As the automotive industry accelerates toward higher levels of autonomy, the need for high-speed data transmission within vehicles is crucial. Optical interconnects offer the bandwidth necessary to support the vast data streams generated by sensors, cameras, LiDAR, and radar systems. Our high-reliability wide-temperature range 980nm VCSELs deliver the performance, EMI immunity, and durability required for next-generation vehicle architectures. As the automotive market transitions to software-defined vehicles and zonal architectures, Inneos is positioned to provide the high-speed, high-reliability components that will drive innovation in autonomous and electric vehicle systems.
The shift to zonal architectures in vehicle networks is a key advancement in automotive design, aimed at optimizing data flow and reducing complexity. Traditional centralized architectures are becoming less efficient as software-defined vehicles demand more data bandwidth. Optical interconnects enable the creation of a scalable, high-speed, and EMI-immune network that can efficiently handle the demands of these zonal systems. Inneos’ wide-temperature range VCSELs ensure reliable performance across the varying environmental conditions found in automotive applications, allowing automotive manufacturers to ensure seamless communication for autonomous driving systems.
Electrified vehicles, such as hybrids and fully electric cars, produce high levels of electromagnetic interference (EMI) near the high voltage lines within the vehicle, which can degrade traditional copper-based communication systems. Even traditional vehicles are susceptible to EMI, as more and more high bandwidth sensor and control systems are deployed throughout the car. Optical interconnects, however, are inherently immune to EMI, making them the perfect solution for next-generation vehicle architectures. Fiber optic cables can be installed near high-voltage lines or sensitive electrical cables without any risk to signal integrity, camera data can be transmitted over long distances, and high-bandwidth connectivity can be achieved across the zonal architecture, ensuring that communication and control systems remain unaffected by the electrical environment.
Automotive environments can subject components to extreme temperature fluctuations, from sub-zero conditions to the high heat generated in engine bays or from external sources. Inneos’ wide-temperature range 980nm VCSELs are designed to perform reliably in these harsh environments, ensuring continuous, high-speed data transmission across the vehicle’s network. These VCSELs maintain optimal performance even in the most challenging conditions, making them ideal for use in both autonomous and electric vehicles.
As automotive manufacturers look to reduce vehicle weight to improve efficiency, optical interconnects offer a significant advantage over traditional copper wiring. Ruggedized automotive-grade optical fiber is not only lighter, reducing overall vehicle weight, but also provides greater durability and flexibility. Inneos is at the forefront of developing VCSEL components tailored to support the automotive industry’s evolving needs for optical connectivity that enables reduced weight and improved vehicle efficiency.