Kyoto, Japan, May 20, 2025 - Nuvoton Technology Corporation Japan (NTCJ) will start a series production of automotive HMI[1] display IC “GerdaTM”, 4th generation, which are 3 types (Gerda-4M/ Gerda-4L/ Gerda-4C).
This lineup features image processing technology, security, and display safety functions for the various HMI devices which are progressing under expectation to support the higher level of safety requirement. And it contributes to realizing the HMI solutions which enhance vehicle safety and comfort.

Achievements

1. By producing the high visibility of interior display utilities such as electronic mirrors, AR-HUD[2], and cluster meters, “GerdaTM”assists comfort and fatigue-resistant safe driving by system.
2. By high-speed and large capacity memory built in “GerdaTM”allows customers to develop the high-functional HMI systems with advanced display capability without external memory at reasonable cost in system.
3. “GerdaTM”features OTA (Over-The-Air software updating) and secure boot functions, and contributes to the safe and comfort systems by mitigating the risks of on-vehicle cyber security and supporting the functional safety level ASIL-B.

Features

1. Refined visibility and comfort of HMI equipment is realized with unique image processing engine.

Our video processing technology is ideal for electronic mirrors, AR-HUDs, and cluster meters, which are becoming widely spread due to digitization of equipment installed in cars, to create a safe and comfortable driving environment.

1. Features for electronic mirrors

The issue with conventional e-mirrors had issues with reduced visibility, especially in nighttime camera images, due to glare caused by headlight light and white blown out/blacked out due to big gap in brightness.
With Gerda-4M, it is possible to improve the visibility by adjusting the picture contrast locally, in response to the brightness distribution by area ("local contrast" function[3]), can be achieved with low-latency processing of 1 frame.


2. Features for AR-HUD

It is essential with AR-HUD that the display naturally kept shown in the driver's eyesight by harmonizing the displayed contents to the windshield shape.
For this, displaying image needs to be projected in low latency, and flexible deformed to fit the windshield. Our image warping engine allows free deformation to fit the screen at lower latency than 1 frame. And it supports "dual projection HUD" with single chip, which both 2 images are projected in near and far focuses.


3. Features for cluster meters

It is essential with cluster-meter that multiple assisting information is conducted to drivers accurately and intuitively. And its design needs to flexibly match the interior. Nuvoton's GerdaTM has 2.5D GFX[4] engine which allows customers to design the screen with cubic effects like depth and shades added to the design by 2D objects. It provides the display with higher visibility and contributes to the accurate decision of drivers. And by combination with the image compression engine, displaying images at as high resolution as WXGA@60FPS which enables the higher-grade cockpit design.

2. Multi-functional HMI system is realized at reduced system cost with built-in high speed/ large size memory.

In general, construction of high-performance HMI systems requires external memories on the system. Nuvoton's lineup of Gen.4 is embedded with the memory of high speed and large capacity, which makes external memory unnecessary, and contributes to reduce the component counts and system cost. And Gerda-4L has built-in the dedicated image compression engine which enables the real-time processing at half memory usage than normal use, and it realizes high resolution image display as WXGA@60FPS only with the built-in memory.


3. Supporting Functional Safety ASIL-B, and contributing to the risk mitigation of vehicle cyber security

Gen.4 GerdaTM features the display safety functions as video signal monitoring, alert display monitoring etc., and contributes to realize the system of Functional Safety ASIL-B by supporting the functions as fail-safe, real-time monitoring. And the built-in HSM[5] which supports EVITA-Full achieves the software update via network (OTA) and secure boot, which allows only trusted software to boot up. It helps to mitigate the risk of vehicle cyber security.

NTCJ is the first Japanese company which has been certified with TÜV process of ISO/SAE21434 and continues improvement of cyber security at supply chain and its reliability.

Applications

Car cluster meters, motorcycle cluster meters, electronic mirrors, HUD, HVAC, etc.

Product name

Gerda-4M (KM2KSZ1xx series)
Gerda-4L (KM2KSD4xx series)
Gerda-4C (KM2KSZ2xx series)

Specification

Start of mass production

May 2025

Contact us

Media contact

Digital Marketing Department, Nuvoton Technology Corporation Japan
NTCJ_PR@nuvoton.com

Technical contact

Marketing Department, Visual Sensing Business Group, Nuvoton Technology Corporation Japan
ntcj_vsbg-mkt@nuvoton.com

Definitions

1. [1] HMI

Abbreviation of "Human Machine Interface". It means the methods or devices for humans and machines to exchange information.

2. [2] HUD/AR-HUD

"HUD" is an abbreviation of "Head-Up Display", and "AR-HUD" is an abbreviation of "Augmented Reality Head-Up Display" which means the system to project AR graphics such as navigation, ADAS information, etc. onto the windshield by overlaying to the actual scenery the driver is looking at.

3. [3] Local contrast function

The function to improve the image visibility by dividing the image into multiple areas and adjust each contrast locally in accordance with the local distribution of brightness.

4. [4] 2.5D GFX

Technology to allow users with free deformation of two-dimensional (2D) textures like three-dimensional (3D) objects with realization of smooth lines and color gradations after deformation, and to draw the graceful graphics with sense of depth.

5. [5] HSM

Stands for "Hardware Security Module" which means the dedicated module to preservation and processing of encryption keys.

About Nuvoton Technology Corporation Japan (NTCJ)

Nuvoton Technology Corporation Japan (NTCJ) joined Nuvoton Group in 2020. As a dedicated global semiconductor manufacturer, NTCJ provides technology and various products cultivated over 60 years since its establishment, and solutions that optimally combine them. We value relationships with our customers and partners, and by providing added value that exceeds expectations, we are working as a global solution company that solves various issues in society, industry, and people's lives. For more information, please visit https://www.nuvoton.co.jp/en/.

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