Microchip, Marelli Demonstrate Direct In-Vehicle Display Link
Microchip Technology has teamed up with automotive supplier Marelli to demonstrate technology that directly transmits video and graphics generated by a vehicle's central computer to in-vehicle displays.
Microchip said Sept. 8 that it demonstrated a display connectivity solution with Marelli using ASA Motion Link (ASA-ML), a high-speed automotive video transmission standard.
Modern vehicles are increasingly moving toward architectures in which a single high-performance central computer handles multiple functions. The transition to software-defined vehicles (SDVs) is also taking place on top of this structural shift.
In the demonstration, Microchip handled the transmitting side. Video and graphics generated by the central computer were transmitted over a cable using its VS7000 chipset. Marelli handled the receiving display side, optimizing the deserializer configuration that converts incoming data back into video for display.
ASA-ML is an automotive video communications standard developed by the Automotive SerDes Alliance (ASA). SerDes technology enables large amounts of data, such as video, to be transmitted rapidly over a single cable.
Microchip said a key feature of the technology is its use of an open standard rather than a proprietary specification from a particular semiconductor supplier. An open standard allows automakers to choose components from multiple suppliers that support the same specification.
The solution implemented by Microchip and Marelli supports data transmission speeds of up to 16 Gbps. It also provides authentication and encryption during communications. The company said the solution is designed to transmit data reliably in automotive environments with high levels of electromagnetic interference.
"This collaboration shows that open standards can accelerate innovation while enabling products from multiple companies to work together," said Kelei Shen, president of Marelli's Electronics business.
"Innovation moves faster when companies are not locked into a single vendor's technology," said Kevin So, vice president of Microchip's communications business. "Open standards make that possible."
The automotive SerDes market has long been dominated by Texas Instruments' FPD-Link and Analog Devices' (ADI) GMSL. Both are proprietary technologies developed by the respective companies. Microchip's comments about proprietary technology appear aimed at these established competitors.
ADI formed a separate association in 2025 as part of plans to turn GMSL into an open standard, setting the stage for competition centered on open standards.