Car Cameras Enable Better Automotive Vision

Pablo Blázquez, Director of Commercial Development of KD, says that company technology – originally proven in data centers – now meets even more strict automotive standards for sustainability. Unlike the data centers, which are air-conditioned parts with little or no disturbances, vehicles (and any optical transmission installed on them) must resist difficult conditions, including high heat and bitter cold, implacable vibrations and physical wear. Standards such as the IEEE 802.3cz require a minimum lifespan of 15 years for automotive optical transcenders, while those of the data centers are exchanged every few years within the framework of regular maintenance protocols.

While car manufacturers are growing towards advanced driver systems (ADAS) and fully autonomous driving, the volume of data by car soar. The cameras, sensors and displays all generate massive data flows – and the cables that connect them must keep the pace. By replacing heavy copper harness with optical fibers, the system eliminates electromagnetic interference, reduces weight and supports the objectives of car manufacturers to reduce emissions, reduce costs and stimulate safety.

“I think the car of the future will be a moving data center equipped with a high performance computer (HPC), many sensors, 6G radio systems and an optical skeleton network to connect them all,” said Hiroyuki Tsuda, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Keio university in Tokyo. “This will allow us to use our time in the car for business or entertainment while HPC compatible AI systems drive for us,” adds Tsuda, whose search objectives include vehicle optical networks and integrated photonic circuits for long optical networks.

The analogy of the “mobile data center” describes KD technology well. Using the technology of the mature data center such as lasers emitting on the vertical surface, or VCSEL, which transmit light pulses of wavelength 980-nanomters, the transmitter-reflector responds to requests for high efficiency, low noise and low power. Above all, it is also proof of the future: car manufacturers can reuse the same fibers and connectors when upgrading from 2.5 to 25, 50 or even 100 g

Blázquez note that KD has chosen 980-year lasers on 650 nm in part because the appropriate light sources for lasers of 650 Nm are not yet largely available as the VCsels 980 and 850 Nm the most established which dominate the communication and detection of optical data. Although the VCSEL at 650 Nm have lower signal attenuation than the 850-nanismon versions, they do not surpass KD lasers at 980 Nm. In addition, 980 Nm lasers are much less sensitive to power dissipation, mechanical constraint and degraded performance at high and low temperatures than their counterparts of 850 Nm.

According to Blázquez, the interest of car manufacturers for its fiber optic skeleton solution is already high, in particular in Asia and Europe, with prequalification and current pilot projects. KD’s optical data issuer, he says, could appear in premium vehicles in the two to three model years, with a wider adoption likely to follow.

“I think the car of the future will be a moving data center equipped with a high performance computer, many sensors, 6G radio systems and an optical skeleton network to connect them all.” –Hiroyuki tsuda, keio university

Smoothing of the track to rapid adoption is the fact that optical networks also solve persistent design headaches. Because they are impervious to electromagnetic interference, car manufacturers are free to buy cables through restricted spaces. And the cable lengths up to 40 meters by filming the data from the sensor to processors to the actuators to 10 gigabits per second, make optical harnesses ideal for large commercial vehicles that need high -resolution 360 -resolution 360 -degree cameras.

High performance automobile cameras

KD has chosen to associate itself with Leopard imaging for the system cameras due to the company’s reputation in compact and high performance motor cameras, explains Blázquez. “We wanted to prove that our optical issuer could provide standards like IEEE 802.3cz when it is associated with a tiny optical sensor.” The Li-coming-isx031 camera, with its high resolution and wide angle imagery, is less than 20 millimeters on one side-sufficiently undermined for side mirrors or other places where the aerodynamic trail must be minimized.

There is also a security element. “The lower latency and the higher bandwidth mean that the sensors of your car react faster and more reliably – which means that people are safer,” explains Blázquez.