KDPOF becomes KD 

High-speed network technology KDPOF becomes KD

2024-07-12 Source: Press release | Translated by AI 3 min Reading Time

From KDPOF, short for Knowledge Development for Plastic Optical Fiber, to KD, Approaching Shannon's Limit—the Spanish provider of high-speed connectivity over fiber optics in harsh environments is renaming itself, reflecting the company's evolution and new strategic focus.

On July 4, 2024, KDPOF celebrated its transformation to KD with politics, industry partners, and supporters.(Image: KD) — On July 4, 2024, KDPOF celebrated its transformation to KD with politics, industry partners, and supporters.
(Image: KD)

On July 4, 2024, KDPOF announced its name change in a solemn ceremony attended by Jordi Hereu, the Spanish Minister for Industry and Tourism, Jesús Moreno García, the mayor of Tres Cantos, where the Spanish company's headquarters are located, and investors. "Since our foundation in 2010, we have undergone a successful journey of innovation, commitment and outstanding performance in optical high-speed networking technology for harsh environments," explains Carlos Pardo, CEO and co-founder of KD. "The current major step is the transition from a fabless company to the establishment of a semiconductor manufacturing for large quantities near our headquarters in Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain." Rubén Pérez-Aranda, CTO and co-founder of KD, adds: "With the development of our new IEEE Std 802.3cz-compliant optical multi-gigabit transceiver, which are based on a new approach to integrating electronics, photonics and optics, we have become a worldwide benchmark for robust communication requirements in the most adverse environments. Now is the time for an upgrade to our corporate identity to align it with our achievements and future milestones."

Why Approaching Shannon's Limit?

When Carlos Pardo and Rubén Pérez-Aranda founded KDPOF in 2010, they ventured into uncharted territory in the field of optical networks. Since then, the engineers have consistently been pushing the boundaries of the impossible - in search of innovations that approach the Shannon limit. With their own production facility, KD is creating new paradigms of hybrid integration of microelectronics, photonics, and optics.

The Shannon limit or Shannon capacity of a communication channel refers to the maximum rate of error-free data that can theoretically be transmitted over the channel when the connection is exposed to random data transmission errors at a certain noise level. The theorem put forward by Claude Shannon in 1948 has far-reaching applications in both communication and data storage.

Producing optoelectronics for the automotive industry

With an investment of 25 million euros as part of the European Commission's IPCEI program, KD is building a packaging plant for optoelectronic components near its headquarters in Tres Cantos. In addition, the company is opening its first prototype laboratory to test its own products. The new lab was inaugurated a few weeks ago.

The packaging and testing factory for large volumes will start operations in 2025. It will be used for the first time for the production of the upcoming transceiver IC for optical high-speed communication in vehicles —including the new optoelectronic packaging technology developed by KD.

Robust technology for automated driving

To integrate AI, sensors and processors into self-driving vehicles, KD's technology ensures that all components are robustly and cost-effectively connected via fiber optic within the vehicle. The IEEE 802.3cz standard focuses on reliable conditions that enable a minimum operating duration of 15 years or more, at low costs and high volumes. The standard specifies speeds of 2.5, 5, 10, 25 and 50 Gbit/s per lane. It meets the temperature requirements for the automotive sector from -40 °C to +105 °C. The maximum connection length is 40 meters with four inline connectors. The solution is available at low cost, because the higher optical power budget allows simpler and cheaper connectors. Also, OM3 fiber is widespread, ensuring a high volume of production.

An almost ideal communication channel allows a much simpler physical layer with a lower DSP/Equalization complexity and no echo compensation, leading to reduced power consumption, lower latency, smaller silicon area, and a more cost-effective solution. A special operations, administration and maintenance side channel ensures reliability and link management.

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