Focus on Ethernet at speeds of up to 1 Gbps for fast data processing.
Keysight Simplifies Complex Compliance Testing with Link Segments

At the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the world's largest consumer electronics show, international companies unveiled four core network technologies: Ethernet, integrated control, high-quality networks, and vehicle-optimized security. Among these, Ethernet-based connectivity is garnering the most attention in the market. With domestic and international companies across various fields, including networking, semiconductors, communications, and automotive, entering the connected car market, the automotive industry, a key component of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, is expanding. Transparency Market Research projects that the global connected car market will reach $132 billion (KRW 140.5536 trillion) by 2019.

Among the four core network technologies unveiled at CES, Ethernet-based connectivity is garnering the most attention. Connected cars require high speeds to communicate with external objects and process information. The CAN currently used in vehicles has a data processing capacity of only 125-500 Kbps, making it impractical for future vehicles in terms of speed and capacity. To address these limitations, Ethernet, with its speeds of up to 1 Gbps, safety features, and data processing capabilities, is attracting attention.

Seo Dong-hyun, head of Keysight's Digital Technology Support Division, said, "It's not a complete replacement for CAN. It's only feasible if all modules adopt Automotive Ethernet. Price is also a consideration. While the existing method is slow, it has the advantage of being inexpensive. Automotive Ethernet is fast, but relatively expensive."

For safety and data processing applications, Ethernet requires accurate and precise measurement. However, existing, common Ethernet measurement methods involve complex and difficult procedures, such as setup and item selection, resulting in lengthy testing times for measurement ports. Furthermore, most devices function solely as receivers, hindering convenience, mobility, and time consumption.

Keysight offers a connected car automotive Ethernet measurement solution that addresses these issues: the Transmitter, Receiver, and Link Segment (E6963A). In particular, the "Link Segment" solution, which utilizes a "Network Analyzer," a device used to measure various cables, including Ethernet, USB, and HDMI, streamlines numerous measurement items into four steps, focusing on time savings and accuracy.



Link Segment is a BroadR-Reach - 100BaseT1 test software that measures harnesses and connectors, covering 100% of the measurement items. Measured solely by a network analyzer, Link Segment allows for convenient compliance testing by installing and operating the software within the equipment, rather than controlling it externally.

Some vendors' BroadR-reach solutions only support specific oscilloscopes. However, Keysight's solution supports 1000BaseT1 measurements as long as the bandwidth meets the required specifications.

In fact, the measurement setup is automatically set up with a simple press of the software launch button on the device. Afterwards, the user only needs to calibrate the device to perform a pass or fail test. The results are then provided in report format. This product unifies equipment, software, and other cables under a single model number for easy management.

The emergence of future automobiles is driven by increased safety and convenience. Therefore, vehicle components must meet various standards to ensure stable operation and reliability. Automotive Ethernet also requires verification against international standards. Keysight has incorporated the standards of the IEEE, an American standards development organization, into its network analyzers.

“Compliance testing for automotive Ethernet is not mandatory, but it is effective in checking in advance for problems that may occur when connecting to Ethernet,” said Kim Gyu-il, a representative at Keysight. “You can check whether the technology is operating normally through a simplified test using link segments, and if all the results pass, there is a high probability that it will operate normally when connected to Ethernet.”

Network Analyzer supports the Windows 7 operating system and can currently be connected to and measured on Windows 10. Additionally, trial licenses are available for the software featured in the webcast, allowing users to try out the software before purchasing, except for software not yet officially released.