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12 KDPOF has announced a highly integrated transceiver for plastic fibre comms (writes Nick Flaherty). The KD7051 fibre optic transceiver (FOT) is the first device for optical in- vehicle connectivity that incorporates the transceiver IC, optoelectronics and optics. “By constructing the IC, photodiode and LED as a single device, we significantly reduce the cost and footprint of automotive Ethernet connectivity at 100 Mbit/s,” said Carlos Pardo at KDPOF. “The lower number of parts also reduces the effort in testing and qualification.” By using plastic optical fibre (POF), the KD7051 reduces the overall cost of wiring for high-bandwidth camera, sensor or battery management systems up to 1 Gbit/s without having to use shielded twisted pairs of copper wires. The POF has a larger diameter than glass fibre, making alignment of the optical components easier and thus more cost-effective to manufacture and BASF has developed a plastic material specifically for radar sensors for automated driving (writes Nick Flaherty). install. The installation is similar to that for copper harnesses.  The transceiver is a completely new FOT design. It uses low-cost encapsulation and alignment techniques, and allows the use of a surface mount device (SMD) reflow assembly process for printed circuit boards with a land grid array package measuring 8 x 7 mm. The Ultradur RX material absorbs and reduces signal noise, increasing the performance of the sensor. Developed specifically for radar sensor applications in vehicles, it is resistant against splashes of water, oils and salt, and is designed to shield the sensitive electronics in the housings against disrupting electromagnetic waves from other vehicles. “The different grades of the Ultradur RX series are designed for absorption and reduction of interference radiation in the 76-81 GHz range,” said Dr Erik Gubbels at BASF. “They offer a high level of protection of the sensitive electronics. “This dielectrically optimised material fulfils the standards for sensor components, and is suitable for use as a rear housing cover or behind the printed circuit board of a radar sensor, for example.” Suppressing radar interference allows higher levels of signals to be received, but the material’s absorption properties depend on the geometry of the design, so the actual grade of material used must be selected for each particular radar design. Using SMD reflow is not possible with glass fibre interfaces. The FOT is fully shielded against electromagnetic radiation, and the fibre connection is achieved using a simple plastic connector. The temperature range, from -40 C to +105 C, conforms with automotive requirements for harsh environments. Plastic fibre transceiver... ... and new plastic for radars Driverless cars Driverless cars Platform one December/January 2021 | Unmanned Systems Technology KDPOF’s transceiver is the first to include the optoelectronics and optics The material boosts vehicle radar sensor performance