate continues to rise, along with the growth of charging stations, since drivers have to spend an average of 10-20 minutes at fast charging stations. This has created a growing business opportunity for advertising displays in charging stations. However, outdoor LED displays must be highly reliable to withstand climate changes, including extreme weather conditions. Macroblock's LED driver ICs have been implemented in outdoor displays for over 20 years and have been acknowledged by customers worldwide for their reliability. For this application, MBI5264, MBI5756, and MBI5762 can be used for up-close, fine-pitch displays, delivering perfect display performance and boosting advertising benefits.

Fig. 9. The advertising displays in charging stations need high-reliability LED driver ICs (MBI5264, MBI5756, MBI5762)

As advanced technologies continue to mature and be implemented, cars have the potential to become the third most important living space, after the home and office. At ALE 2024, Macroblock showcases its ambition and innovation in the automotive field. We look forward to more cooperation opportunities with companies in the supply chain to build a beautiful automotive future.

TrendForce 2024 Global Automotive LED Market- Lighting and Display Product Trend
Release Date:
1. PDF (180 Pages)- 30 June 2024
2. EXCEL- 30 June 2024 and 31 December 2024
Languages: Traditional Chinese / English

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