Kaiam debuts with 40-Gbps LR4 transmitter, receiver optical subassemblies

Newark, CA, based start-up Kaiam Corp. will publicly debut at OFC/NFOEC with QSFP transmitter and receiver optical subassemblies for 40GBase-LR4 applications. The 4 x 10-Gbps TOSA and ROSA target 10-km cumulative 40-Gbps applications, particularly in QSFP optical transceiver modules. Such modules would typically be used for client side interfaces on telecommunications equipment as well as switches and routers in enterprise networks and datacenters.

Kaiam has leveraged what it calls “silicon micromechanics” to create photonic integrated circuits (PICs) that offer easy alignment in the module. The single use micromechanics align the optical beams during assembly, after which they are locked down permanently. This removes the need to control coupling during operation, Kaiam says.

Said John Heanue, Kaiam’s vice president of technology development, “The availability of high-performance uncooled 1310-nm lasers from Opnext has allowed us to develop a QSFP package with wide-open RF characteristics and superb high temperature performance. Together with the coupling efficiencies that we obtain with our alignment process, the overall performance is very difficult to match with conventional integrated array or purely hybrid technologies.”

"We have chosen to work with Kaiam because their innovative packaging approach is a natural complement to our industry leading laser technology,” according to Josef Berger, director of product marketing at Opnext.

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