Micro-Optics for Optical Interconnects in Automotive Applications

Optical data networks are on the way to replace traditional electrical wire networks in many areas. High flexibility based on the immunity against electromagnetical interference, high data rates and low production costs place them already in a pole position for automotive applications. Mainly security aspects urge car suppliers to install an increasing number of sensors that generate data with a need for high throughput. Optical fibre ribbons and waveguide arrays together with splices and connectors based on plastic materials are good candidates for low price mass products. A key issue is monolithic integration in one substrate of as many optical functions as possible to ensure easy handling and to reduce the degrees of freedom for critical alignment. Deep etch lithography like the LIGA technique combines high precision and mass production capability. It is a well suited candidate for precision micro-optics because of its unique characteristic which allows the fabrication of optical and mechanical microelements in the same substrate. In this paper we will focus on optical backplanes for automotive applications.