Johnson Controls to employ standardized electronics architectures
Johnson Controls joins AUTOSAR and LIN Consortium
Burscheid - Recently Johnson Controls, one of the world's leading suppliers of automotive interior systems, interior electronics and batteries, became a member of AUTOSAR and of the LIN Consortium. Both organizations are based on partnerships between major automakers and suppliers. The objective of AUTOSAR is to establish an open industrial standard for automotive electronics architectures. The LIN Consortium works on the standardization of the LIN (Local Interconnection Network) sub-bus system. This enables automakers and suppliers to respond effectively to legal requirements and the increasing complexity of networked electronic systems.
Partnership with AUTOSARThe role of electronics in automobile interiors is steadily increasing and with it the variety and complexity of the electronic systems and their networking. Reliable interaction of electronic systems can be achieved by standardizing the E-E system architecture for all automakers. This was the incentive behind AUTOSAR (AUTOmotive Open System ARchitecture), which was founded in May 2003 by major automakers. Its core members today include BMW, Bosch, Continental, DaimlerChrysler, the Ford Motor Company, PSA Peugeot Citroën, Siemens VDO, the Toyota Motor Corporation, Volkswagen and various automotive suppliers at premium member level. Relevant areas within the vehicle are the vehicle electrical system, drive systems, chassis, comfort functions, safety systems, multimedia/telematic systems and human/machine interfaces. The aim is to jointly define and establish a standardized software component specification by August 2006. The process will take into account the interdependencies that arise from a networked environment. This will involve standardizing underlying system functions, defining the integration of modules from different manufacturers with their interfaces and will include the maintenance of electronic parts and upgrades of software during the whole production cycle. In future, the AUTOSAR definitions will be incorporated into Johnson Controls software-architectures.
Membership of the LIN ConsortiumJohnson Controls has also joined the LIN Consortium. In 2000, automakers AUDI, BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Volvo Car Corporation, Volkswagen, Volcano Communications Technologies and Motorola (now Freescale Semiconductor) teamed up with other suppliers to form the LIN Consortium. The members set themselves the task of defining and implementing an open standard for high-quality serial bus systems for cars. Typical application areas for LIN bus systems include for example door-, seating-, climate- and lighting-control systems. LIN bus systems are characterized by cost-effective development, manufacture and implementation. Johnson Controls has already incorporated the LIN bus into series production of the HomeLink garage door opener. Permanently installed in the vehicle, HomeLink is a modular control unit equipped with a LIN bus interface and has enjoyed two years of considerable commercial success.
"As a member of AUTOSAR and the LIN Consortium we can provide optimal solutions for the ever-increasing requirements of the automotive industry and keep up with the increasing complexity of electronic systems in the future", said Michael Schmaul, Engineering Manager at Johnson Controls.
Further information is available from:
Johnson Controls GmbH
Automotive Group
Industriestr. 20-30
51399 Burscheid
Germany
Astrid Schafmeister
Tel. +49 2174 65-3189
Fax: +49 2174 65-3219
Email: astrid.schafmeister@jci.com
or
Ina Longwitz
Tel. +49 2174 65-4343
Fax: +49 2174 65-3219
Email: ina.longwitz@jci.com
Johnson Controls, Inc., is a global market leader in automotive systems and facility management and control. In the automotive market, it is a major supplier of integrated seating and interior systems, and batteries. For non-residential facilities, Johnson Controls provides control systems and services including comfort, energy and security management.
Johnson Controls (New York Stock Exchange: JCI), founded in 1885, has its headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. The company�'s sales for 2004 totaled US$26.6 billion, the Automotive Group worldwide generating US$20.5 billion of this figure. The European headquarters is in Burscheid, Germany. The company�'s product portfolio also includes instrument panels/cockpits, door systems, overhead systems, interior electronics, electrical energy management and engine electronics.