Future-ready: KDPOF automotive Gigabit Ethernet provides electromagnetic compatibility, robustness, and smooth integration

At the virtual Wire Harness Congress on September 22, 2020, KDPOF will display insights and update on Optical Multi-Gigabit Connectivity. In their presentation at 15:50, Juergen Schachtschneider, Automotive Manager Central Europe & Greater China, and César Esteban, Applications & Support Manager, will prove how automotive networks profit from optical technology. Electric and autonomous driving architectures are substantially pushing the challenges for wiring systems. Issues include electromagnetic interference (EMI), electromagnetic susceptibility (EMS), and weight reduction. On top, automotive applications, utilization, and safety requirements are boosting the necessary network speed tremendously. The new 48-volt electrical architecture in cars additionally pushes the envelope in terms of cross-domain isolation requirements. Copper links for communication rates above 100 Mb/s need heavy and expensive solutions to comply with the stringent OEM’s EMC specs, resulting in high cost and very difficult engineering. Moreover, the weight of the ever-growing diameter of the required cables plays against the race for range increase of electrical powertrains.

The presentation will prove how optical network technology overcomes these trends thanks to its inherent galvanic isolation, robustness, low cost, and low weight. Carmakers will benefit from optical links for communications between the 48-volt and the 12-volt domains. For weight, the optical network will save more than 30 percent of the equivalent copper-based harness weight. Optical Ethernet provides 100 Mb/s and 1 Gb/s network solutions today, and multi-gigabit Ethernet is the significant upcoming breakthrough for in-vehicle networks. The standardization effort for optical multi-gigabit is already in progress within the IEEE as an amendment to the Ethernet standard 802.3.

KDPOF welcomes the publication of two additional standards in the frame of the international in-vehicle Ethernet ISO standard series 21111. The supplementary parts, ISO 21111-3:2020 and ISO 21111-5:2020, specify further features for in-vehicle data transmission of 1 Gigabit per second over POF technology. “With the new ISO 21111 sections complementing the existing IEEE Std 802.3bvTM, optical Gigabit connectivity is now entirely standardized,” explained Carlos Pardo, CEO and Co-founder of KDPOF. “Based on these standards, our optical technology allows a complete, compatible, and interoperating implementation for carmakers and Tier1s.”

Publication of ISO 21111

ISO (International Organization for Standardization) has added two new sections to the in-vehicle Ethernet series 21111. These newly approved parts are key components to assure reliable implementations of systems that realize in-vehicle Ethernet Optical 1 Gb/s as a physical layer.

ISO 21111-3:2020 specifies additional features to IEEE 802.3bv, such as wake-up and synchronized link sleep algorithms. It also contains a complete conformance test plan for IC providers that implement this standard.

ISO 21111-5:2020 specifies requirements at the system level and a complete conformance and interoperability test plan for ECU providers that implement optical 1 Gb/s physical layer as specified in ISO 21111-3.

Further relevant parts of ISO 21111 for this type of high speed in-vehicle communications include:

  • ISO 21111-1 provides general definitions.
  • ISO 21111-2 defines general wake-up and sleep definitions and RGMII specifications.
  • ISO 21111-4:2020 is devoted to optical connectivity component specification and tests.

We are proud that Actelser has implemented our optical connectivity technology in their new Snap Data Duplex Kit for home networks. With the Snap Data Duplex Kit, Actelser enables Ethernet over Plastic Optical Fiber (POF) at two additional points. The system allows multiple access ports all around the home in high optical fiber quality.

This means users may enjoy 100 percent of the bandwidth they have signed up for with their service providers. Optical backbones for home networks are the ideal means to leave behind the speed losses of Wi-Fi Repeaters or PLC, since POF systems are completely lossless.

We’re up and running to serve you

Dear clients and partners,

We’re reaching out to inform you that in view of the world situation with COVID-19, we’re continuing our activities without disruption. The commercial, administrative support and development teams are carrying on their efforts, aiming to give you the best service. Of course, we’re also working to ensure the health of all our employees and partners.

If you have any questions, please contact our team members through their individual emails; alternatively, if you have their individual phone numbers, please don’t hesitate to use them. Due to limited physical attendance at the office, the corporate switchboard number may not be operative.

We would like to take this opportunity to send our best wishes to you and your family.

Cordially,
Your KDPOF team

Demo: World’s First 50 Gb/s Automotive-grade Optical Network
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KDPOF proudly displayed the world’s first demonstration of an automotive-grade optical transmission system with 50 gigabits per second single lane at the Automotive Ethernet Congress in February 2020 in Munich, Germany. In-vehicle networks are on the brink of speeds from one to multiple gigabits per second. With the approval of the IEEE 802.3 working group, a team of individuals affiliated with more than 15 key carmakers and components suppliers, including KDPOF, has started the standardization of an IEEE 802.3 Automotive Optical Multi-Gigabit Standard with strong support from the industry. The study group evaluates the creation of an IEEE Ethernet standard for the automotive industry, with speeds starting at 2.5 Gb/s, going up to 25 or 50 Gb/s, and scalable up to 100 Gb/s. The key advantages of the optical solution for specific applications using multi-gigabit speeds with in-vehicle connectivity are, among others, Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) thanks to the inherent galvanic isolation, low weight, and low cost.

Optical Multi-Gigabit Ethernet on the Verge of Standardization and Implementation (part 3)
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Carlos Pardo, KDPOF CEO, speaking about Optical Multi-Gigabit Ethernet on the Verge of Standardization and Implementation at the Automotive Ethernet Congress in February 2020 in Munich, Germany. With the approval of the IEEE 802.3 working group, a team of individuals affiliated with more than 15 key carmakers and components suppliers, including KDPOF, has started the standardization of an IEEE 802.3 Automotive Optical Multi-Gigabit Standard with strong support from the industry. The key advantages of the optical solution for specific applications using multi-gigabit speeds with in-vehicle connectivity are, among others, Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) thanks to the inherent galvanic isolation, low weight, and low cost.

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Carlos Pardo, KDPOF CEO, speaking about Optical Multi-Gigabit Ethernet on the Verge of Standardization and Implementation at the Automotive Ethernet Congress in February 2020 in Munich, Germany. In-vehicle networks are on the brink of speeds from one to multiple gigabits per second. With the approval of the IEEE 802.3 working group, a team of individuals affiliated with more than 15 key carmakers and components suppliers, including KDPOF, has started the standardization of an IEEE 802.3 Automotive Optical Multi-Gigabit Standard with strong support from the industry. The study group evaluates the creation of an IEEE Ethernet standard for the automotive industry, with speeds starting at 2.5 Gb/s, going up to 25 or 50 Gb/s, and scalable up to 100 Gb/s. 

Optical Multi-Gigabit Ethernet on the Verge of Standardization and Implementation (part 1)
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Carlos Pardo, KDPOF CEO, speaking about Optical Multi-Gigabit Ethernet on the Verge of Standardization and Implementation at the Automotive Ethernet Congress in February 2020 in Munich, Germany. The key advantages of the optical solution for specific applications using multi-gigabit speeds with in-vehicle connectivity are, among others, Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) thanks to the inherent galvanic isolation, low weight, and low cost.

Home Network: Point-to-point Link with POF Media Converters
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Installing POF will help to improve the Internet connectivity in the home. A POF link can cover up to 50 m, giving 1 Gb/s performance. The installation does not require high level skills and can be done with simple tools. POF cable is typically installed through the existing conduits in the house, so it’s easy to reach any room and keep the cable hidden.

This video shows how to connect and check a daisy-chain (DC) POF installation by using commercial equipment. Key points are the simplicity and quickness of the cut and connect. The daisy chain POF outlet consists of two RJ45 copper ports and two optical POF ports. It allows installations in DC topology, which can cover multiple rooms.

List of materials used in the video:

  • 2x POF media converters + PSUs
  • 1x POF daisy chain outlet + PSU
  • POF cable
  • 2x laptop
  • 1x STB
  • 3x UTP cable
  • KDPOF monitoring tool
50 Gb/s Optical Automotive Ethernet Demo Strikes at Automotive Ethernet Congress
50 Gb/s Optical Automotive Ethernet Demo Strikes at Automotive Ethernet Congress

We are grateful and overwhelmed by the great interest we have received for our 50 Gb/s Optical Automotive Ethernet demo at the Automotive Ethernet Congress in Munich in February 2020. During Carlos Pardo’s presentation “Optical Multi-Gigabit Ethernet – on the Verge of IEEE Standardization and Implementation”, the audience listened in spellbound silence before peppering him with technical questions. Our exhibition stand had been well-attended the whole event. Furthermore, after the presentation, it was virtually flooded by interested automotive industry representatives.   

In-vehicle networks are on the brink of speeds from one to multiple gigabits per second. With the approval of the IEEE 802.3 working group, a team of individuals affiliated with more than 15 key carmakers and components suppliers, including KDPOF, has started the standardization of an IEEE 802.3 Automotive Optical Multi-Gigabit Standard with strong support from the industry. The study group evaluates the creation of an IEEE Ethernet standard for the automotive industry, with speeds starting at 2.5 Gb/s, going up to 25 or 50 Gb/s, and scalable up to 100 Gb/s. The key advantages of the optical solution for specific applications using multi-gigabit speeds with in-vehicle connectivity are, among others, Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) thanks to the inherent galvanic isolation, low weight, and low cost.  

For further details, please download the white paper “Off-the-shelf System Solution: Optical Multi-Gigabit Connectivity in Vehicles