KD7251 Automotive Camera System – Spanish semiconductor company KD announces the implementation of its KD7251 optical transceiver by Hinge Technology, a China-based leader in advanced vehicle electronics architecture, into a new automotive camera system for 10 Gb/s data transmission. This validates its applicability in real-world in-vehicle networks. The system leverages optical connectivity for high-resolution camera data links over a fiber-optic backbone, supporting zonal and centralized architectures. The KD7251 implements nGBASE-AU physical layers compliant with IEEE Std 802.3cz for multigigabit optical communication over multimode glass optical fiber. It supports high-speed sensor interconnection and backbone communication in software-defined vehicles (SDV).
Yang Jun, CTO of Hinge Technology, commented:
“At the Automotive Ethernet Congress in Munich, we presented our latest camera system in its first live public demonstration, featuring 10 Gb/s optical links based on KD’s KD7251. The system showcased lossless transmission of high-resolution video streams and real-time data exchange across a fiber-optic backbone. By combining multiple 10 Gb/s camera inputs and comparing them directly with 1 Gb/s links, we demonstrated clear advantages in image quality, latency, and overall system performance for next-generation automotive applications. This proves the readiness of optical multigigabit connectivity for in-vehicle deployment.”
Pablo Blazquéz, Business Development Manager for Europe at KD, stated:
“By integrating KD’s KD7251 into their ecosystem, Hinge Technology demonstrates a robust and future-ready optical architecture. Their solution supports both 1 Gb/s and 10 Gb/s camera connectivity, then aggregates the video streams through a 10 Gb/s optical backbone enabled by the KD7251. This showcases a scalable optical platform that can make a real difference not only in the Asian automotive market, but also in robotics, where reliable high-bandwidth connectivity is becoming increasingly critical.”
Multi-camera Architecture with 10 Gb/s Optical Data Transmission
The demonstrated system is based on a multi-camera architecture with optical links throughout the vehicle network. Two 10 Gb/s optical cameras are connected to each of two electronic control units (ECUs), with data transmitted over a fiber-optic backbone between the ECUs. One ECU aggregates and processes a total of four high-resolution video streams for functions such as image stitching and display output. In addition, a 1 Gb/s optical camera link is integrated for direct comparison between gigabit and multigigabit transmission.
KD7251 Enables Multigigabit Optical Links for In-vehicle Networks
At the core of the system, the KD7251 is a single-chip optoelectronic transceiver with an integrated optical interface, combining optical and electronic functionality in a compact device. It enables multigigabit data transmission over multimode glass optical fiber (OM3), supporting data rates up to 10 Gb/s as well as backward-compatible operation at lower speeds for flexible integration of different camera and sensor types. With low latency, robust EMC performance, and support for automotive requirements such as ASIL-B functional safety and extended temperature ranges, the KD7251 is designed for reliable high-speed connectivity in demanding in-vehicle environments. Its integrated bridging capabilities further support direct connection of camera sensors and processing units.
For more information visit: https://www.hinge-tech.com/en/FiberOpticEthernet/index.aspx
