Evaluate tradespace

Blog post: 2023-12-02-pcba-analyses

What was the likely trade space considered in this design?

Based on the time period this vehicle display system was designed (over 12 years ago) and the technology used, some likely key trade-spaces and design considerations would have included:

Performance vs Cost:

• Balancing processing capabilities, graphics, and connectivity options versus hardware cost targets

Power Consumption:

• Minimizing current draw to avoid taxing the vehicle’s electrical system

Reliability:

• Component selection, circuit protection, operating temperatures tuned to match vehicle lifetimes

Display Quality:

• Trade-offs between LCD screen size, resolution, color depth, viewing angles etc factoring cost

Environmental:

• Operating temperature ranges, humidity tolerance, vibration testing etc for automotive

Software:

• Integrated software ecosystems for automotive versus complete custom low-level firmware

Serviceability:

• Balancing OEM repair vs end user flexibility for upgrades over 10+ year vehicle lifespan

The automotive space brings unique constraints across cost, enviromental resilience, reliability, power, and serviceability spanning over a decade of use.

This would have influenced key architectural and component choices in the system - relying on an automotive focused processor with graphics capabilities, passive matrix LCD panel, integrated connectivity like CAN, and likely modular construction allowing upgrades over time as technology progresses. These attributes support longevity despite harsh conditions.