Lightwave articles from March 2009

Lightwave archives from March 2009

Applying the stimulus.(Editorial)
March 1, 2009... It's too early for any of the money earmarked for broadband development in the Obama administration's economic stimulus package to have been spent. But the stimulus package already has succeeding in sparking broadband-related activity--at least...

Passive PICs are key elements in 40- and 100-Gbps systems.(Technology: Advances in research, development, engineering, and standards)
March 1, 2009... OVERVIEW The transition to phase-modulated modulation formats for 40 and 100 Gbps puts new demands on passive component technology. Silica-on-silicon based planar photonic integrated circuits shows promise as a path toward meeting these...

Internally compensated digital VOA modules improve cost.(Technology: Advances in research, development, engineering, and standards)(Company overview)
March 1, 2009... OVERVIEW The need to increase integration and standardize interfaces pertains to a variety of modules, including variable optical attenuators (VOAs). New technology can make a modular, digital VOA device design possible. Lightwave...

Technology advances for SFP+ limiting module designs.(Technology: Advances in research, development, engineering, and standards)
March 1, 2009... OVERVIEW By using a high-gain 10-Gbps transimpedance amplifier, SFP+ limiting module designers can eliminate the need for a post-amplifier. This advance reduces costs and power dissipation. The demand for higher bandwidth is increasing...

Fujitsu launches ADC in CMOS for 100G.(OPTICAL EQUIPMENT Design Center)
March 1, 2009... Fujitsu Microelectronics Europe (FME; www. fujitsu.com/emea/services/microelectronics/) has announced the availability of new ADC IP based on Charge-mode Interleaved Sampler (CHAIS) technology for use in its standard 65-nm CMOS process...

Vitesse touts new EDC/adaptive equalization technology. (OPTICAL EQUIPMENT Design Center).
March 1, 2009... Vitesse Semiconductor Corp. (www.vitesse.com) has introduced FlexEQ, a flexible, high-performance electronic dispersion compensation (EDC) and adaptive equalization technology. According to the company, FlexEQ is designed to enable...

TPACK intros 80-Gbps switch.(OPTICAL EQUIPMENT: Design Center)
March 1, 2009... TPACK (www.tpack.com) has introduced the TPX4004 Carrier Packet Engine, which targets packet transport applications such as MSPPs, metro WDM, P-OTN, and Carrier Ethernet transport. With up to 80 Gbps of switching capacity (in a configuration in...

Final polish lapping film.(COMPONENTS)
March 1, 2009... Lapping Film 865X is used in the final step for fiber-optic connector polishing to produce consistent fiber height and outstanding visual quality, helping finished connectors meet Telecordia GR-326 standards. The polishing film offers upwards...

Internally compensated VOA.(COMPONENTS)
March 1, 2009... Compared to other electro-optic-, MOMS-, or MEMS-based offerings, the internally compensated variable optical attenuator (iC_VOA) technology delivers what the manufacturer claims is higher functionality at the lowest cost per channel. Featuring...

Low-loss optical switch.(COMPONENTS)
March 1, 2009... The Nanona ultra-fast, low-loss optical switch is a solid-state switch that operates in free-space architecture. It has lower optical insertion loss ( [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Boston Applied Technologies Inc., Booth 1348, www.bostonati.com...

Highly linear photodiodes.(COMPONENTS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... High-power ultra-low-distortion (HLPD) InGaAs photodiodes are available in bandwidths from DC to 20 GHz and optical power from 14 to 17 dBm. The photodiodes feature 1-dB compression point, OIP3 40 to 50 dB, and polarization dependent loss (PDL)...

Dynamic wavelength processor.(COMPONENTS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... The Dynamic Wavelength Processor 50 (DWP 50) enables programmable channel switching using liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) technology and provides advanced functionality through embedded software. The DWP 50 high-resolution platform supports...

ADC development kit.(COMPONENTS)
March 1, 2009... This new analog-to-digital converter features an effective resolution bandwidth of >15 GHz and a sample rate of 56 GSa/sec. The accompanying evaluation board allows for rapid characterization of the ADC performance, assisting engineers in the...

Electro-absorption modulator.(COMPONENTS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... The GX6420 is a single-die electro- absorption modulator (EAM) 3-Vpp driver for 40- and 100-Gbps metro/ access applications. The GX6420 features low power dissipation, high input sensitivity, and low jitter degradation capable of precisely...

Flip-flop module.(COMPONENTS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... The HMC-C061 is a double-edge triggered D-type flip-flop module that supports data/clock rates up to 50 Gbps/25 GHz. Ideal for OC-768 applications according to the company, the HMC-C061 supports single-ended or differential operation and...

Open frame laser diode package.(COMPONENTS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... The U-mount open frame laser-diode package was designed with high power in mind; at 808 nm, 9 W of continuous wave output power is available, and at 980 nm, 16 W of continuous wave power is available. In the pulsed mode, a 13-W peak pulse can...

Coherent mixer.(COMPONENTS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Designed for 40- and 100-Gbps coherent transmission systems, this optical demodulator provides the mixing necessary to analyze state of polarization and optical phase of a phase-modulated signal relative to an externally supplied optical...

10G and single-fiber pluggable optics.(COMPONENTS)
March 1, 2009... This range of 10G and single-fiber pluggable transceivers includes both FSAN- and IEEE-based 10G PON. Other bidirectional transceivers are available with a variety of options, including data rates ranging from Fast Ethernet up to 3.2 Gbps; 2-km...

Bend-tolerant drop cables.(COMPONENTS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Drop cables featuring EZ-Bend Optical Technology can be bent to a 5-mm radius and can be stapled with negligible signal loss and no degradation in picture quality. EZ-Bend cables are designed to be ideal for multiple-dwelling-unit and in-home...

Tunable DPSK/DQPSK demodulator.(COMPONENTS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... This new DPSK/DQPSK demodulator is used to improve signal quality and extend the transmission distance in high-data-rate and submarine next-generation networks. The device is fully tunable and supports the C+L bands with transmission rates of...

Radiation-hardened fibers.(COMPONENTS)
March 1, 2009... Radiation-hardened fibers are for near IR laser transmission, sensing, and short-distance datacom applications. Designed to be ideal for the military and aerospace market, they are radiation resistant with high thermal and chemical stability...

SC field installable connector.(COMPONENTS)
March 1, 2009... The XP Fit Plus is a pre-polished, pre-assembled connector compatible with the standard SC connector. It uses index-matching gel instead of epoxy as an internal mechanical grip and gently but effectively holds the fiber in place. The XP Fit...

40G mux/demux chipset.(COMPONENTS)
March 1, 2009... The Epsilon-40 40G product family uses 8HP SiGe process technology to achieve improved performance and reduced power consumption compared to previous SerDes product generations. It offers the size, cost, and power profile for mainstream 40G...

Optical fiber cables.(COMPONENTS)
March 1, 2009... [mu]SHEATH cables are used for all types of optical networks, including long-haul backbones, city rings, distribution, and local access networks and for all types of FTTH applications. These fiber cables provide time and cost savings at all...

Micro-fiber isolators.(COMPONENTS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... These micro-fiber isolators feature miniature packaging dimensions of 2.5 mm in diameter and 15 mm and 17 mm in length for single and dual stage, respectively. The manufacturer says optical performances are excellent, including low insertion...

Low-bend-radius fiber-optic jumper.(COMPONENTS)
March 1, 2009... This new generation of fiber-optic patch cords features low bend radius. The cords are suitable for narrow working environments and reduce possible installation damage. The patch cord is compatible with LC, SC, ST, FC, and E-2000 connector...

Dispersion compensation module.(COMPONENTS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... The new ClearSpectrum dispersion compensation module for outside-plant applications is designed to sustain high optical power in an operating temperature range from -40[degrees]C to +85[degrees]C. With a typical insertion loss of 2 dB for...

Wavelength-selective switch.(SUBSYSTEMS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... This 50-GHz wavelength-selective switch (WSS) incorporates the highly integrated functionalities and reliability of the manufacturer's proprietary LightFlow platform. It comes in 2x1, 4x1, 8x1, and 9x1 configurations for high-speed and...

Optical channel performance monitor.(SUBSYSTEMS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... New optical channel performance monitors provide sub-50-msec reporting of power, wavelength, and OSNR measurements. Devices provide future-proof reporting of 10- and 40-Gbps modulation, such as DQPSK, DPSK, and future coherent schemes. The...

10-Gbps dispersion-tolerant DWDM transponder.(SUBSYSTEMS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... The fully tunable TDL50 dispersion-tolerant DWDM transponder is designed to provide a high-performance DWDM interface that meets the needs of different system architectures. It can transport 10-Gbps signals on much longer uncompensated links to...

Continuously optimized DPSK module.(SUBSYSTEMS)(differential phase-shift keying )(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... The continuously optimized DPSK (CO-DPSK) modulation scheme is optimized for all filtering conditions and provides better performance than standard DPSK, optimized FSR, or switchable FSR in 50-GHz channel spacing and offers better or equal...

TIA arrays/VCSEL driver arrays.(SUBSYSTEMS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... The four-channel TIA arrays and VCSEL driver arrays are targeted at InfiniBand DDR and QDR QSFP modules, active optical cables, 40-Gigabit Ethernet, video applications, and other proprietary applications. The 12-channel devices cater to SNAP12,...

Optical DQPSK demodulator.(SUBSYSTEMS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... This optical DQPSK demodulator features C+L band coverage by a single device, low insertion loss and polarization-dependent loss, and low polarization-dependent frequency shift. The device is tunable and features temperature control, a compact...

Optical modulation analyzer.(TEST EQUIPMENT)
March 1, 2009... The N4391A optical modulation analyzer addresses the test and measurement gap for analysis of amplitude- and phase-modulated optical signals for the 40/100G single-wavelength transmission market. Offering greater flexibility in the analysis of...

Signal quality analyzer.(TEST EQUIPMENT)
March 1, 2009... New plug-in cards for the MP1800 Series signal quality analyzers provide the most accurate, repeatable, and cost-efficient testing of optical and digital devices operating up to 100G, says the manufacturer. The plug-in cards are easily...

Connector end-face microscope.(TEST EQUIPMENT)
March 1, 2009... The DPSCOPE is a high-quality microscope designed solely for fiber-optic connector end-face inspection, with precision optics and the most homogeneous illumination in the industry, according to the manufacturer. DPSCOPE aims to bridge the gap...

PMAT platform.(TEST EQUIPMENT)(Photonics Module Align, Assembly, and Test)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... This Photonics Module Align, Assembly, and Test (PMAT) platform supports precision alignment, assembly, and testing of precision photonic or optoelectronic packages, including single-channel applications and multi-channel packages such as AWGs...

Mini interferometer.(TEST EQUIPMENT)
March 1, 2009... The ZX-1 mini PMS PLUS interferometer is designed for high-volume end-face geometry testing of single-fiber, single-ferrule fiber-optic connectors. Its self-contained design incorporates auto-centering, auto-focus, and automatic calibration; no...

FTB-500 platform.(TEST EQUIPMENT)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... The new FTB-500 platform houses many advanced applications and modules. It is designed to enable users to achieve faster setups, testing, and reporting and benefit from unequaled platform ergonomy and field manageability. Users can also send...

Correlation OTDR.(TEST EQUIPMENT)(Fibolocator 2500 )(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... The Fibolocator 2500 Correlation-OTDR technology is now available with centimeter resolution. The device is able to measure pinpointed back reflections in singlemode optical fibers up to 10 km with 8-cm resolution. The sensitivity is better...

28-Gbps BER evaluation board.(TEST EQUIPMENT)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... The 28821BR is a 28-Gbps bit-error-ratio receiver evaluation board for R&D or production testing of emerging high-speed protocols from 13 to 28 Gbps, including 100-Gigabit Ethernet, 40G DQPSK, 14G Fibre Channel, and 100G DP-QPSK. The 28821BR...

Multiple application platform.(TEST EQUIPMENT)
March 1, 2009... The JDSU Multiple Application Platform (MAP-200) helps manage the test and measurement needs of researchers, designers, and manufacturing engineers. A platform designed to exceed all others with its modularity, reliability, and flexibility, the...

Multi-port 10-Gbps+ BERT.(TEST EQUIPMENT)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... The Parallex enables users to perform several BER tests at once using a single clock source, thus reducing cost per test port. The system is designed for developers and engineers running simultaneous BER tests on parallel interfaces or multiple...

Optical backscatter reflectometer.(TEST EQUIPMENT)
March 1, 2009... The Optical Backscatter Reflectometer (OBR) 4400 is an ultra-high-resolution OTDR with backscatter-level sensitivity designed for component- and module-level reflectometry. With a small, easily transportable platform, the capability to "see"...

Network monitor.(TEST EQUIPMENT)
March 1, 2009... The eyeD 360 network monitor provides a full view of 10G and 40G networks without disrupting traffic. OSNR, chromatic dispersion, and polarization-mode dispersion are measured simultaneously. Additional impairments can be measured and addressed...

PMD source.(TEST EQUIPMENT)(NRT-40133A )(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... The NRT-40133A is designed to provide sophisticated and accurate polarization-mode dispersion (PMD) tolerance testing, enabling users to quantitatively determine the system performance degradation due to second-order PMD as well as differential...

Portable fiber-optic tester.(TEST EQUIPMENT)
March 1, 2009... The 800 Series of portable fiber-optic testers includes the LS-800 light source and the PM-800 power meter, both of which contain new features, including an increased dynamic range of -70 dBm to +13 dBm and a higher auto wavelength detection...

Mode-field diameter system.(TEST EQUIPMENT)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... The 2201 mode-field diameter (MFD) measurement system is a standalone measurement platform that complements the manufacturer's other specialty fiber measurement products, including the 8000 OTDR and 2400 Fiber Geometry System. Employing the...

Mini automated visual inspection tool.(TEST EQUIPMENT)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... A fully automated visual inspection tool, the miniAVIT automatically locates, images, and inspects the surfaces of fiber end faces, detecting scratches, loose contamination, and other defects without removing them from the polishing plate....

Signal integrity analyzer.(TEST EQUIPMENT)
March 1, 2009... The new BERTScope Si 17500C signal integrity analyzer covers data rates from 500 Mbps to 17.5 Gbps for 16G Fibre Channel, 12-Gbps SAS, and future serial bus testing. According to the manufacturer, it provides the most advanced and comprehensive...

Electronic and optical design software.(DESIGN TOOLS)
March 1, 2009... OptiSPICE is a new software tool that addresses the growing demand for electronic and optical design in one platform, empowering engineers to design complex optoelectronic devices. OptiSPICE enables the design and simulation of optoelectronic...

Design and simulation tool.(DESIGN TOOLS)
March 1, 2009... A demonstration of the OptSim design tool will focus on modeling an interferometric fiber-optic gyroscope (I-FOG) for civilian and military applications. OptSim is designed to provide an ideal design environment for next-generation I-FOGs,...

Final polish film.(MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT)(Marathon XF)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Marathon XF is a long-life final polish film for fiber-optic connectors. Typical final polish films have to be replaced after one use to prevent surface defects and fiber height issues. Marathon XF can be used up to 10 times with no degradation...

Connector micro-polisher.(MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT)
March 1, 2009... REV is a cost-effective system for processing fiber-optic connectors. Newly terminated connectors can be polished to singlemode geometries in less than two minutes. Instead of replacement, the REV micro-polisher enables damaged connectors on...

Fiber-optic passive devices training DVD.(INSTALLATION)
March 1, 2009... The Fiber-Optic Passive Devices Staff Development DVD is designed for those who wish to learn about the passive devices, components, and optical subassemblies used in fiber-optic communication systems. The content examines WDM devices and...

Vendor alliance preps test automation standard draft.(TEST & MEASUREMENT Resource Center)(Test Lab Automation Alliance )(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... The TesLA (Test Lab Automation) Alliance (www.teslaalliance.org), a non-profit industry alliance of IP test vendors, says it has made "significant strides" toward publishing the first test automation industry standards. The initial proposal of...

EXFO acquires PicoSolve.(TEST & MEASUREMENT Resource Center)
March 1, 2009... EXFO Electro-Optical Engineering Inc. (www.exfo.com) has acquired PicoSolve Inc., a privately held test and measurement company that specializes in optical sampling oscilloscopes for 40- and 100-Gbps R&D, manufacturing, and deployment...

Ixia ships first 100-GbE test system to Nortel.(TEST & MEASUREMENT Resource Center)
March 1, 2009... Ixia (www.ixia.com) says it has delivered its 100-Gigabit Ethernet (100-GbE) Development Accelerator System (DAS) to Nortel (www.nortel.com). Ixia is developing 40- and 100-GbE test systems as pre-standard tools to provide network equipment and...

Improving test reliability and throughput for multiport components.(Applications: Innovative component, subsystem, system, and network design examples and alternatives)
March 1, 2009... OVERVIEW While bandwidth rates rise, costs must continue to fall--including the cost to test. This is particularly true when testing such multiport components as multiplexers and splitters. New technology and processes address this...

The critical role of electronic dispersion compensation in SFP+ applications.(Application: CASE BY CASE)
March 1, 2009... OVERVIEW SFP+ channels are significantly more challenging than those of X2 and XFP LRM modules. To achieve performance margins similar to X2 and XFP modules, SFP+ LRM modules require pre-emphasized linear receiver and off-module EDC...

Study: FTTH services generate more revenue than DSL.(FXXT Resource Center)(Report)
March 1, 2009... Yankee Group (www.yankeegroup.com) and the FTTH Council Europe (www.ftthcouncil.eu) released findings of a study in which Yankee Group analyzed the portfolios of 20 global next-generation access service providers and interviewed their key...

FTTH Councils: FTTH continues global march.(FXXT Resource Center)(fiber to the home)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... The number of economies where FTTH has established a significant market presence has nearly doubled over the past 18 months, according to an updated global ranking issued by the FTTH Councils of Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America at the...

Motorola links with Alloptic for RFoG.(FXXT: Resource Center)
March 1, 2009... Motorola Inc. (www.motorola.com) has struck a three-year agreement with Alloptic Inc. (www.alloptic.com) to acquire exclusive rights to offer Alloptic's RF over glass (RFoG) and GEPON products to "leading cable operators worldwide." According...

Our 2008 Top 5 companies are prepared for 2009.(Industry: Opportunities, market intelligence, and forecasts to improve your bottom line)
March 1, 2009... OVERVIEW Lightwave's editors rank the Top 5 companies in the systems and components/subsystems spaces for 2008. Will last year's success mean anything in 2009? With so much attention on the current economic downturn, it may be...

The next future of DWDM: 100 Gbps.(Industry: STRATEGY AND ANALYSIS)
March 1, 2009... OVERVIEW With 40 Gbps now in deployment, carrier and technology developer attention has turned to 100 Gbps. Three key factors will determine the timing of 100-Gbps development and deployment. Some of the most asked questions in the...