Carputer

A carputer is a computer with specializations to run in a car, such as compact size, low power requirement, and some customized components. The actual computing hardware is typically based on standard PCs or mobile devices. Because they are computer based they typically have many standard interfaces such as Bluetooth, USB, and WiFi. The first carputer was introduced by Clarion Co. on December 4, 1998, although on-board diagnostics have already been employed ever since the 1980s in order to measure precisely the amount of fuel entering the engine as the carburetors got too complex.

A challenge to installing a computer in a car is the power supply. Energy is supplied as a nominal 12V DC in cars or 24V in some trucks. The real voltage varies according to whether the engine is on or off since the battery generally delivers less than 12V, while the generator supplies more. There can be peaks, and at ignition time the current supply drops. External DC/DC converters can help to regulate voltages so these can be used.