Microcontroller Units in Automobiles

The advanced well-equipped automobile uses more than 50 microcontroller units (MCU). Networking has made the advanced technology features for 2010-2011 model vehicles possible, including onboard communications systems, control systems such as lane-departure warning systems, and road-condition advisories. The worldwide automotive market for microcontroller units (MCU) is expected to reach $5.5 billion in 2014. The MCU market is forecasted to increase from $3.9 billion to $5.5 billion, or by 41% during the 2009-2014 time period. The largest segment of the automotive semiconductor market comprised MCU that require embedded flash, a form of nonvolatile memory technology. A higher sound pressure level (SPL) is needed to overcome interior noise, particularly at higher speeds. The cluster manufacturers are trying to achieve a higher SPL by increasing the power applied to the speaker. A better alternative method to achieve higher SPL is to apply the basic acoustic principles such as separation and sound channeling.