light! 004 | The car of the future
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ALTER TECHNOLOGY<br />
DRIVING<br />
Electronic<br />
components for motor vehicles:<br />
<strong>the</strong> solution in New Space?<br />
<strong>The</strong> space industry is becoming an increasingly competitive<br />
sector, requiring systems with better performance at a<br />
lower cost. This is particularly applicable to small satellites<br />
and what is now known as New Space. This trend has consequences<br />
at all levels <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> production chain, including<br />
<strong>the</strong> selection, acquisition and verification <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> electronic<br />
components used.<br />
<strong>The</strong> certified components available for space applications<br />
are not able to meet <strong>the</strong> needs <strong>of</strong> current missions, ei<strong>the</strong>r<br />
because <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir cost or because <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir limited availability,<br />
lack <strong>of</strong> new functionalities, degree <strong>of</strong> miniaturisation,<br />
etc. This is especially true for optoelectronic devices for<br />
which <strong>the</strong>re is no space-qualified component, when photonic<br />
technologies are a clear driver <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> new generation<br />
<strong>of</strong> space systems.<br />
Optoelectronic devices (LEDs, photodetectors, fibre optics,<br />
etc.) have not only begun to be used recurrently in space,<br />
but also classic components (such as solar sensors, CMOS<br />
cameras, etc.) are becoming key elements for success <strong>of</strong><br />
various instruments and missions.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are well-known advantages to using <strong>the</strong>se photonic<br />
technologies in space, such as <strong>the</strong> limited generation <strong>of</strong><br />
noise, electromagnetic immunity, mass reduction, greater<br />
bandwidth and great ability to multiplex signals, enabling a<br />
high volume <strong>of</strong> data transmission, etc. Undoubtedly, all this<br />
makes its use very attractive. However, we must first overcome<br />
<strong>the</strong> lack <strong>of</strong> availability <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se qualified components<br />
for this sector.<br />
ALTER TECHNOLOGY GROUP has developed extensive<br />
experience and knowledge in <strong>the</strong> encapsulation<br />
and verification <strong>of</strong> opto-electronic devices,<br />
covering <strong>the</strong> full range <strong>of</strong> technologies and devices,<br />
such as:<br />
• Laser & LEDs 250 to 5000 nm<br />
• Recipient modules (180 to 11000 nm)<br />
• Amplifiers and optical modulators<br />
• Switches and dividers<br />
• Optocouplers and photodiodes<br />
• Multimode and single mode optic fibres<br />
• Liquid crystal devices<br />
• Image sensors<br />
• Optical transceivers<br />
• MOEMS<br />
Likewise, electronic components designed for o<strong>the</strong>r industrial<br />
applications, such as <strong>the</strong> <strong>car</strong> industry, are beginning<br />
to show high levels <strong>of</strong> reliability when <strong>the</strong>y are<br />
produced in large volumes and when <strong>the</strong>y are subject<br />
to dedicated rating schemes (e.g. AEC Q), and <strong>the</strong>ir use<br />
could be a solution to <strong>the</strong> problems described above for<br />
<strong>the</strong> space sector. However, <strong>the</strong>re is still a significant distance<br />
between space requirements and <strong>the</strong> potential reliable<br />
use <strong>of</strong> parts not designed for this sector.<br />
<strong>The</strong> AEC (www.aecouncil.com) was created in <strong>the</strong> nineties,<br />
as a result <strong>of</strong> several discussions among leading automotive<br />
manufacturers: DELCO Electronics, Chrysler,<br />
<strong>light</strong>! by secpho 27