At KDPOF, company dedicated to the R&D and commercialization of high-speed optical communications chips, we are looking for a Graduate Test Engineer. We welcome a self-driven, and motivated Graduate Engineer to join our group to help the team test and develop the next generation of transceivers for optical communications in the automotive sector.
Fabless semiconductor supplier KDPOF provides innovative high-speed optical networking for harsh environments. Making gigabit communications over fiber optics a reality, KDPOF technology supplies 1 Gb/s POF links for automotive, industrial, and home networks. Founded in 2010 in Madrid, Spain, KDPOF offer their cost-effective technology as either ASSP or IP (Intellectual Property) to be integrated in SoCs (System-on-Chips). KDPOF has about 50 employees, we are in full expansion due to the development of innovative products in the sector and the creation of a unique factory in Spain. As a result, we are looking for an Automotive Business Development Manager (Graduate).
KDPOF (leading supplier for high-speed connectivity over fiber optics in harsh environments) proudly announced their strategic partnership with Hinge Technology (China-based leader in advanced vehicle electronics architecture) to solve key technical issues in the industrial application of optical communications in vehicles.
For the development and mass production of in-vehicle electrical and electronic architecture of optical fiber communications, Hinge Technology utilizes ICs from KDPOF to design integrated optical modules combined with automotive-grade connectors and optical fiber harnesses to design the electrical electronic architecture (EEA).
Yang Jun is CTO of Hinge Technology
“The widespread application of optical communications in automotive production faces challenges, including harsh environmental conditions and tough requirements for low cost and high reliability,” stated Yang Jun, CTO of Hinge Technology. “Our collaboration with the leading upstream supplier, KDPOF, accelerates the industrialization of vehicle communications system products based on 1 to 50 Gbps optical communications.”
Carlos Pardo is CEO and Co-founder of KDPOF
Carlos Pardo, CEO and Co-founder of KDPOF added: “We’re proud that Hinge Technology has chosen our transceiver ICs for optical gigabit connectivity in harsh environments. At the recent Automotive Ethernet Summit in Shanghai, China, we showed our first joint project: a plastic optical fiber camera by Hinge Technology based on our well-proven KD1053 IC and integrated KD9351 FOT (fiber optic transceiver).”
Joint demo of high-speed camera at Automotive Ethernet Summit in Shanghai, China
Using KDPOF components, Hinge Technology has developed an optical fiber camera. It can be paired with an optical fiber surround view host, resulting in a high-speed optical communications 360-degree surround view system or a reverse image system. The camera utilizes a 2MP high-quality image sensor for data collection, which is processed and transmitted via plastic optical fiber to the controller for image display or processing. Optical fiber cameras can achieve a stable transmission distance of up to 40 meters and deliver high-definition, real-time images. By comparison, LVDS coaxial cameras have no relay transmission capability and are limited to 15 meters.
The KDPOF EVB9351AUT evaluation board provides an extensive platform for testing the KDPOF KD9351 and KD1053 transceivers, designed for the 1000BASE-RHC PHY implementation in automotive optical networks. The KD9351 IC, with dimensions of 7 mm x 8 mm in an LGA-36 package, handles the PMD sublayer of the physical layer. The KD1053, sized at 7 mm x 7 mm in a QFN-56 package, manages both the PCS and PMA sublayers as specified by IEEE Std 802.3bvTM-2017. This setup supports data transfer rates of 1,000 and 100 Mbps.
Additionally, the board features an SFP slot, enabling it to serve as a media converter between the optical 1000BASE-RHC port and various SFP modules. These can include 1000/100BASE-T, 100BASE-FX, 1000BASE-S/LX, direct-attach passive twinax cable, and passive serial loopback configurations.
KDPOF team visiting Hinge Technology facilities to work on collaborative projects
In addition to developing optical EEA for vehicle communications, KDPOF and Hinge Technology will extend their partnership to the application of optical communications technology in battery management systems (BMS) for electric vehicles. The companies are collaborating on the development and manufacturing of optical modules and system-on-chips (SoC). They plan to introduce optical-electronic integrated chip packaging technology in regions of China with well-developed automotive industry clusters, establishing FAB facilities capable of packaging chips with bandwidths ranging from 1 to 10 gigabits.
Utilizing Chiplet technology solutions, they are jointly researching and developing advanced chip-on-panel (COP) packaging technology for low-cost, high-reliability optical processors, optical modules, and complementary optical components tailored for automotive optical communications. This initiative aims to ensure production capacity for various automotive optical communications products. Together they plan to develop and manufacture higher-bandwidth optical communications semiconductors in the future, driving continuous upgrades of EEA architecture for the global automotive industry.
Furthermore, Hinge Technology conducts relevant functional verification on mass-produced vehicle models, including assessing packet loss rates, signal transmission losses, optical module heat dissipation, optical module and optical connector optical path coupling solutions, and optical connection reliability in various road environments. Based on the results of real vehicle verification, Hinge Technology develops corresponding solutions and provides feedback on technical issues related to optical chips to KDPOF for resolution.
More information is available in the white paper from Hinge Technology.
Hinge Electronic Technology Co., Ltd., was established in 2014 in Shanghai, China with a vision to driving continuous upgrades of EEA architecture for the global automotive industry. Since its creation, Hinge has pioneered the development of advanced automotive systems and products such as the self-adapting AUTOSAR system, in-vehicle TSN (time-sensitive networking) Ethernet, and optical Ethernet, essential technologies in crafting the electronic backbone for the smart vehicles of tomorrow. Powered by its R&D capability, Hinge has forged strategic partnerships with prominent entities (both upstream and downstream) across the automotive sector around the globe. Hinge has built a manufacturing and testing hub in Zhuji city, a facility encompassing 40 hectares with mass production capacity and delivery capability for OEMs.
English press release PDF
Chinese press release PDF
German press release PDF
From May 14 to 15, 2024, we will show our optical multi-gigabit automotive Ethernet demo at VECS 2024 – Vehicle Electronics & Connected Services Conference – in Gothenburg, Sweden. This year’s theme is “Shaping the Future of the Transportation Landscape”. At stand C04:12, we’ll display our first implementation compliant to IEEE Std 802.3cz. The demo setup operates in multimode multi-gigabit with 2 plates of multimode fiber 10GBASE-AU.
VECS will bring together the automotive community to share ideas, insights, and inspiration. At the event, you can learn more about the latest innovations, the industry landscape plus benchmark yourselves and show presence among 1500+ peers. Established industry experts, renowned organizations, and agile start-ups will discuss the best use cases regarding process and organizational aspects for a profitable use of new technologies.
We’re looking forward to exchanging experiences and ideas. How are other OEMs coping with the shift to central computer architecture, where the vehicle becomes much more software-based? How do manufacturers tackle the commercial transformation where digitization changes the way that they market & sell their products and also interact with customers?
We’re delighted to pass on a 20 percent discount* to you. Please register at VECS.se under the registration tab and enter the code KDPOF20 in the discount code field in connection with registration to receive the discount. Our team looks forward to meeting you at VECS. Please contact us to set up a meeting date!
*Please note that this offer does not apply to already registered participants and it is not possible to combine with other offers for this event.
We’re excited to be part of the 5th Automotive Ethernet Summit in Shanghai, China! Óscar Ciordia, Sales and Marketing Director, will give the presentation “Advance 10-Gigabit Ethernet Connection Solution Enables the Development of Autonomous Driving”. From April 11 to 12, 2024, this top automotive Ethernet technology summit in the Asia-Pacific region, gathers dozens of OEMs in its fifth year.
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We’re proud to congratulate our CEO Carlos Pardo for being awarded Entrepreneur 2023. He’s winner of the 13th edition of the Entrepreneur Awards by Asociación/Colegio Nacional de Ingenieros del ICAI. On October 20, 2023, he will collect the XIII Entrepreneur Award at the ceremony of the 2023 Association Awards.
At the recent ECOC Exhibition from October 2 to 4, 2023, in Glasgow, Scotland, we were grateful to show you our exclusive and brand-new multi-gigabit demo “Unveiling the Future of Automotive Optical Networks” with a traffic generator from AUKUA Systems. Thank you very much for the great interest in our presenting the first automotive optical multi-gigabit demo. The event was once again the key meeting place for everyone in the fiber optic communication technology industry. With over 330 companies showcasing the latest products and services, the exhibition was the meeting place for their colleagues, customers and partners and the chance to hear about the latest developments in their industry.
980nm wavelength VCSELs for higher robustness and lifetime // TRUMPF and KDPOF working together to implement new standard in optical data communication within automotive // The target is to bring to the market an integrated transceiver for multi-gigabit optical communications in automotive systems
TRUMPF Photonic Components, a global leader in high-speed VCSEL and photodiode solutions for data communication, and KDPOF, an expert in high-speed optical networking solutions based in Spain, will showcase the first 980nm multi-gigabit automotive interconnect system at the European Conference for Optical Communication (ECOC), to be held in Glasgow on October 1st-5th.
We’re excited to present our optical gigabit connectivity technology and chip production plans at CHIPNATION Congress on 28 November 2023 in Getafe, Spain. It’s the first national congress of the Spanish semiconductor industry – Building the future of the European semiconductors industry.
From 13:15 to 14:00, our CEO Carlos Pardo will discuss “IPCEI and the capabilities deployed in Spain” at the round table, together with Jose Capmany, COO of iPronics Programmable Photonics, and Iñigo Artundo, CEO of VLC Photonics (Hitachi Group). Moderator will be Estela Gallego, Advisory Spokesperson, Directorate General for Industry and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises.
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On 24 November 2023, secpho will organize the virtual conference and exhibition “Hangar 23 Tech Show“. We’re happy to participate with the presentation “Solutions for aerospace optical communications: 100 Mb/s – 10 Gb/s” at 10:10 CET. In addition, we will showcase latest technology highlights in the online exhibition – in a hangar and in an airplane. Read more
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