Dual Role Hub
November 8, 2016
Award-winning Delphi Dual Role Hub technology helps automakers
make Apple Carplay™ work simultaneously with other devices
The custom USB Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) allows the car
radio and iPhone to be recognized as "host" devices simultaneously. Delphi's
solution, which received a prestigious 2016 PACE Award, is the only known
integrated circuit globally that has both hub functionality and host to host
bridging, and provides a smaller, more cost-efficient package.
iPhone and Apple fans around the world can look forward to a smarter, safer and
more connected in-vehicle experience.
When Apple first announced CarPlay™ in 2012, iPhone users couldn’t wait to buy a car with an
infotainment interface that was intuitive and mirrored how their phone worked. The system
promised navigation, music and messaging features that would make using your iPhone in the
car smarter and safer.
There was only one problem. Car companies and their infotainment suppliers couldn’t figure out
how to make it work, not without driving up the cost, limiting the functionality or taking up all the
real estate in the head unit and then some.
“The issue with the CarPlay™ integration came when a driver wanted to access music on
another device, play video on a passenger’s tablet, or listen to music on a passenger’s Android
phone,” said Chris Reider, vice president, Engineering for Delphi’s Electrical and Electronic
Architecture. “The iPhone running CarPlay™ wanted to operate as the sole “host” USB device,
preventing access to other devices.”
Delphi solved this problem – at a much lower cost, in a smaller package and with all the
functionality for which CarPlay™ engineers originally imagined – by developing a custom USB
Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) (patent pending), which allows the car radio and
iPhone to be recognized as “host” devices simultaneously.
“Delphi’s solution is currently the only known IC globally that has both hub functionality and host
to host bridging, providing a unique solution to customers seeking to implement Apple
CarPlay™,” Reider said.
Media Contact:
Thomas Aurich / [email protected]
+49 (0)202-291-2115
Competitive offerings have shortcomings, including high cost and limited functionality, while
Delphi’s solution has been launched to mass production, overcoming all of these problematic
roadblocks for successful integration.
Delphi was the sole source of media module hubs in every mid- and high-level infotainment
system for GM globally for model year 2015. In 2017, Delphi will provide CarPlay™ integration
for more than 40 percent of all GM, Ford and Chrysler vehicles globally, representing 10 million
units annually with the potential to reach all OEMs globally.
With this reach, iPhone and Apple fans around the world can look forward to a smarter, safer
and more connected in-vehicle experience.
“Delphi has done what no other company could do for Apple CarPlay,” said Reider. “We made it
work, from the functionality and simplicity of use, to the smaller, more cost-efficient package.
Everything that was missing from the system before, came to fruition with this innovation.”
Why Delphi
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Delphi’s solution is an industry-leading innovation; no other known comparable solution is
currently available
Fits into a small package space, at the lowest cost, providing the best user experience
through optimal functionality
Provides OEM’s the ability to integrate CarPlay into infotainment systems with multiple
host/device functionality
Pictures and videos available at this link (click on ‘Attachments’).
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Media Contact:
Thomas Aurich / [email protected]
+49 (0)202-291-2115