- Launches World’s First Hot Plug Safe Design in Support of Global Telematics Applications
- Highly Integrated Single Chip Solution Dramatically Reduces Customers’ Time to Market and Bill of Materials
ALISO VIEJO, Calif. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — March 11, 2021 — indie Semiconductor, an Autotech solutions innovator which is currently in the process of becoming a public company through a planned merger with Thunder Bridge Acquisition II, Ltd. (Nasdaq: THBR), a special purpose acquisition company, today launched a new on-board diagnostics (OBD) device, the OnBrD™. The OnBrD™ is a complete hardware and software solution for high-performance OBD-II applications including vehicle tracking, geofencing, connectivity, real-time automotive diagnostics and black box event data recorders. Specifically, indie’s compliant line drivers and hardware controllers make the OnBrD™ a hot plug safe device, while its distinctive, highly integrated, single layer architecture supports both new and existing system platforms.
OBD-II solutions monitor a car's computer system and report trouble codes. The electronic control unit then uses a microprocessor to read inputs from various engine sensors in real time. When a reading is outside of the expected values, the system logs a diagnostic trouble code (DTC), which is read through the OBD port. Remote diagnostics are extremely valuable tools in preventive maintenance and scheduling vehicle service cycles, reducing downtimes and the risk of breakdowns.
“Telematics, remote diagnostics and black box event data recorders are rapidly proliferating across a wide range of automotive applications including fleet management of passenger and commercial vehicles,” said Paul Hollingworth, indie’s executive vice president of sales and marketing. “Leveraging our decade-plus of Autotech system-level expertise, indie has developed a truly breakthrough single chip OBD-II interface solution to accelerate Tier 1 time to market, while substantially reducing their bill of materials. At a higher level, today’s announcement reflects how indie is rearchitecting the vehicle of tomorrow today, addressing the market’s need for innovative platforms that enhance safety, deliver real-time diagnostics and support new and emerging high growth applications.”
According to Technavio, the automotive on-board diagnostics market is expected to grow by $35 billion from 2020 to 2024 driven by the growing focus on remote monitoring and system management. Factors such as the shift in focus from OBD hardware and OBD software, and the integration of OBD with telematics will have a significant impact on the growth of the automotive OBD market value during the forecast period.
About OnBrD™
The OnBrD™ is a complete hardware and software solution for high-performance OBD-II applications. It includes the full stack from PHY through to application layer in a single, easy-to-drop-in package for both new and existing designs.
This highly integrated platform is designed to direct wire to the J1962 interface. An innovative crossbar function inside the design enables the multiplexing of any protocol on any connector pin, providing software configurable support for government mandated pinouts, as well as proprietary, per vehicle/machine interfaces. All pins are capable of being driven by the CPU or commonly, through the built-in hardware protocol accelerator.
OnBrD™ integrates an application processor, reducing bill of material costs by enabling the user application to run on the single-chip solution. Provided reference software includes support for a world-class turnkey J1979 stack supporting vehicle compatibility, ignition algorithms and safety functions, including crash detection. The firmware also provides support for common peripherals including radio/location/MEMS sensors and includes integrated RTOS, filesystem and logging infrastructure. Peripherals available to the CPU include GPIO, UART, RTC, PWM, I2C and SPI.
The OnBrD™ leverages indie’s field-proven, mixed-signal automotive technology and has been production-qualified to the AEC-Q100 Grade 1 standard. The iND83405 is available now in production quantities. References designs include J1979, system-on-module, vehicle simulator and cable accessory based products.
For more information about this product and other indie solutions, please contact info@indiesemi.com.
About indie
indie is empowering the Autotech revolution with next generation automotive semiconductors and software platforms. We focus on edge sensors for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems including LiDAR, connected car, user experience and electrification applications. These technologies represent the core underpinnings of both electric and autonomous vehicles, while the advanced user interfaces transform the in-cabin experience to mirror and seamlessly connect to the mobile platforms we rely on every day. We are an approved vendor to Tier 1 partners and our solutions can be found in marquee automotive OEMs around the world. Headquartered in Aliso Viejo, CA, indie has design centers and sales offices in Austin, TX; Boston, MA; Detroit, MI; San Francisco and San Jose, CA; Budapest, Hungary; Dresden, Germany; Edinburgh, Scotland and various locations throughout China.
Please visit us at www.indiesemi.com to learn more.
In December 2020, indie announced it entered into a definitive agreement to merge with Thunder Bridge Acquisition II, Ltd. (Nasdaq: THBR), a special purpose acquisition company. The transaction is expected to close in early Spring 2021, subject to regulatory and stockholder approvals, and other customary closing conditions. The combined company will retain the indie Semiconductor name and be listed on Nasdaq under the new ticker symbol “INDI.”
About Thunder Bridge Acquisition II, Ltd.
Thunder Bridge Acquisition II, Ltd. is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. In August 2019, Thunder Bridge Acquisition II, Ltd. consummated a $345 million initial public offering (the “IPO”) of 34.5 million units (reflecting the underwriters’ exercise of their over-allotment option in full), each unit consisting of one of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares and one-half warrant, each whole warrant enabling the holder thereof to purchase one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share. Thunder Bridge II’s securities are quoted on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the ticker symbols THBRU, THBR and THBRW.
Additional Information about the Transaction and Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed transaction, Thunder Bridge II filed a registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Form S-4”), which includes a proxy statement/prospectus, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on January 25, 2021, and intends to file any and all additional relevant materials and other documents, as they become available, regarding the proposed transaction with the SEC. Thunder Bridge II’s shareholders and other interested persons are advised to read, the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus, included in the Form S-4, and the amendments thereto and the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and documents incorporated by reference therein filed in connection with the proposed business combination, as these materials will contain important information about indie, Thunder Bridge II and the proposed business combination. Promptly after the Form S-4 is declared effective by the SEC, Thunder Bridge II will mail the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and a proxy card to each shareholder entitled to vote at the meeting relating to the approval of the Business Combination and other proposals set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus. Before making any voting or investment decision, investors and shareholders of Thunder Bridge II are urged to carefully read the entire Form S-4 and proxy statement/prospectus, when they become available, and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC, as well as any amendments or supplements to these documents, because they will contain important information about the proposed transaction. The documents filed by Thunder Bridge II with the SEC may be obtained free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to Thunder Bridge Acquisition II, Ltd., 9912 Georgetown Pike, Suite D203, Great Falls, Virginia, 22066, Attention: Secretary, or by calling (202) 431-0507.
Participants in the Solicitation
Thunder Bridge II and its directors and executive officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from its shareholders with respect to the business combination. A list of the names of those directors and executive officers and a description of their interests in Thunder Bridge II is in the proxy statement/prospectus for the proposed business combination included in the Form S-4, which is available at
www.sec.gov. Information about Thunder Bridge II’s directors and executive officers and their ownership of Thunder Bridge II ordinary shares is set forth in Thunder Bridge II prospectus, dated August 9, 2019 and in the proxy statement/prospectus included in the Form S-4, as may be modified or supplemented by any Form 3 or Form 4 filed with the SEC since the date of such filings. Other information regarding the interests of the participants in the proxy solicitation is also disclosed in the proxy statement/prospectus included in the Form S-4 pertaining to the proposed business combination. These documents can be obtained free of charge from
www.sec.gov .indie and its directors and executive officers may also be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of Thunder Bridge II in connection with the proposed business combination. A list of the names of such directors and executive officers and information regarding their interests in the proposed business combination is disclosed in the proxy statement/prospectus included in the Form S-4 for the proposed business combination.