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01/09/2006
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Optical data transmission based on glass fibres and a laser light source instead of the more usual plastic optical fibre (POF) and LED combination looks set to transform in-vehicle systems, especially those employing the MOST network protocol.
Working closely with technology partners and an automotive OEM, Yazaki has developed a system that is close to being production ready. It will offer the automotive industry a bandwidth of up to 1000MHz (a five-fold increase over LED/POF systems) and a 15 times reduction in signal attenuation.
Called PCS (polymer-clad silica), the system’s 850nm vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) light source is the telecommunications industry standard but has been repackaged for the automotive sector. The light pulses are much brighter than the LEDs of POF systems, allowing much more data to be sent more quickly.
In addition to greater bandwidth PCS fibre is heat resistant up to 105ºC with excellent flexibility (bend radius 9mm), allowing fibres to be routed through high temperature areas. For example, it could lead to the use of optically connected, forward-looking video cameras or radar with fibre routed through the engine compartment. And rear seat entertainment systems offering multiple channels for multiple users, internet connectivity to an on-board PC and other applications might require routing through the vehicle headliner. Yazaki says it expects to extend the upper temperature range to 125ºC.
Future applications may include collision anticipation and avoidance systems, x-by-wire, image processing and video display.
Yazaki technologist Abe Conner told European Automotive Design that PCS would enable colour video to be streamed at the required 660Mbits/s — a feature of great interest to the MOST Corporation — and could go as high as 1Gbit/s, supporting MOST 2 applications.
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Author
Roger Bishop
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Copyright European Automotive Design.
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