Automotive Seat Comfort Module Using MSPM0

In the automotive industry, comfort has become a paramount feature distinguishing premium vehicles. Instead of moving the seat, window, and sunroof manually with levels in the past, now the switches can be used to adjust the seat height, seat tilt, distance from the pedal, seat temperature, sunroof open or close and so on, in these designs, microcontroller and direct current (DC) motors are the main components.

Today we take the automotive seat comfort module as an example, which is a pivotal component aimed at enhancing passenger experience by offering customizable seating positions, temperature control, smart memory seating, and other features.

TI’s MSPM0 devices Arm® Cortex® based M0+ microcontrollers (MCU) include automotive-qualified (AEC-Q100) MCUs that can be used to meet the design requirement of a seat comfort module.

The following image shows the typical block diagram.

Benefits of Using MSPM0 Microcontrollers

Energy Efficiency: The power consumption can be as low as 71μA/MHz in running mode and 1μA in standby mode, which provides minimal power consumption while managing multiple seat functions.
Compact Size: Offers a wide range of packages optionally as small as 2mm × 2mm WSON8 non-leaded package, to enable integration into space-constrained automotive environments without sacrificing performance.
Cost-Effectiveness: Offers a balance between functionality and price, making MSPM0 an excellent choice for a wide range of vehicles.
Precision Control: Provides accurate and responsive adjustments to seat settings, enhancing the overall comfort and experience for the user.

The following are few use cases that can benefit from using MSPM0:

Use Case 1: Precision Control Over Complex Adjustments

Automotive seats today offer complex adjustments beyond simple forward and backward movements, including tilting, height adjustments, and lumbar support modifications.

The MSPM0 integrated high-performance ADC reads the data from the sensor and converts the analog signals into digital inputs for processing.
Based on the processed sensor data, MSPM0 sends control signals to motors and actuators responsible for adjusting seat components. The MSPM0 16-bit advanced timer allows for the fine-tuning of motor operations, facilitating the precise and incremental adjustments needed for these complex functions. This level of control is essential for achieving the exact seating positions desired by the user, enhancing the overall driving and riding experience.

Use Case 2: Smart Memory Seating

A notable application of the Arm Cortex M0+ microcontroller in automotive seat comfort modules is the smart memory seating function. This feature allows the seat to automatically adjust to pre-set positions based on the user’s preference.

MSPM0 continuously reads data from the sensor and stores the data in non-volatile memory, which is used to save multiple user profiles and seat configurations. Each user profile includes personalized settings for seat position, lumbar support, and climate control preferences
Based on the stored user profiles, MSPM0 sends control signals to motors and actuators responsible for seat components

Getting Started with MSPM0 Automotive MCUs

Pick a low-cost MSPM0 LaunchPad™ Development Kit today to start evaluating the device for seat comfort design. Easy to start with MSPM0 code examples and interactive online trainings are available in the MSP Academy. The relevant resources links follow:

IMPORTANT NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER

TI PROVIDES TECHNICAL AND RELIABILITY DATA (INCLUDING DATASHEETS), DESIGN RESOURCES (INCLUDING REFERENCE DESIGNS), APPLICATION OR OTHER DESIGN ADVICE, WEB TOOLS, SAFETY INFORMATION, AND OTHER RESOURCES “AS IS” AND WITH ALL FAULTS, AND DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS AND IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS.

These resources are intended for skilled developers designing with TI products. You are solely responsible for (1) selecting the appropriate TI products for your application, (2) designing, validating and testing your application, and (3) ensuring your application meets applicable standards, and any other safety, security, or other requirements. These resources are subject to change without notice. TI grants you permission to use these resources only for development of an application that uses the TI products described in the resource. Other reproduction and display of these resources is prohibited. No license is granted to any other TI intellectual property right or to any third party intellectual property right. TI disclaims responsibility for, and you will fully indemnify TI and its representatives against, any claims, damages, costs, losses, and liabilities arising out of your use of these resources.

TI’s products are provided subject to TI’s Terms of Sale (www.ti.com/legal/termsofsale.html) or other applicable terms available either on ti.com or provided in conjunction with such TI products. TI’s provision of these resources does not expand or otherwise alter TI’s applicable warranties or warranty disclaimers for TI products.

Mailing Address: Texas Instruments, Post Office Box 655303, Dallas, Texas 75265