Domestic Automotive T-Box Solutions

Introduction
As automotive technology advances, intelligent vehicles have become reality – powered by an unsung hero: the Telematics Box (T-Box). This "smart brain" connects vehicles to the digital world, enabling transformative driving experiences.

T-Box Overview
The T-Box is the core vehicular communication module that collects, processes, and transmits operational data while enabling wireless control between devices.

Key Functions
Bridges CAN bus networks with external systems (4G/5G, OEM servers, IoT)
Enables remote commands: engine start/stop, climate control, door/window operation
Integrates MCU for real-time ECU communication and data routing
Supports OTA updates and emergency call (eCall) services















General Application Block Diagram of the Vehicle-mounted T-BOX System




矽力杰的电源T-BOX推荐构图(下图)


图片


MCU:
The MCU serves as the control hub, processing input signals, executing control algorithms, and driving peripheral components.
DCDC:
Leveraging advanced switching power supply technology, it outperforms traditional linear regulators with higher conversion efficiency. By chopping input DC into pulsed voltage and energy storage processing, it delivers stable DC output.
CAN Control Signals:
The CAN bus enables real-time data exchange between electronic control units (ECUs), allowing the electric AC system to communicate with vehicle systems (e.g., engine management, body control modules). Its multi-master architecture supports concurrent data transmission, significantly reducing latency and improving system responsiveness.
EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory):
This non-volatile memory chip safeguards critical compressor data, retaining fault codes and error logs for diagnostics after power cycles. It ensures:
Secure storage of failure records for technician analysis
Protection against unauthorized code modification
Boot-up configuration data retrieval
RS232:
A serial communication interface standard defining the technical specifications for binary data exchange between Data Terminal Equipment (DTE, e.g., computers) and Data Communication Equipment (DCE, e.g., modems).
BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy):
A personal area network technology developed by the Bluetooth SIG, optimized for short-range data transmission with minimal power consumption as an energy-efficient subset of classic Bluetooth.
RTC (Real-Time Clock):
An integrated circuit designed to provide precise time/date tracking. Featuring battery backup (e.g., coin cell) operation, it maintains continuous timing independent of the main system power.
































Recommended Domestic Chips for Vehicle T-BOX Solutions




Brands

Function

Selection

Autochips

MCU

AC7840XAC7842X

Flagchip

MCU

FC4150

LEN

DCDC

LN10X43Q1

LDO

LN20x45Q1

SIT

RS232

SIT232、SIT232E、SITE232E

RHC

CAN

RH1042Q

FMD

EEPROM

FT24AXX

Raystar

RTC

RS4TC8900

FREQCHIP 

BLE

FR3038DQ

Silergy

High-Voltage LDO

SA21345Series

High-Voltage Buck

SA24401/3

2A/3A/6A Low-Voltage Buck

SA23002/3/6

 1.2V~25V, 15A Sync. Boost

SA22115

500mA LDO + Linear charger

SA61930

Fuel Gauge

SA59202

High CMRR Audio Operational Amplifier

SA51023

 10 W Class-D Audio Amplifier

SA51024

21 V, 8/20 W Class-D Audio Amplifier

SA51034/54

40 V, 8/22 W Class-D Audio Amplifier

SA51510/11

 LIN/CAN ESD Protection Device

SATO3N24/SAT01N24



















Key components of a T-BOX system:















AutoChips AC7840x (MCU)

Founded in 2013 as one of China's earliest automotive chip designers (wholly-owned by NavInfo), AutoChips operates R&D centers in Hefei, Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Wuhan. Its product portfolio includes market-leading automotive MCUs, SoCs, TPMS chips, and audio amplifiers, with MCUs deployed in >95% of domestic OEMs and 90M+ units shipped globally.
AC7840x Series Highlights:
120MHz ARM Cortex-M4F core (AEC-Q100 certified)
Memory: 1MB Flash (dual-bank ECC) + 128KB SRAM (ECC)
Interfaces: CAN-FD, SPI, I2C, UART/LIN, 12-bit ADC
Security: ISO 26262 ASIL-B compliant with AES-128, TRNG, and 17-key management
Ultra-Low Power: 32KB retention SRAM in standby (RTC/GPIO wakeup)
Technical Superiority:
5.5V tolerance for 12V/24V systems
<2μA deep sleep current
-40°C to +125°C operational range    



































Flagchip | FC4150Fx (MCU)

Founded in 2020, Flagchip specializes in high-performance, automotive-grade microcontrollers (MCUs). The company develops solutions for Body Electronics, Infotainment, Domain Controllers, Chassis, Safety, Powertrain, and Battery Management Systems, fully compliant with AEC-Q100 and ISO 26262 functional safety standards.
FC4150 is a high-performance ASIL-B automotive MCU from Suzhou Flagchip Microelectronics, designed for intelligent body control applications.
Key Features:
Cortex-M4F core with DSP instructions, FPU, and 8 KB instruction cache, up to 150 MHz
Memory: Up to 2 MB Flash, 256 KB D-Flash, 256 KB ECC SRAM
Connectivity: 6 FlexCAN modules (some CAN-FD/PNET), 10/100 Mbps Ethernet with IEEE 1588 & AVB
Safety & Protection: ASIL-B support, HSM, UVLO, thermal shutdown, cycle-by-cycle current limit, short-circuit protection, internal soft-start
Applications: Body Electronics, Infotainment, Domain Controllers, Chassis, Safety, Powertrain, Battery Management

FC4150Fx System Block Diagram


FC4150Fx Series Product Selection:
































LEN | LN10x43、LN20x45(PowerDCDC/LDO)

Founded in 2017,LEN specializes in automotive power management ICs including DC/DC converters, LDOs, multi-rail power supplies, LED drivers, and high-side switches. With 200M+ units shipped to 40+ global automakers and 200+ suppliers, the company holds 57 invention patents (14 international) and 10 utility patents. Its full-process automotive quality system ensures zero-defect (0 DPPM) reliability from chip design to post-sales support.
     





LN10X43Q1 is a high-efficiency, compact synchronous buck DC-DC converter featuring constant-frequency peak-current-mode control with internal compensation. It operates from 3.5V to 36V input, providing adjustable output from 1V to VIN.
Key specifications:
Delivers up to 3.0A output
Switching frequency: 400kHz, 1MHz or 2.1MHz (or externally synchronized)
Light-load frequency foldback improves efficiency
Features include FPWM option, precision enable, and internal soft-start
Protection: input UVLO, thermal shutdown, cycle-by-cycle current limit, and short-circuit protection



LN20X45Q1 - Ultra-low quiescent current LDO regulator (4V-42V input).
Output: Fixed (3.3V/5V/15V) or adjustable (0.6V-24V) at 450mA
Current: <1μA shutdown, 5.5μA no-load
Features: Power-good indicator (programmable delay), precision fixed outputs
Protection: OCP with auto-recovery, OTP
































RHC| RH1042Q(CAN)

RHC is a fabless semiconductor company founded by former Maxim engineers, specializing in high-reliability automotive and industrial analog chips.
Product Roadmap:
Short-term: Automotive/industrial CAN/LIN/RS-485 transceivers
Mid-term: Automotive SBCs for new energy vehicles
Long-term: High-performance automotive/industrial analog IC solutions

       

RH1042Q - A next-generation high-speed 8Mbps CAN transceiver compliant with ISO 11898-2:2016 and SAE J2284-1 to SAE J2284-5 standards. This device provides an interface between CAN protocol controllers and the physical two-wire CAN bus for automotive and industrial applications.

Operating Modes:

Normal mode (supports data rates over 8Mbps)

Standby mode (ultra-low current consumption)

Key Features:

Extended common-mode input range: -40V to +40V

Integrated level translator for 2.8V-5.5V MCU interfaces

Protection features:
Thermal shutdown
Current limiting
Dominant timeout
±70V bus fault protection
Undervoltage protection

ESD protection:
±25kV HBM
±15kV IEC air-gap discharge
±8kV IEC contact discharge



Part Number

RH1042Q

VCC (V)

4.3-5.5V,GB/T28046.2--2019

VI0 (V)

2.8-5.5V

Data Rate (Max)

8Mbps

ISO 11898-2:2016 Compliant

Bus Fault Voltage (V)

±70V

Bus ESD Rating

±25kV(HBM)±15kV(Air Discharge)±8kV(Contact Discharge)

All Pins ESD Rating

150OVCDM(Charged Device Model)

Current

Normal: dominant: <30mAstandby <2uA

BCI Current Test

400mA

Operating Temperature

-40C-125C

Package

S08

































Silergy | SA2300/SA21340

Silergy - A global leader in analog ICs and one of the fastest-growing semiconductor companies, Silergy (founded 2008 in Sunnyvale, CA) addresses the world's toughest technical challenges through innovation. Its end-to-end analog/power/signal chain solutions serve automotive, industrial, consumer, cloud, and communication markets with:
Cutting-edge integration
Comprehensive product lines
Global distribution
Featured Products:
SA2300 Series
SA21340
(See parameter tables below)





































FMD | FT24AXX


      FT24AXX: AEC-Q100 certified, operating temperature -40°C to +125°C. Since its launch in 2005, the full series of EEPROM products has been mass-produced using a wafer-fabrication platform, offering high 



Functional Description
Data Storage & Readout
As an EEPROM chip, it provides non-volatile data storage via I²C interface for configuration parameters, user settings, and historical records, ensuring data retention during power loss.
Multi-device Compatibility
Features standard I²C interface and common packaging for seamless integration with various MCUs and components.
Configurable Addressing
Supports multi-byte addressing for connecting multiple devices on the same I²C bus, enabling capacity expansion and categorized data storage.
Low-power Operation
Optimized for battery-powered devices with minimal standby/active consumption to extend battery life.































FREQCHIP | FR3038DQ(BLE)

FR3038DQ - An AEC-Q100 Grade 2 certified dual-mode Bluetooth MCU for automotive electronics, integrating RF/baseband, ARM Cortex-M3 core, and PMU.
Features:
Fully compliant with Bluetooth SIG v5.3 (BR/EDR/LE)
On-chip ROM for controller functions
RF Performance:
Supports 1Mbps/2Mbps/3Mbps (BR/EDR)
1Mbps/2Mbps (LE)
LE S2S8 long-range
RSSI (1dB step)
Dynamic TX power control


Parameter Specifications
Protocol Support
Fully compliant with Bluetooth 5.3 standard (BR/EDR/BLE modes), providing versatile connectivity options for diverse applications.
Configurable Modes
Supports flexible configuration via SDK:
BLE-only
BR/EDR-only
Dual-mode (BLE+BR/EDR)
Integrated MCU
Built-in microcontroller unit enhances system control and data processing capabilities for complex algorithms.


































SIT|SIT232

SIT232 - High-Performance RS-232 Transceiver
     


图片


Signal Conversion
Converts RS-232 signals to CMOS logic levels with inverted receivers for TTL/EIA-232E compatibility, enabling seamless interfacing with MCUs and digital circuits.
Independent Enable/Disable
Drivers and receivers feature individual enable controls for flexible power management.
Multi-device Connectivity
Dual-channel design supports complex RS-232 networks between multiple devices.




















Antenna Selection

The T-BOX antenna is a critical component in vehicular telematics systems, enabling wireless communication between vehicles and external networks. It transmits/receives data including location information, status updates, and remote control commands to support functions like remote monitoring, navigation, and smart connectivity.

Working Principle
Signal Reception:
The antenna captures electromagnetic waves and converts them into electrical signals for the T-BOX receiver circuit, which amplifies, filters, and demodulates the signals to extract data (e.g., navigation instructions).

Signal Transmission:
The T-BOX processes vehicle data (e.g., real-time location, fault codes), modulates the signals, and transmits them via the antenna as electromagnetic waves to external servers/base stations.




















Future Prospects

The advancement of China's NEV industry and domestic chip technology will expand applications of local chips in T-BOX systems, with expected breakthroughs in performance, power efficiency and security.
Domestic chipmakers will increase R&D in AI and automotive-grade ICs to enhance T-BOX capabilities for autonomous driving and smart cockpits. A maturing semiconductor ecosystem will further close the gap with global leaders.
Growing adoption by NEV manufacturers will boost market share, fostering self-reliant industry development while stimulating semiconductor sector growth.
This progress demonstrates China's automotive and semiconductor achievements, with domestic chips poised to play greater roles in intelligent NEVs, contributing Chinese innovation to global automotive transformation.
















Conclusion

Domestic chips are playing an increasingly vital role in NEV T-BOX systems, driving innovation in smart connected vehicles. Through technological advances and industry collaboration, Chinese chips will continue to empower the NEV sector's growth.
Contact us to explore T-BOX solutions.