Integrated KD9351 FOT Nominated for Product of the Year 2022 by Elektronik Journal

The German electronics journal “Elektronik” by WEKA Publishing has nominated KDPOF’s integrated KD9351 FOT for product of the year 2022. “We are proud to be one of the ten finalists in the automotive category,” stated Carlos Pardo, CEO and Co-founder of KDPOF. “With the KD9351 FOT, we significantly lower costs by constructing the transimpedance amplifier, photodiode, LED driver, and LED as one single device. We consequently provide efficient optical technology for safe backbone and ADAS sensor links in vehicles.” The integrated device provides enhanced efficiency and flexibility, thus paving the way to optical multi-gigabit Ethernet in the vehicle. Until January 28, 2022, users are called to vote for their favorite electronics products.

KD9351: the KDPOF FOT

Incorporating the transmit and receive optoelectronics into one single component, the KD9351 is an optical transceiver for 100 Mb/s up to 1 Gb/s with a small footprint. Compared to STP (shielded twisted pair of copper wires), the combination of the KD9351 FOT with the continuing KD1053 IC cuts the cost for 1 Gb/s by 30 percent. Additional benefits are a shorter supply chain and no test duplication with the final test at the Tier1. Furthermore, the assembly of the FOT and the existing KD1053 IC is simplified and the connector offers snap-fit without soldering. The KD9351 reuses low-cost MEMs encapsulation and allows SMD reflow assembly with 8 by 7 mm LGA components. It is fully shielded against electromagnetic radiation. Fiber connection is done with a very simple plastic connector placed on top. The temperature range, from -40 °C to +105 °C, conforms with harsh automotive environmental requirements. The FOT withstands motor conditions with a vibration class of V2. Additionally, the device endures water without sealing. EMC performance is excellent even with the ECU shield case removed, as shielding is integrated into the PCB component. Optics implement Tx and Rx lenses. Samples are already available.

Evaluation Kit for 1000BASE-RHC Automotive Bridge

For an accelerated project launch for optical gigabit connectivity, KDPOF provides the evaluation kit EVK9351AUT. It equips carmakers, suppliers, and test houses to fully evaluate the KDPOF automotive transceivers KD9351 and KD1053 for automotive optical 1000BASE-RHC PHY implementation. The platform provides all the functional and performance evaluation capabilities requested by automotive OEMs, Tier1s, and test houses. It therefore enables product designers to successfully evaluate KDPOF’s technology and shorten the time-to-market.

The extensive evaluation kit EVK9351AUT contains 2 EVB9351AUT evaluation boards, 2 evaluation board metal enclosures (optional), 2 1000BASE-T SFP modules, 2 100BASE-TX SFP modules (optional), 1 USB2ALL monitoring box, 1 optical harness, 2 Cat. 5e UTP cables, 2 direct-attach passive SFP twinax cables (optional), as well as user and design documentation.