The Revolution of Chiplet Technology in Automotive Electronics and Its Impact on the Supply Chain

By Stephane Cordova

Introduction:

The automotive industry is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the growing demand for advanced safety features, increased connectivity, and the shift towards electric and autonomous vehicles. As a result, modern vehicles are becoming increasingly reliant on complex electronic systems to manage and control various functions. In response to this growing complexity, the electronics industry is turning to innovative solutions like chiplet technology to meet the demands of the automotive sector.

Chiplet technology is an emerging approach to the design and manufacturing of System on Chip (SoC). Instead of creating a monolithic IC with all functions integrated onto a single die, chiplet technology involves the development of smaller, specialized sub-components, or "chiplets," which can be combined to create a larger, more versatile system. This modular approach offers numerous advantages, such as improved performance, power efficiency, and scalability, making it an attractive solution for the rapidly evolving automotive electronics landscape.

In this article, I propose to explore the impact of chiplet technology on the automotive electronics industry and its potential consequences for the supply chain. We will discuss the advantages of chiplet technology, its influence on the distribution of responsibilities among industry stakeholders, and its role in shaping the future of automotive electronics.

Chiplet technology and its advantages in automotive electronics:

Chiplet technology represents a significant evolution from traditional monolithic design. Instead of integrating all functions onto a single die, chiplet technology involves the creation of smaller, specialized chiplets that can be combined to form a larger, more versatile system. This modular approach offers several advantages that make it particularly well-suited for the demanding environment of automotive.

Improved Performance and Power Efficiency:

Chiplets allow designers to leverage the strengths of different process technologies and combine them in a single package. This means that high-performance functions can be implemented using advanced nodes, while low-power or analog functions can utilize more efficient technologies. As a result, chiplet-based systems can achieve higher performance and better power efficiency compared to their monolithic counterparts.

Enhanced Scalability and Customization:

The modular nature of chiplet enables designers to easily scale and customize systems to meet specific requirements. By selecting and combining appropriate chiplets, engineers can create tailored solutions that address the whole range of vehicles from a lon-end to a high-end luxury. This level of customization is often difficult or impossible to achieve with monolithic ICs and requires to develop multiple SoCs.

Reduced Time-to-Market and Development Costs:

Chiplet technology allows for the reuse of proven, pre-verified blocks, which can significantly reduce development time and costs. Additionally, since chiplets are typically smaller than monolithic ICs, they can be manufactured more quickly and at lower cost. This enables automotive electronics suppliers to adapt to the evolving industry requirements and accelerate the introduction of new products.

Impact of chiplet technology on the automotive electronic supply chain:

The adoption of chiplet technology in the automotive electronics industry is likely to have significant implications for the supply chain. As more functions are integrated into chiplets, the traditional roles and relationships among component suppliers, semiconductor manufacturers, and tier-1 suppliers may need to be reevaluated.

Consolidation of Component Suppliers:

As chiplet technology enables the integration of more functions into a smaller package, the demand for discrete components may decrease. This could lead to a consolidation of component suppliers, as companies adapt to the changing market dynamics and focus on providing more specialized, high-value solutions.

New Opportunities for Semiconductor Manufacturers:

Chiplet technology presents new opportunities for semiconductor manufacturers, as they can now offer a broader range of products tailored to specific automotive applications. By developing and marketing specialized chiplets, semiconductor companies can differentiate themselves from competitors and capture a larger share of the automotive electronics market.

Challenges for Tier-1 Suppliers:

Tier-1 suppliers, which typically provide complete electronic systems to automotive OEMs, may face new challenges in the chiplet era. As chiplet technology advances and becomes more important in automotive electronics, Tier 1 suppliers might find it advantageous to take responsibility for the chiplet design and integration. This could enable them to maintain their position as key players in the supply chain and offer more value-added services to automotive OEMs.

For my point of view, by taking the lead in chiplet development, Tier 1 suppliers can:

• Maintain control over system integration
• Leverage existing expertise in automotive applications
• Differentiate themselves from competitors
• Foster closer collaboration with semiconductor companies

However, it's essential to consider the challenges that Tier 1 suppliers might face in taking on this new responsibility. These challenges could include the need to invest in new tools, processes, and expertise for chiplet design and integration, as well as potential intellectual property and liability issues.

The shift in responsibility and challenges for automotive industry:

As mentioned before, the responsibility for system performance and reliability may shift among industry stakeholders. This new distribution of responsibilities could have significant implications for automotive OEMs, tier-1 suppliers, and semiconductor companies in terms of collaboration, intellectual property, and liability.

Collaboration and Intellectual Property:

The successful adoption of chiplet technology in the automotive industry will require close collaboration among all stakeholders. This collaboration may involve sharing sensitive intellectual property (IP), which could lead to new challenges in protecting and managing IP rights.

Standardization:

Establishing common standards for chiplet design, testing, and integration will be essential to ensure interoperability and streamline the development process.

Liability and Warranty:

The increased complexity of chiplet-based systems may raise questions about liability and warranty in the event of system failures or malfunctions. Determining which party is responsible for addressing these issues may become more challenging, as the root cause could lie in the chiplet itself, the system integration, or the interaction between multiple chiplets.

Ensuring Functional Safety and Cybersecurity:

Automotive electronic systems are subject to strong functional safety and cybersecurity requirements. Ensuring compliance with these requirements may become more challenging within a complex package integrating chiplets from different sources.

The future of chiplet technology in the automotive industry:

The adoption of chiplet technology in the automotive electronics industry is poised to accelerate as it enables advanced features and functionality required for emerging trends like autonomous driving, electric vehicles, and connected car services.

Progress in Chiplet Technology:

As chiplet technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see improvements. These advancements will be driven by innovations in materials, manufacturing processes, and design methodologies. Some potential areas of development include: 3D Integration, Advanced Packaging Techniques, Machine Learning and AI.

Challenges and Solutions:

Despite the promising potential of chiplet technology, several challenges must be addressed to ensure its large adoption in the automotive industry. Some of these challenges include: Standardization, Testing and Validation, Thermal Management for example.

Overcoming Obstacles in Chiplet Technology Adoption:

To guarentee a large adoption of chiplet technology in the automotive industry, several hurdles need to be overcome:

• Standardization: Establishing common standards for chiplet design, testing, and integration is crucial, particularly considering the unique safety and cybersecurity requirements of the automotive industry.
• Testing and Validation: The increased complexity of chiplet-based systems necessitates new testing and validation methodologies to guarantee functional safety and reliability.
• Thermal Management: Effectively managing heat generated by chiplets is vital for maintaining performance and reliability. Innovative thermal management solutions, such as advanced cooling materials and techniques, are needed to address this challenge.
• Cost Considerations: In the automotive industry, cost is always a significant factor when adopting new technologies. Chiplet technology, while offering numerous benefits, must also be cost-effective.

Conclusion:

Chiplet technology holds great promise for the automotive electronics industry, offering improved performance, better efficiency, and scalability compared to traditional monolithic SoCs. As the industry continues to evolve and embrace emerging trends like autonomous driving, electric vehicles, and connected car services, the demand for advanced electronic systems enabled by chiplet technology will only grow.

However, the successful adoption of chiplet technology in the automotive sector will require close collaboration among all stakeholders. This collaboration raises important questions about the potential consequences for the supply chain and the shift in responsibility.

How will component suppliers, semiconductor manufacturers, Tier 1 suppliers, and automotive OEMs adapt to the changing landscape? Will we see new partnerships and alliances emerge as a result of chiplet technology? And, ultimately, how will these changes impact the end-users – the consumers?

Just as the automotive industry has undergone significant transformations with the rise of electric vehicles, it is essential to be prepared for the potential shifts that chiplet technology may bring.

References:

• SEMI: As Chiplets Go Mainstream, Chip Industry Players Collaborate to Overcome New Development Challenges | SEMI
• GSA: 2022-IPIG-Heterogenous-Integration-Chiplets-White-Paper-Final-v4.pdf (gsaglobal.org)
• McKinsey & Company: Getting ready for next-generation E/E architecture | McKinsey
• Semiengineering: Why Chiplets Are So Critical In Automotive