Companies partner to advance multigigabit optical automotive Ethernet testing

KD has announced a landmark agreement with Keysight Technologies to partner on optical parameters measurement, including TDFOM based on the IEEE Std 802.3cz physical layer test standard.

The Transmitter Distortion Figure of Merit (TDFOM) is a key metric for assessing the quality of multigigabit optical signals transmitted over glass optical fibre. As defined in the IEEE Std 802.3cz, TDFOM is measured after a reference receiver, which emulates a representative IC implementation and provides transmitters' interoperability in signal integrity, valid to be received by a compliant receiver. Also, TDFOM is critical for calibrating reference transmitters and facilitating precise compliance assessment of optical receivers.

The TDFOM measures the transmitted optical signal's ability to meet the required system BER after passing through a worst-case optical channel and a reference receiver, evaluated using an optical-to-electrical converter (O/E) and an oscilloscope. The companies have collaborated closely during the development of the IEEE 802.3cz standard to create the final version of the TDFOM. KD has developed a software-based reference receiver and signal metric analysis aligned with the IEEE Std 802.3cz specifications.

"With this agreement, we make a big step in providing to OEMs and Tier-1 companies with the necessary means to test the quality of developments that incorporate optical communications according to the IEEE Std 802.3cz. Keysight and KD have collaborated in IEEE 802.3 to define the tests and metrics that ensure the new Ethernet communications standard meets the quality requirements demanded by the automotive industry," stated Rubén Pérez-Aranda, KD's CTO and Co-founder.

This partnership underscores the commitment to supporting technological innovation in the automotive sector, driving advancements in optical communication systems, and ensuring the highest quality and performance standards.

Thomas Goetzl, vice president and general manager of Keysight's Automotive and Energy Solution, highlighted the importance of this agreement: "Automotive Ethernet technologies have evolved and now derive significant benefits from optical fibre technologies for enabling multigigabit in-vehicle networking. Keysight is pleased to collaborate with KD, a leading supplier of optical transceivers for the automotive industry, to enhance our support for customers in this emerging ecosystem. Keysight's market-leading test and measurement equipment, combined with KD's expertise in optical measurements, aims to assist customers in exploring reliable high-speed links in in-vehicle networking."

The collaboration between KD and Keysight aims to support the automotive industry with advanced testing tools for optical communication systems. Combining KD's expertise in new technology development with Keysight's test equipment, this partnership strives to assist OEMs and Tier-1 companies validate and optimise next-generation technologies. This alliance drives innovation, improves interoperability, and encourages the adoption of advanced optical communication standards across the automotive sector.