Tolerance Design of an Optomechanical Transmitter Assembly for Automotive Applications

We report on different optical coupling concepts between resonant-cavity light-emitting diodes and plastic optical fiber for the automotive according to the multimedia oriented systems transport standard. We present five different candidate optical coupling schemes. Two coupling schemes were investigated in depth regarding manufacturing and assembly tolerances using a Monte Carlo simulation method: a system using a ball lens and another made by clear molding. We select the best suited system according to manufacturing and assembly capabilities as well as its suitability for automotive applications.