Continental Introduces Its New In-Vehicle Radio Platform

Modern car radios must fulfill several customer requirements, for instance AM and FM reception, digital radio, large touchscreens, mobile telephony, audio from various sources, soft and hard keys, smartphone apps and voice-operated controls. Even for high-end vehicles, radios have transformed from mere amplifiers and tuners to proper entertainment hubs.

Due to the advent of the connected vehicle and the various operating systems and standards from consumer electronics, the trends demonstrate that the intricacy of car radios is increasing. Aiming to address these challenges, Continental has developed an advanced vehicle radio platform, which enables control of multiple inpidual functions on one processor, eventually keeping hardware to a minimum.

According to Johann Hiebl, head of the Continental business unit Infotainment & Connectivity, intricacy for vehicle entertainment is rapidly increasing. He noted that with their new radio platform, they could now provide a solution, which not only copes with different functions, but is highly cost-effective and usable for automakers worldwide.

Hardware Replaced with Software

The key approach behind Continental’s radio platform is the replacement of cost intensive hardware with software, whenever possible. In order to attain this reduction, the Continental radio platform is built on an optimized system on chip (SoC). At the heart of the platform is a multi core processor that handles connectivity, human machine interface and audio-post processing related functions, as well as an integrated vehicle controller and a digital signal processor that enables the core radio technology of the new platform—the Software Defined Radio (SDR).

Integrated on the SDR are analog and digital standards such as DAB/DAB+/ DMB, AM/FM and HD radio worldwide on a single hardware. Software update can enable new standards as they become available in various regions, for instance Chinese Digital Radio (CDR) in China.

Hiebl explained that the SDR technology enables them to utilize the radio platform for various markets worldwide without making radical changes to the hardware. He added that as a result, they could keep research and development efforts as well as time to market low.

Given that audio today comes from broadcast as well as from drivers’ or passengers’ digital devices connected via iPod/ USB connection or Bluetooth, Continental’s new radio platform does not include a CD player. Thanks to the reduction of hardware components attained by utilizing an optimized SoC, it comes with a 40mm deep flat panel design head unit that supports class D amplifiers, HD resolution and capacitive touch screen. For automakers, this flat panel approach enables for great freedom in terms of interior design.

Smartphone Apps and Services

On the other hand, motorists can enjoy various connected services and functions in a safe way, since the platform can mirror applications and content from smartphones through various standards such as Baidu Carlife, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto or MirrorLink.

Hiebl concluded that to reduce driver distraction, one of their key objectives is keeping motorists from using their smartphones behind the wheel. He added that by mirroring apps on their radio platform, they connect the driver to the services that matter to them by safely incorporating them into the HMI of the vehicle.

To further improve safe operation, Continental inpidualizes applications so they can be controlled on the touchscreen, via voice control, or via buttons on the steering wheel.