In this dissertation, we propose a circuit design and implementation of physical layer for FlexRay-based automotive communication systems which are expected to be widely used in car electronics for the years to come. To reduce the volume of electrical lines in a car and ensure safe connections, the automotive communication systems are more important than ever. FlexRay systems have been deemed as better than other existing solutions for the complicated in-vehicle networks. A low-voltage differential-signaling-like transmitter is proposed to drive the twisted pair of the FlexRay bus. Furthermore, a three-comparator scheme is used to carry out bit slicing and state recognition at the receiver end. A prototype system as well as a chip implemented by using a typical 0.18 £gm single-poly six-metal CMOS process is reported in this dissertation. Furthermore, an accurate clock signal is required in any control system, especially in the vehicle applications, where the ¡§safety¡¨ is the top priority. Because of the TDMA strategy (Time Division Multiple Access) was chosen for the FlexRay communication protocol, the system clock should not be drifting too much. A robust 20 MHz clock generator with process, supply voltage, and temperature compensation and a low-jitter 80 MHz phase-lock loop are proposed in this dissertation to reduce hostile environment effects. Finally, because the ¡§safety¡¨ and ¡§reliability¡¨ are top design requirements in the automobile electronics, we should also focus on the power supply design in the in-car communication networks. Therefore, a high tolerant and high efficiency voltage converter is proposed in this dissertation. By utilizing stacked power MOSFETs, a voltage level converter, a detector and a controller, this design is realized by a typical CMOS process without any thick-oxide device to tolerate input voltage range up to 3 times of the VDD voltage.

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