Automotive Instrument Cluster Solutions

Electronic component brands supplied by Tianke Semiconductor for use in the solution:

NANYA, ADI, Panasonic, Murata, Taitien, YAGEO

Three Major Hardware Implementation Solutions

Solution 1: Low-Cost Mechanical Dials + Small-Screen Combination Instrument Cluster (Entry-Level Gasoline Vehicles, Commercial Vehicles)

1. Hardware Architecture

Main Controller: Automotive-grade 8-bit MCU (Renesas RL78/STM8A)

Drivers: Stepper motors drive the speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, and coolant temperature gauges; 1.8-inch/3.5-inch monochrome TFT displays

Communication: Single-channel CAN 2.0B and LIN bus interfaces for lighting, windshield wipers, and door signals

Power Supply: Single-channel automotive-grade Buck converter (RTQ2183-QA), 12V vehicle battery input, supports 9V cold start without screen blackout

2. Core Functions

Basic Pointer Displays: Vehicle speed, engine RPM, fuel level, coolant temperature, and warning lights (MIL/ABS/EBD)

Small-Screen Text: Odometer, Trip Meter, Fault Text Alerts, Gear Position Indicator

Logic: Low-cost, stable and reliable, vibration-resistant; suitable for trucks and entry-level gasoline-powered vehicles

3. Advantages

Low BOM cost, short development cycle, stable performance across a wide temperature range, no complex image processing required

Solution 2: Semi-LCD Instrument Cluster (Mainstream passenger gasoline/hybrid models, 7-inch color screen + analog gauges)

1. Hardware Architecture

Main Controller: 32-bit automotive-grade MCU STM32A4 / Renesas RH850

Display: 7-inch TFT color screen (800×480) + left and right mechanical pointers (speed / RPM)

Communications: Dual CAN FD, LIN, and support for parking sensor signal input

Power Supply: Richtek RTQ2209-QA multi-channel automotive-grade PMIC; multiple independent power rails: separate power supplies for the MCU core, display, backlight, and motors

2. Core Functions

LCD Area: Simplified navigation maps, multimedia playback, tire pressure monitoring, fuel consumption, and graphical vehicle fault alerts

Analog Gauge Area: Traditional speed and RPM displays, accommodating user driving habits

Extensions: Embedded rearview camera window, simplified lane departure warning icons

Applicable to: 100,000–180,000 RMB passenger gasoline and hybrid models, balancing cost and smart features

Solution 3: Fully Digital Instrument Cluster (Mainstream for new energy vehicles, 10.2/12.3-inch integrated large screen)

1. Two Approaches for the Main Controller

Approach A: Dedicated In-Vehicle Display SoC (Mainstream, Low-Cost Solution for Mass Production)

Xilinx X9, Horizon X3, Renesas R-Car M3—featuring built-in GPU, 2D/3D graphics acceleration, and hardware video decoding

Supports single 12.3-inch 1920×720 display or dual-screen integrated instrument cluster

Built-in CAN FD and in-vehicle Ethernet MAC for direct integration with the vehicle’s domain controller

Approach B: Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC (High-end flagship / autonomous driving models)

XCZU3EG/XCZU5EG heterogeneous architecture:

ARM on the PS side: Vehicle-wide CAN signal parsing, UI logic, and vehicle status management

GTY SerDes high-speed interface on the PL side: In-vehicle Ethernet / DSI video output, multi-channel ADAS camera image stitching, and real-time AR lane marking rendering

Advantages: Parallel processing of multiple visual feeds, enabling fusion of forward-facing camera footage for AR real-time navigation with zero image latency

2. Display and Backlight

Screen: 12.3-inch widescreen in-vehicle LCD with anti-glare (AG) etching for sunlight readability

Backlight: Richtek RTQ4540-QA automotive-grade multi-channel MiniLED constant-current driver, 20 kHz high-frequency PWM dimming, flicker-free for photography, and zone-based dynamic dimming

3. Vehicle-Wide Communication Capabilities

Dual-channel CAN FD: Powertrain BMS, Vehicle Control Unit (VCU), and thermal management data

In-vehicle Ethernet AVB: Transmits high-definition video (2K/4K) from front-view ADAS and surround-view cameras

LIN Bus: Steering wheel buttons, ambient lighting, backlight brightness adjustment

4. Core Features (New Energy Vehicles Only)

High-Voltage Battery Visualization: SOC, battery temperature, charge/discharge power, range, high-voltage insulation fault alerts

Three-Electric Systems Visualization: Motor RPM, drive power, energy recovery curve

AR Augmented Reality Navigation: Lane lines and turn arrows overlaid on real-time road views

Driver Assistance: ACC Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist, Automatic Parking, and Blind Spot Monitoring visualization

Multimedia Integration: Synchronized screen mirroring for music, Bluetooth calls, radio, and in-car navigation

Multi-Theme UI: One-click switching between three display themes: Sport, Comfort, and Eco