“At ZF, we have identified this ultra-fast transmission as a key technology for future electric vehicle systems. The technology enables short- and long-distance transmissions of up to 40 meters for passenger cars and commercial vehicles. Test results demonstrate that multi-gigabit optical Ethernet is a versatile and future-proof solution for data communications.”
Solving data transmission problems in vehicles
The ZF Group's implementation of KD's high-speed fiber optic connectivity is a significant milestone in the adoption of IEEE Std 802.3cz specifications in real-world products and applications. Carlos Pardo, CEO and co-founder of KD, confirmed:
“At KD, we are delighted to contribute to this evolution with our KD7251 automotive optical transceiver, which is compliant with the IEEE Std 802.3cz standard and enables multi-gigabit communications over multimode glass fiber. This pioneering implementation in widespread automotive networks further validates our vision and track record of leveraging fiber optic communications to address connectivity challenges in harsh environments.”
Enabling multigigabit communications in automotive systems
KD's latest KD7251 transceiver implements the BASE-AU physical layers specified in the IEEE Std 802.3cz™ standard for automotive multigigabit optical communications over glass fiber links. It is a single-chip optical interface solution supporting data transmission rates of 2.5, 5, and 10 Gb/s. The transceiver includes bridging capabilities to enable the interconnection of MIPI sensors, such as cameras and radars (CSI-2®), displays (DSI-2℠), or AI processors (PCIe®), within the vehicle.
The KD7251 achieves a range of 40 meters with four in-line connectors over standard duplex OM3 multimode glass optical fiber (MM-GOF) at 10 Gb/s across the entire temperature range. The same cables and connectors can be reused for higher transmission speeds (25, 50 Gb/s and higher in the future). With its integrated EMC shielding, the KD7251 transceiver ensures maximum electromagnetic compliance at the component level without the need for external add-ons. This results in a port with a reduced board footprint and a minimal bill of materials (BOM). Unlike copper-based communication solutions, the KD7251 does not require protection against electrostatic discharge, common-mode shock, EMI filters, or DC blocking.
Originally designed for automotive applications, the KD7251 supports safety and reliability features such as MACsec, ASIL-B FuSa, TSN, and Wake-up & Sleep. This enables a wide range of optical use cases, including multi-gigabit Ethernet backbones, zone controller connectivity, smart antenna links, and connectivity for radars, cameras, lidar, displays, and high-performance control and computing units.
