MOBILE APPLICATIONS

Until 1998, all data links in commercial vehicles were transmitted over copper cables.

That year Daimler-Chrysler introduced plastic fiber to transmit audio signals in S-series models. That marked the beginning of a new optical era.

In 2005, more then 20 car manufacturers use POF to carry infotainment signals (audio/video flows) over a protocol known as MOST, and safety critical signals (airbag control, ABS) over Byteflight protocol, and the installed base counts more than 40 million optical nodes.

Why did car manufacturers decide to

replace familiar copper cables with POF?

It's easy... it's plastic fiber



What if:

- Copper cables radiate and are disturbed by electromagnetic interferences?
You use expensive shielded cables,
      or
you use plastic fiber, because it doesn't create interferences and it's immune from RF noise.

- Vibrations create unwanted open circuits? The system malfunctions, affecting your company's image,
      or
you use plastic fiber, because it tolerates misalignment of connectors.

- Copper cables are heavy?
Fuel consumption increases,
      or
you use plastic fiber cables, because they weigh only 6 g/m.

- Optical fiber based systems are too expensive?
System's cost increases,
      or
you use plastic fiber, because it guarantees high performances with reduced costs (e.g. VCSEL for optical fiber €10; LED for plastic fiber €0.20)

- Conventional cables don't stand up to wear and tear?
Maintenance's cost increases,
      or
you use plastic fiber, because it's so rugged as to withstand schocks, torsions and vibrations, and they carry a 20-year warranty.

- Copper cables have limited bandwidth?
You can't install bandwidth-hungry devices (e.g. GPS, DVD, etc.)
      or
you use plastic fiber, because it works at 100 Mbps and is compatible with every protocol (Ethernet, Firewire, USB).

- Installation is difficult?
You call for external technicians,
      or
you use plastic fiber, because it's so easy to install that everyone can do it with excellent results.

- Copper cables are difficult to be recycled?
You lose time and waste money in separing them upon recycling,
      or
you use plastic fiber, because it warrantees a longer lifetime and, since both core and jacket are made of plastic, they can be recycled together.