So The Main Component In Motor Vehicles, What Is Semiconductor Chip?

Illustration of electric cars. (photo: twitter @volkswagen)

YOGYAKARTA What is a semiconductor chip is an important component for motorized vehicles. Although urgently needed by the automotive industry, semiconductor chips have been scarcity since mid-2022 until now.

The shortage (chip) of semiconductors has even had an impact on car sales in Japan.

According to a Kyodo report, quoted on Friday, January 6, 2023, new car sales in Japan contracted by 5.6 percent in 2022. This was influenced by semiconductor shortages and supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic.

So, what is a semiconductor chip? The answer to this question can be seen in the review below.

Semiconductor chips are the main ingredients for making the Integrated Circuit (IC) made from galium arrangement, germanium, silicon and others.

What is meant by integrated circuits is an active electronic component consisting of a combination of hundreds of thousands or even millions of electronic components, such as transitors, diodes, resistors, and capacitors. The component is then integrated into a series of electronics in a small packaging.

Semiconductor chips are electric insulators (electric currents cannot be passed). However, at certain temperatures, electrical currents, or under certain circumstances, semiconductors can also function as conductors (throughelectric currents), for example as current boosters, voltage boosters, and power boosters.

Quoted by VOI from the SME page, semiconductor chips play an important role in modern cars currently produced.

Semiconductor devices are useful for vehicle safety, power management, display, and control features.

There are more semiconductor applications in electric vehicles (Electric Vehicles/EVs), which are now growing significantly, with more than 1 million EVs added last year globally.

Still from the SME, semiconductor devices are produced in a special facility called a cleanroom that requires very clean air circulation. It is essential to reduce particles in clean space air because particles cause defects in the small-scale fabrication process (nanometers).

Semiconductor devices perform various functions such as microprocessors, switches, sensors for light or heat, and signal amplifications are all valid in modern cars.

Semiconductor Chip Functions on Motor Vehicles

Here are some semiconductor chip functions on motorized vehicles:

In modern cars, semiconductor devices activate a semi-autonomous driver safety system and help system.

The smart functions activated by semiconductor devices are blind spot detection systems, spare cameras, collision avoidance sensors, adaptive cruise control, lane change assistance, air bag deployment sensors, and emergency braking systems.

Some vehicle control functions now have electrical systems instead of mechanical systems. Semiconductors are essential to achieve this.

Such electrifications have also helped increase combustion efficiency in car engines, or battery management systems in hybrid and electric vehicles, helping to recover energy from regenerative braking systems and activating electric vehicle technology.

Increasing the use of connectivity technology in modern cars allows communication via the Internet and allows features such as GPS, road mapping and closure routes, as well as emergency services. All these functions are enabled by semiconductor devices.

This is information about semiconductor chips in motorized vehicles. What is a semiconductor chip is a component that plays an important role in today's modern cars.