Cosemi intros PIN-TIA BOSA for GPON Class B+

Cosemi Technologies, Inc. has announced the availability of its LB43-0102-xx-1 SuperTIA-PIN bi-directional optical subassembly (BOSA) for GPON Class B+ optical network termination (ONT) applications. The company positions the BOSA as an alternative to more costly avalanche photodiodes (APDs).

Such APDs currently dominate GPON B+ designs. But they require high bias voltages of more than 25 V, are sensitive to ambient temperature while in operation, and require accurate device characterization during the manufacturing process to ensure reliable performance, Cosemi asserts.

The LB43-0102-xx-1 uses a PIN photodiode and an RF-matching, high-gain transimpedance amplifier (TIA) to achieve better than -29 dBm sensitivity across the entire operation temperature range. This performance makes the device an adequate – and less costly – alternative to APDs, Cosemi says. “The industry's leading systems manufacturer” has validated the performance of the BOSA, the company asserts.

According to Dr. N. X. Nguyen, Cosemi's CEO, use of PIN-TIA BOSAs for GPON B+ applications would enable substantial cost reduction of GPON transceivers to match that of EPON devices, as well as improve reliability.

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