Microchip's MOST150 INIC is cost-effective and enables easy coaxial connectivity of smart antenna modules to automotive control, audio, video, and IP networks

     Microchip Technology announced that MOST Cooperation has released the latest MOST150 technology coaxial physical layer specification. With the release of the new industry standard specification, Microchip can connect the smart antenna module to the vehicle's MOST150 Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) and infotainment network through an OS81118AF Intelligent Network Interface Controller (INIC) equipped with an integrated coaxial transceiver.

     Smart antenna telematics systems and other data traffic from AM/FM, DAB, SDARS, DVB-T, 3G/LTE, GPS and Wi-Fi signals are increasingly needed for in-vehicle network connectivity to enable high-bandwidth control, audio, video and Internet Protocol (IP) -based communications. The MOST150 coaxial physical layer is an ideal choice. In addition, the use of mature, low-cost coaxial cable to provide both communication signals and power for these on-board systems simplifies design and installation, reduces cost and vehicle weight, and makes it easier to meet various environmental regulatory requirements.

     With the OS81118AF, designers can connect to the smart antenna module via coaxial cable to create in-vehicle mobile and Wi-Fi® connectivity applications based on the MOST150 network. This simple and convenient solution caters to the needs of today's automotive market for wireless connected applications such as Internet access, email, social networking and location /GPS based services. The MOST150 technology was successfully deployed in the first model in 2012, and the first models with the MOST150 coaxial physical layer technology are scheduled to be launched in 2017. Since 2001, more than 180 models have been equipped with more than 150 million MOST devices. This smart antenna module coaxial deployment solution is highly cost-effective and has an extremely wide range of market applications, which is expected to further promote the popularity of MOST technology in the automotive market.

     Dan Termer, vice president of Automotive Information Systems at Microchip, said: "We are pleased that MOST Cooperation has released the new MOST150 technology coaxial specification. It was the joint efforts of our customers, the MOST Cooperation Working Group, and Microchip that led to the publication of this specification, for which we are grateful. "By using the MOST150 technology coaxial physical layer, we are now able to provide a superior technical solution with robust physical layer and stable electromagnetic characteristics to cost-effectively deploy smart antenna modules in the vehicle."