With iConF, FORVIA HELLA is saying goodbye to conventional automotive fuses and embracing intelligent, software-controlled solutions. Sounds complex? Dr. Christopher Lankeit and Daniel Klimeck shed light on the subject!

^{Thursday 2025-12-04}

Dr. Christopher Lankeit and Daniel Klimeck bring a small electronic component to the conversation – smaller than a penny, yet representing the future of body electronics. It’s the intelligent, configurable electronic fuse from FORVIA HELLA, or simply: iConF. Lankeit (Global Feature Owner) and Klimeck (Head of Hardware Foundation Body Control) have dedicated many years to developing the iConF solution, which will go into series production for a German premium manufacturer for the first time in 2028. In this interview, they discuss new E/E architectures*, opportunities and challenges, and why they see iConF as a game changer. Terms marked with an “*” are explained in more detail in the glossary at the end.

Imagine you had to explain iConF in a few simple sentences to your child. How would you do it?

Lankeit: iConF is an electronic fuse with its own computer chip and software. Admittedly, that doesn’t sound easy to understand at first. Maybe you can picture it like this: the good old fuse gets a digital upgrade – that’s iConF. In other words: Fuses, as we know them today in vehicles or even in houses, are relatively simple. To prevent overloads or short circuits and further damage, they trip and the light goes out. Modern cars, which are highly networked and automated, can no longer afford that. They need more intelligence, and that’s exactly what iConF brings.

How exactly does it do that?

Klimeck: Instead of simply burning out when things get dangerous, iConF includes intelligence: it detects problems immediately, selectively switches circuits off or on, and thus ensures a safe and reliable power supply in the vehicle. All of this happens lightning-fast and flexibly via software. While conventional fuses simply trip and burn out, with iConF the car remains controllable and drivable – and important functions like brakes, steering, and driver assistance systems stay operational. That’s a real game changer for automotive safety.

What makes iConF unique compared to conventional solutions?

Klimeck: With iConF, we’ve created a complete solution. The three elements Christopher mentioned – the fuse itself, the ASIC* (the chip), and the software – all come from a single source. This makes integration into various vehicle architectures much easier – and saves a lot of time and cost. The big advantage is: iConF is scalable and flexible. That means we can deliver iConF as a complete feature in complex control units like the iPDM or our zone controllers, or as a standalone component. It all depends on how manufacturers design their E/E architectures in the future. We’ll talk more about iPDM and zone controllers later.

A quick question at this point: In the future, cars will be electrified, highly networked, and, at least in some areas - completely autonomous. What does that mean for the way body electronics will be designed?

Lankeit: It will be fundamentally different. In short: future E/E architectures will follow a zonal logic. That means: instead of over 100 so-called ECUs (individual control units), we’ll have far fewer, but much smarter, control units. These are divided into zones – like front left, rear right, and so on. In these zones, functions previously handled by individual control units will be grouped together.

Klimeck: With zonal architectures*, energy distribution in the car becomes much leaner. Fewer cables, less weight - not only making the car lighter and more sustainable, but also more flexible for new functions. And that, in turn, saves costs and speeds up development. Especially in times when the market is constantly changing, that’s a real advantage.

What are currently the biggest technological challenges for such new E/E vehicle architectures?

Klimeck: Definitely the complexity! Simply put: cars are becoming rolling computers, everything is networked, and software is everywhere. That places huge demands on the power supply.

Lankeit: In addition, new OEMs are entering the market and adapting very quickly. Traditional OEMs have their legacy components, which have proven themselves in the past and for which we also need solutions now. And that’s exactly where iConF comes in. Our first-to-market solution ensures that all critical systems are always safely supplied with power, even if a fault occurs somewhere. The car always remains controllable and drivable. Maybe at reduced speed and without seat heating, but you’ll still be able to drive – at least to the next workshop.

iPDM, zone controller, and then iConF – all new products for FORVIA HELLA. Let’s sort this out together.

Lankeit: Indeed: with iPDM, zone controller, and iConF, we have several new products. But they’re based on our decades of experience – both technologically and in series production. That’s especially relevant because E/E architectures in the automotive sector are currently undergoing fundamental change.

Klimeck: Even at the risk of oversimplifying: imagine the car as a human body. The zone controller works like a spinal cord: it receives information, processes it, and passes it on. So, the zone controller controls the arms and legs in the car, that means electrical consumers like actuators for windows, lighting functions, or windshield wipers. The iPDM, in turn, is the heart – it ensures a reliable power supply to all critical systems. It detects where and when power is needed in the car – which is especially important in critical situations. Then the iPDM controls which functions still need power and which can be disconnected. The electronic fuse iConF is like the synapses – the connection points for information transfer –they react instantly to dangers like a short circuit and thus protect the entire system.

What role does iConF’s intelligent control software play for safety and reliability, especially in autonomous and software-defined vehicles?

Lankeit: Ultimately, the software is the key element. It ensures that safety-critical systems like steering are always reliably supplied with power. Less important consumers, on the other hand, can be switched off instantly in the event of a fault – even while driving, via over-the-air update. Especially in autonomous vehicles, where requirements are constantly changing, this flexibility is crucial. iConF ensures that the car is always up to date and maximally safe.

What technological developments do you expect for the future of EE architectures?

Klimeck: An exciting field is the use of data – for example, for predictive maintenance or fleet optimization. With iConF, we can, for the first time, truly record and evaluate all currents and voltages in the car. This opens up completely new diagnostic possibilities! Problems can be detected early, entire vehicle fleets can be operated more efficiently. And iConF is now also being used in other areas, such as battery electronics –there’s still enormous potential there.

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