If you drive a car, you most likely drive an ASIC designed at Bosch, according to Erich Biermann, head of ASIC development at Bosch, speaking to the European Nanoelectronics Forum 2008 in Paris today. If you drive a posh car you most likely drive several ASICs.

A top of the range car now uses semiconductors worth $1038, said Biermann, in 2012 this will rise to $1230. Even a mini car uses $69 worth of semiconductors a figure expected to rise to $81 by 2012. Small car use of semiconductors will rise from $91 to $117; mid-lower cars from $253 to $393; mid-upper cars from $421 to $582; and executive cars from $632 to $709.

Bosch is developing the 'Sensitive Car'. Using sensors it has designed system for predictive brake assist, predictive collision warning, predictive emergency braking utilising a 77GHz front radar sensors in a space the size of a cigarette packet, said Biermann. The long range sensor is implemented in a 77GHz SiGe MMIC and flexray communications. Production is planned for Q109.

As well as a 77GHZ radar for implementing applications like predictive long-range collision avoidance sensing conditions at a distance of up to 200m, Bosch is producing a short range 24GHz radar for shorter range radar applications up to 40m, video-based systems for looking 80m ahead; infra-red-based systems for ranges up to 150m; and ultra-sonic systems for ranges up to 4m for applications like parking.

Bosch is also very concerned with reducing CO2 emissions from cars which currently account for 12 per cent of all CO2 emissions, and which is expected to triple over the next 30 years as more people in India and China use cars.

Biermann said that the Bosch approach was to reduce the energy flow in cars which meant the use of LEDs and better control of alternators, water pumps, infotainment, fuel pumps, EPS and HVAC fans.