Santa Clara based fabless IC designer Aeonsemi has launched an IEEE 802.3ch compliant multi-Gigabit Ethernet chipset for in-vehicle networking.

Nemo features an automotive switch with integrated 10GBASE-T1 PHYs and a very low power 10GBASE-T1 PHYs for symmetric and asymmetric communications. The chipset comprises a CSI-2 serialiser bridge, a CSI-2 deserialiser hub, a single/dual-port PHY, and a 6-port zonal switch.

The Nemo chipset is designed to bridge the automotive networking gap between Ethernet and point-to-point SerDes networks that carry high-speed sensor traffic. Nemo offers a low power 10G/5G/2.5G symmetric and asymmetric connectivity in Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) mode over 15 metres of single-twisted-pair or coaxial cable.

The AS30110 serialiser consumes less than 300mW with a 10Gbps payload and less than 200mW with a 5Gbps payload. The AS30010/20 single/dual-port PHYs consume under 800mW power per port in symmetric 10Gbps mode.

“With the increased adoption of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Full Self-Driving (FSD), the market for sensors, including cameras, radar, and LiDAR, is expected to grow at a 14% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) to $27 billion by 2028,” explained Pierrick Boulay, Senior Technology & Market Analyst, Automotive Semiconductors at Yole Group. Ethernet-based sensors can significantly reduce automotive sensing system cost as more sensors are added to each vehicle.

OEMs and Tier 1s seek sensor link solutions that are based on an open standard such as IEEE 802.3ch, with an interoperable multi-vendor ecosystem. “Contrary to the misconception that Ethernet PHYs are not power-efficient for asymmetric sensor links, our Ethernet camera solution is the lowest power among all available serialisers at comparable speeds. It comes in a compact 5mm x 5mm package and supports referenceless operation to further reduce the Bill of Materials (BOM) cost,” stated Yunteng Huang, CEO of Aeonsemi. “The Nemo chipset marks a significant milestone in IVN evolution. By enabling seamless end-to-end integration of automotive sensors into a unified Ethernet network, we streamline the software and hardware of the ‘datacentre on wheels’ for tomorrow’s intelligent vehicles.”