Why do automotive electronics need such strict reliability testing?

Why do automotive electronics need such strict reliability testing?

You may have wondered, why do automotive electronics require such strict reliability testing? Why are Original Equipment's automotive electronics so expensive? The above questions will be answered in this article.
 

Introduction to Reliability of Automotive Electronics

Whether general 3C electronics or automotive electronics are tested for reliability, they are all to ensure that they function normally when faced with the use environment. And automotive electronics such as HUD, IVI SYSTEM, and WIRLESS, compared to ordinary 3C electronic devices such as mobile phones and tablets, they need to face extreme use environments. In order to ensure the normal function of automotive electronics in extreme environments, it will not cause damage, crashes, and even cause casualties under the vehicle’s loss of control. Therefore, although both general 3C electronics and automotive electronics need to be tested for reliability, the vehicle The reliability test with electronics is more stringent.
 

Automotive electronics reliability test VS 3C electronics reliability test

According to the use environment, the reliability test is divided into:
Function test- to ensure normal function under normal use
Environmental test- verify performance and life in extreme environments such as high and low temperatures
Mechanical test- verify the anti-vibration and shock performance and the plug life of the connector
In addition, because the voltage supplied by the 12V battery may fluctuate in the car, there will be an additional electrical performance test in the automotive electronics test, and there will be more appearance tests in the mobile phone.

I just mentioned that the reliability test of automotive electronics is more stringent. Let's compare with general 3C electronic mobile phones.

Take UniMax's ivi system, an electronic product for automobiles, compared to the tests it may face compared with mobile phones:
  Automotive electronics Mobile phone
Function test High and low temperature function test Room temperature function test
Environmental test Humidity and heat interaction, constant humidity and heat, low temperature operation, frost, high temperature storage, high temperature operation, thermal shock durability, thermal shock, energized temperature cycle, salt spray test Damp heat test, thermal shock, high temperature operation, low temperature operation, salt spray test, high temperature storage, low temperature storage
Mechanical test Composite vibration, composite vibration after thermal fatigue, shell compression resistance, mechanical shock, drop, dust resistance, connector test Drop test, compound vibration, dustproof, button, charging cable, earphone, SD/sim card test, twist test, pressure test
Electrical performance test Open circuit test, power supply voltage slow change, high voltage resistance, power supply reverse connection, instantaneous power adjustment, low voltage reset, short circuit test, AC interference superposition  
Appearance test   Shell performance test, friction test, hardness test, alcohol/eraser test, sweat test, ultraviolet radiation, steel ball impact test
From the above test comparison, we can see that due to the extreme use environment of automotive electronics, the reliability test of automotive electronics is mainly aimed at extreme environments such as high and low temperature and electrical performance tests. The reliability test is compared with general 3C electronic products such as mobile phones are much more stringent.

To be more specific, the use environment of 3C electronic products is a relatively simple daily life. The general use conditions are normal temperature and humidity, and there is no particularly large vibration during normal use; automotive electronics are responsible for the use of the vehicle. There are many, in addition to the hot equator to the cold Russia, it also faces mechanical shocks such as bumps, accelerations, and sudden stops during the driving process.. Non-stop vibration and shock.

At the same time, represented by the most common 3C electronics mobile phones, mobile phones are basically replaced every two or three years as fast as one year, and the product design life will not be too long; while car electronics is accompanied by the car’s Several years, hundreds of thousands of kilometers of the entire vehicle quality warranty, extremely long vehicle replacement speed and other factors, make automotive electronics need to design a long product life. All these make the reliability requirements of automotive electronic products far exceed 3C electronic products.


(UniMax's automotive electronics products ivi system Passed carmaker’s certifications are durable and quality guaranteed)
 

The impact of automotive electronics reliability testing

High reliability requirements for automotive electronics will affect the following:
1. Costly
Because of the end market's response to prices, cost is a very sensitive and troublesome issue for automakers and developers. High reliability requirements will inevitably show high costs in design, manufacturing, materials, and testing. For example, ceramic chip capacitors that comply with automotive regulations are ten times more expensive than ordinary ones, but the sales of automotive electronics are only 10% of 3c consumer electronics, so the marginal cost is also much higher.

2. Technical bottleneck
If the price reflected by the cost is acceptable to the market, then the high reliability requirements of automotive electronics can be solved, but some reliability requirements can only be solved through technology. For example, the chip standard AEC-Q100/200 in the field of automotive electronics, only electronic components that pass this standard can be used in automobiles, but under this standard, automotive electronics basically only enter the 32-bit era, and most electronic controls The unit is also a 16-bit processor. The 22nm and 14nm high-tech of international chip manufacturers basically do not use automotive electronics

3. Design and development cycle
The annual replacement of mobile phones is the standard of various mobile phone manufacturers. In order to introduce the old and bring forth the new, the rapid replacement cycle makes the design, production, and manufacturing technology of mobile phones continue to improve, and there will be a technological breakthrough in two to three years. However, in the field of automotive electronics, it will take the first half of the year to complete a functional test + reliability test + actual vehicle test. With the development and improvement time, one year is basically the fastest development of automotive electronics. time. If there is still time for vehicle development, it will take two to three years for the common automotive electronic product IVI SYSTEM to start from research and development to final mass production.


(UniMax's automotive electronic product HUD has passed strict certification, sturdy and durable, and quality guaranteed)
 

Why is Original Equipment's automotive electronic equipment so expensive?

The following explains the difference between Original Equipment and After Market for automotive electronics at a glance:
Original Equipment: The original equipment that comes with the car when it leaves the factory is within the scope of the entire car's warranty. If a safety accident is caused, the manufacturer and the insurance company will pay for it. When designing, take the long service life and harsh environment into consideration.

After Market: The 4S or the equipment installed by the owner after the car leaves the factory, such as the replacement of ivi system, driving recorder, etc. The original factory does not guarantee the accident. The accident caused by these equipment is not compensated. The design, service life and use environment are all Not within the manufacturer's consideration.

From the above description, we can know why it is so expensive, because Original Equipment will consider the owner’s service life and use safety, which is important, and it is naturally clear at a glance. Therefore, although the cost is high, the electronic products for vehicles that meet the vehicle specifications and use vehicle regulations are used to protect the safety of themselves, passengers and passers-by.
 
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