Munich lug 15, 2020

Rohde & Schwarz and TSN Systems provide nanosecond-precision latency measurements for automotive Ethernet

With radar, lidar and camera sensors present in automobiles, time sensitivity on networks becomes extremely important, as vast amounts of sensor data need to be transferred and processed within a few milliseconds. Test and measurement expert Rohde & Schwarz and time-sensitive networks specialist, TSN Systems have successfully cooperated on precise timing measurements for in-vehicle networks using automotive Ethernet 100BASE-T1.

Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) require high bandwidth and low latency communications. Automotive Ethernet is becoming the de-facto communication solution to handle these requirements by offering higher data rates as well as time-sensitive network capabilities.

Together, Rohde & Schwarz and TSN Systems provide a comprehensive test solution for engineers who need to perform precise timing measurements on in-vehicle networks with nanosecond accuracy for Layers 1-3. In the collaboration, Rohde & Schwarz provides a tailored oscilloscope solution based on the R&S RTO, while TSN Systems contributes TSN Box, a hardware interface to the network and TSN Tools, a measurement and analysis software.

The test setup monitors an automotive Ethernet 100BASE-T1 communication link consisting of TSN Box 3.0 acting as talker, listener and test access point (TAP) device. The TSN Box 3.0 TAP device provides information to a PC with TSN Tools based on Layers 2 and 3. The TAP introduced 2x PHY delay for 100BASE-T1 at around 1.5 μs ±10 ns. The R&S RTO oscilloscope was used along with the R&S RTx-K35 bus measurements statistics option to measure and verify this timing accuracy in the physical layer of the automotive Ethernet signal (Layer 1). The mean time delay was measured to be precisely 1.5 μs with a max deviation of ±10.2 ns. In addition, the Qbv traffic (IEEE802.1) was generated by the TSN Box 3.0 with 500 μs cycle time resulting in a jitter ranging from 8 to 20 ns, which was verified by both the TSN Tools and the R&S RTO.

The combination of TSN Tools and TSN Box provides a broad range of functions to address validation and testing for time sensitive automotive Ethernet. While TSN Tools is a PC based analysis software performing visualization and deeo detail analysis, TSN Box serves as a precise interface to the link. Based on its configuration, it can act as a generic TSN Talker/Listener device with nanosecond precision. The TAP can transparently synchronize itself to the gPTP master in the network. This allows very powerful applications that need correlation between payload time stamps and TAP time.

The R&S RTx-K35 software option for the R&S RTO oscilloscope enables high precision latency measurements, for example monitoring the communication between two devices for a long period, and provides statistics on error rates as well as frame timing on the packets. The R&S RT-ZF7 test fixture acts as the link in the middle and allows the full monitoring between the transmitter and receiver device in both directions using the oscilloscope.

In combination with the suitable decoding option, the 100BASE-T1 time data can be measured frame-to-frame, and engineers can get full bus error statistics such as frame error rate and rate of consecutive errors. Moreover, they can perform precise timing measurements for all automotive serial bus protocols such as automotive Ethernet, CAN, CAN-FD, LIN, I2C and more.

Dr. Nik Dimitrakopoulos, Automotive Market Segment Manager at Rohde & Schwarz comments, “Our product portfolio has a strong focus in the automotive industry. With the addition of the R&S RTx-K35 option to our oscilloscope family, precise time measurements using various automotive communication standards are possible. We are very proud to assist TSN Systems to validate their timing information for their TSN Box 3.0 devices.”

Juergen Scheuring, Managing Director at TSN Systems, says, “The advent of time sensitive communication in next generation EE-Architectures raises some serious challenges for the test and validation teams at OEM and Tier1. We are happy to cooperate with Rohde & Schwarz and to benefit from their class-leading products providing Layer 1 analysis and expert level knowledge on time sensitive networking.”

For further information on the Rohde & Schwarz solutions for automotive Ethernet and other bus systems, please visit: www.rohde-schwarz.com/automotive/ethernet

For more information on TSN System’s automotive solutions, please visit: https://tsn.systems/

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Rohde & Schwarz

Rohde & Schwarz is striving for a safer and connected world with its Test & Measurement, Technology Systems and Networks & Cybersecurity Divisions. For over 90 years, the global technology group has pushed technical boundaries with developments in cutting-edge technologies. The company's leading-edge products and solutions empower industrial, regulatory and government customers to attain technological and digital sovereignty. The privately owned, Munich based company can act independently, long-term and sustainably. Rohde & Schwarz generated net revenue of EUR 2.93 billion in the 2023/2024 fiscal year (July to June). On June 30, 2024, Rohde & Schwarz had more than 14,400 employees worldwide.

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Automotive test solutions

As a leading global manufacturer of test and measurement equipment, Rohde & Schwarz offers expert know-how for all phases of automotive development – from predevelopment to R&D to production. OEMs, Tier 1s and chip suppliers benefit from the company’s reliable solutions for high frequency, high bandwidth and high-speed test challenges. Rohde & Schwarz is the market leader for testing radar sensors, automotive Ethernet conformance, connectivity (5G, V2X, eCall, GNSS), infotainment, EMI precompliance and EMC. The company also offers outstanding solutions for board level tests (ICT/FCT) during ECU production. All of these test solutions will ensure maximum efficiency in compliance with the highest quality standards, assuring that various automotive components function correctly, coexist successfully and communicate with the outside world without errors.