Improving E/E design.

The complexities associated with designing electronic and electrical [E/E] components for vehicles is being further addressed by Mentor Graphics [www.mentor.com; Wilsonville, OR], which is complementing its design toolset for things like wiring harnesses with a suite of capabilities developed to handle the design of various mechatronic vehicle systems. Given things like decreased cycle time, increased electronics implementation, warranty costs, and the need for component redeployment and reuse, the firm is now offering System Vision, a tool that is said to permit the design of systems and components; the virtual prototype can then be analyzed vis-a-vis its electrical, mechanical, thermal, and hydraulic subsystem performance. Because it is based on a vendor-independent mixed signal modeling language [VHDL-AMS], it is said to facilitate the exchange of information between OEMs and suppliers.

One user of the System Vision and associated ModelSim tools is Magneti Marelli's Powertrain Div., which is said to have reduced engine control design time by 30% and was able to achieve a fully running component in its first release.