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Connector Technologies Hinge on New Car Trends

E onnector manufacturers have been stepping up efforts to develop automotive connectors that leverage on high-speed transmission and high frequency technologies, high-definition image transmission technology, and waterproof technology. Research and development efforts have also been focused to introduce technologies that will further scale down and increase the reliability of connectors.

Connector makers have been upping the ante to enhance every aspects of products to suit the demands of the automotive industry, setting sights on connected, autonomous, shared & service, electric (CASE), which is a mega trend toward technological innovation of automobiles.

Connectors for ADAS, Autonomous Driving Cars
The number of connectors used in modern vehicles has significantly increased, advancing new functions, electrification, and adhering to stiffer regulations that involve safety and security in many countries. The advent of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving technologies have progressed, and the demand for connectors for safety systems, including those for on-board cameras and millimeter wave radars, has markedly increased. The development of connectors for Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors that become indispensable for the achievement of fully autonomous driving vehicles has also been progressing.

On-board cameras hold an important key in the advancement of ADAS and autonomous driving. In addition to the increase in the number of on-board cameras installed in a vehicle, performance enhancement of products is noticeable. The shift from the 300,000-pixel (VGA), which has been the standard resolution, to 1-million-pixel-class, has been progressing in recent on-board cameras. On-board cameras are expected to evolve from conventional analog cameras for parking assist to high-speed digital sensing cameras that support ADAS and autonomous driving. Setting their sights on technological advancement of on-board cameras, connector manufacturers have been accelerating technological development of connectors for the connection of on-board camera modules and connectors for camera electronic control unit (ECU) interface.

Connector tech

In the future, sensing cameras for autonomous driving vehicles are expected to evolve to have resolution of 3 million pixels and support transmission speed of 10Gbps. To meet the advancement of sensing cameras, connector manufacturers eye the commercialization of next-generation plastic optical fiber (POF) connectors.

In developing connectors for on-board safety systems, efforts have been focused on the development of high-speed transmission connectors and products provided with advanced noise countermeasure. At the same time, efforts have also been trained on technological development for downsizing of camera sizes to allow the use of multiple cameras. Connectors that aid in reducing the space for camera installation in vehicles have become a requirement.


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