Automotive Electrical System Analysis Driven by Your Electrical Distribution Tools

ABSTRACT

Engineering Division
Mentor Graphics

Advanced modeling and simulation technology enables the creation and analysis of automotive mechatronic system virtual prototypes. This capability can be especially useful in automotive electrical systems, for analyzing power distribution to complex static and transient loads. The industry standard language VHDL-AMS lays the foundation for the modeling capabilities needed. Mentor’s SystemVision leverages VHDL-AMS to provide a rich environment for exploring and analyzing various architectures and component parameter settings, before committing to a final system configuration. Using this method, which will be both described and demonstrated in this session, designers can include multi-physics elements such fuses, wires and lamps (electro-thermal), motors (electro-mechanical), as well as behavioral models of more complex components, such as constant power loads. All of these can have a significant impact on the design of the wiring and power distribution system.

With a direct path from the comprehensive physical implementation data in Capital, to the powerful simulation and analysis capabilities of SystemVision, the methodology can provide valuable insights into the interactions between the elements of the integrated system. This applies in both steady state and dynamic operating conditions, and can include various levels of detail in the models -- from highly abstract to very high fidelity.