Designing today’s cars is an enormously complex business. What makesthem complex? Some cars have more computing power than jet aircraft, with asmany as 100 programmable Electronic Control Units (ECUs) and up to 100 million lines of code helping to run everything from the engineand power train to infotainment, communications, and safety anddriver-assistance systems. And the complexity is only increasing as cartechnology rapidly advances toward more sophisticated driver-assistancesystems and self-driving cars.
So it’s not surprising that the automotive sector has overtakencomputers and communications as the fastest-growing market for electronicssystems, according to ICInsights, which forecasts that demand for automotive integratedcircuits will expand at a particularly brisk clip, experiencing 16 percentgrowth in2018.
Critical design factors forautomotive electronics
As in-vehicle electronics grow more complex and control more of acar’s functions, several design factors become even more critical:
- Ruggedness and reliability: Components must withstand the rigors of everyday use and the extremes of temperatures and humidity.
- Longevity: Consumers expect their vehicles to function longer — ten years or more — than other electronic devices such as mobile phones.
- Interference: Electronic components and systems in the vehicle must coexist with each other without causing interference.
To ensure components don't fail once they're embedded inelectronics systems, the automotive industry has developed strict qualitystandards for component manufacturing and testing. Only parts that meetthese standards can be qualified for automotive use.
Key industry quality standards
For a component to be automotive qualified, manufacturers have to meetspecific industry standards throughout the manufacturing and testing process.Three key standards are IATF 16949, AEC-Q100 and AEC-Q200:
- IATF 16949. The global automotive industry standard for quality management systems. The automotive industry generally expects parts to be manufactured, assembled and tested in IATF 16949-qualified facilities.
- AEC-Q100 & AEC-Q200. During the qualification phase before the release of the device, each component must survive a battery of industry-standard tests:
- AEC-Q100 defines the standard tests for active components such as switches and power amplifiers (PAs).
- AEC-Q200 covers similar tests for passive devices such as RF filters used in Wi-Fi and cellular communications.
Some of these tests are unique to the automotive industry and aren’tconducted at all on parts intended for commercial use. Examples are the testfor early life failure rate (ELFR), which subjects multiple samples of 800components to temperatures of at least 125°C, and the power temperaturecycling (PTC) test, which repeatedly cycles between extremely high (125°C)and extremely low (‑40°C or even lower) temperatures.
Other tests are conducted under harsher conditions — such as highertemperatures — than when testing commercial parts, or using larger lotsizes to provide greater statistical confidence in the reliability ofproduction components.
Also, because cars last much longer than other electronic devices,manufacturers typically must ensure a supply of each automotive component willbe available for 10 years.
Additional testing for auto-qualifiedparts: From wafer stage to finished product
In addition to the standard tests applied to commercial parts, automotivecomponents undergo further testing at each major stage in the productionprocess, from wafer level to finished part:
- Wafer level and assembly. Each die gets four optical inspections to uncover any lurking defects that might lead to failure once components are built into vehicle electronic systems.
- Final test, tape and reel. With even the best-designed semiconductor manufacturing processes, there’s a chance that rare and unexpected events (such as problems in manufacturing tools or raw materials) can result in anomalies that lead to early part failure. The automotive component manufacturing process includes additional screening to identify these “outlier” parts and batches before they find their way into customer products.
- Reliability testing and documentation. In addition to the AEQ stress tests, component makers must follow a product quality program known as Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP). This includes producing an extensive documentation package covering the entire manufacturing process, test records, design/process failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA), and other information. The Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) is a part of this APQP program.
Qualified automotive components make adifference
As cars evolve into four-wheeled computing devices, the quality ofelectronic components becomes even more critical to vehicle reliability andsafety. Although an RF filter or PA qualified for automotive use may appear tohave similar specifications to a component designed for general commercialuse, don’t be fooled. A great deal of work goes into making sure thatautomotive components that adhere to the quality standards can stand up to therigors of real-world conditions during the years that a car will be on theroad.
FAQs
For a component to be automotive qualified, manufacturers have to meet specific industry standards throughout the manufacturing and testing process. Three key standards are IATF 16949, AEC-Q100 and AEC-Q200: IATF 16949. The global automotive industry standard for quality management systems.
What is an AEC qualification? ›
AEC-Q100 is an industry standard specification that outlines the recommended new product and major change qualification requirements and procedures for packaged integrated circuits. Renesas offers both standard and AEC-Q100 qualified products for automotive applications.
What is a grade 0 automotive qualification? ›
Grade 0 is the most stringent, requiring testing throughout the -50°C ~ +150°C temperature range. Components graded to this level can be used in any application throughout the automotive industry regardless of location within the vehicle. The level of testing required then decreases through the grades.
What are the basic automotive standards? ›
Automotive standards are established regulations and requirements for various aspects of the automobile industry, such as safety, emissions, quality and performance, that govern the production and use of automobiles. Automotive compliance standards play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and quality of vehicles.
What is the difference between AEC-Q100 and AEC-Q200? ›
AEC-Q100 "Failure Mechanism Based Stress Test Qualification For Integrated Circuits" AEC-Q101 "Failure Mechanism Based Stress Test Qualification For Discrete Semiconductors" AEC-Q200 "Stress Test Qualification For Passive Components"
What is automotive qualification? ›
For a component to be automotive qualified, manufacturers have to meet specific industry standards throughout the manufacturing and testing process. Three key standards are IATF 16949, AEC-Q100 and AEC-Q200: IATF 16949.
What is a Grade 0 qualification for AEC-Q100? ›
Temperature Qualifications
Grade 0: -40°C to 150°C. Grade 1: -40°C to 125°C. Grade 2: -40°C to 105°C. Grade 3: -40°C to 85°C.
What is the difference between Grade 1 and Grade 0 automotive? ›
The difference between grade0 (150°C) and grade1 (125°C) is expressed via the duration and the operating temperature of several tests. Thermal cycles are more sever at grade 0: more cycles and extended temperature extremes. High temperature storage duration is doubled, at identical temperature.
What is automotive grade 1? ›
The level of testing required then decreases through the grades, grade 1parts which are suitable for most underhood uses are required to be tested through the -40 to +125°C temperature range, grade 2 parts are less stringently tested again and are suitable for use in hot spots within the passenger compartments, grade 3 ...
What is Q100 qualification for automotive? ›
An AEC-Q100 qualified device means that the device has passed the specified stress tests and guarantees a certain level of quality/reliability. There are four temperature ranges defined under Grade 0,1,2 and 3 in AEC-Q100. These ranges depend upon the ICs operating temperature range.
ISO standards, such as ISO/TS 16949, specific to the automotive industry and ISO 27001 for information security management, can be applied to companies of any size worldwide and focus on quality, safety, data protection and cyber security.
What is the automotive QMS standard? ›
The Automotive Quality Management Systems standard ensures that your organization is creating quality products and performing services in accordance with stringent automotive industry expectations.
What ISO is required for automotive? ›
The most commonly required ISO standards that are applicable for the automotive industry are as listed below:
- ISO 9001 Standard: Quality Management System.
- ISO 14001 Standard: Environmental Management System.
- ISO 45001 Standard: Occupational Health and Safety Management System.
The Automotive Electronics Council (AEC) was originally established by Chrysler, Ford, and GM for the purpose of establishing common part-qualification and quality-system standards. From its inception, the AEC has consisted of two Committees: the Quality Systems Committee and the Component Technical Committee.
What is the difference between AEC Q101 and Q100? ›
The AEC-Q100 standard specifies the robustness testing and reliability qualities required for integrated circuits in harsh automotive operating environments. The AEC-Q101 standard further specifies the reliability requirements and applicable tests for discrete semiconductor components.
What is the difference between AEC and IEC? ›
The AEC ESD are device level ESD ratings according to the human body model (HBM) and charged device model (CDM). These are useful for manufacturing environments, however the IEC ESD model simulates real world esd strikes in an end user scenario.
What does AEC stand for in education? ›
Definition: Attestation d'études collégiales (AEC) in French. A qualification issued in Quebec by cégeps and some private colleges upon successful completion of a credited and recognized program created specifically for an adult clientele to reflect current job-market realities.
What does AEC stand for in college? ›
The Academic Excellence Center (AEC) is an educational space within the College of Engineering providing drop-in (no scheduling required) one-on-one and group tutoring by an experienced upper-division student tutor.
What does AEC stand for in Engineering? ›
What does AEC mean? The full form of AEC is “Architectural Engineering and Construction.” The acronym describes the collaboration of architects, engineers, and construction professionals on residential, commercial, or industrial construction projects to ensure their smooth completion.
What does AEC mean in surveying? ›
Everything about a major Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) project is vast. Physically, sites can stretch for miles. From a management perspective, they can feel just as extensive. As we head into 2021, the challenges facing the in- dustry are all too familiar.
