Hi everyone, is there a particular micro-controller that you all recommend for automotive use? I'm looking for something with more than 28 pins that I can test on a breadboard for now, but would like get an SMD version later for a custom PCB. Any suggestions? Any additional information needed from me to answer this question? Sorry if it's too vague. Thanks!

 

https://www.microchip.com/design-centers/automotive-solutions/automotive-products/microcontrollers

A good example: https://www.microchip.com/wwwproducts/en/PIC18F46K80

PIC18F46K80 is a high performance 8-bit MCU with Integrated ECAN™

 

I'm also a Microchip guy but ST Microelectronics is big in automotive, too. They're especially good in power products (voltage regulators) for automotive applications.
http://www.st.com/en/automotive-microcontrollers.html

 

Thanks John and nsa! I am going to look into both of those tonight and tomorrow, and see if I can decide the pros and cons of each! I definitely appreciate the help on that!

As a new, additional question to this, if I were to need to run a whole bunch of states and functions simultaneously, with several states needing the millis() function, we know that with C+ on AVR chips it becomes a bit tedious to pulse multiple outputs simultaneously, at different rates. All of the cases and millis() functions are getting to be a little much. Do the PIC or the ST modules allow for simpler coding for those types of scenarios??

Also, does anyone here have any experience with PICAXE or Propeller? Are they recommended at all for this consideration? Thanks again everyone!

 

That's an impossible to answer programming question without exact details of states, expected outputs and signal rates. A quick read of the millis() function with Arduino multitasking makes it look pretty crude.

 

Just a reminder. All of your parts need to be rated for the temperatures encountered in an automobile. This is not just the IC's but also other components such as the capacitors.

Capacitors are a tricky one. Some caps such as electrolytic ones loose their capacitance when they freeze. Ceramic caps like Z5U and Y5V also loose their capacitance at the extreme temperatures of cars.

 

Thanks again, nsa, and thanks Richard, for the useful feedback! I definitely understand that it's difficult to judge what I may have going on. One of the most complex millis() functions I have does the following:

Pulse digital pin 2 at a 75ms duty cycle (HIGH/LOW) for 5000ms;
Pulse digital pin 4 at a 150ms duty cycle (HIGH/LOW) for 5000ms, or until pin A0 <= 2.5 volts;
Pulse digital pin 7 HIGH for 5000 ms;
Pulse digital pin 7 HIGH for 5000 ms;

The above function only needs to be declared once, but about 6 other millis() functions with simpler programming also need to be written. If any of that helps. If it still doesn't mean much, I totally understand


Thank you for the reminder Richard. I will surely look at exploring components less effected by extreme temperatures. I'm trying my best to keep the PCB installed inside the vehicle, rather than in the engine compartment, where it will see even more extreme temperatures. If you have any suggestions on where/how to source such components (surface mount resistors, capacitors, opto-couplers, etc.) I'd definitely be grateful if you shared a little on that.

Thanks again gentlemen!!

 

Hi everyone, is there a particular micro-controller that you all recommend for automotive use? I'm looking for something with more than 28 pins that I can test on a breadboard for now, but would like get an SMD version later for a custom PCB. Any suggestions? Any additional information needed from me to answer this question? Sorry if it's too vague. Thanks!

AFAIK: most companies use whatever CPU they have a programmer who knows the instruction set - and protect it from the harsh automotive electrical environment.

GI list a range of protection clamp semiconductors for the purpose.