Agere Systems and Nortel Networks announce multi-source agreement for surface-mount 10-Gbit/sec receivers

Agere Systems and Nortel Networks today announced what they claim is the industry's first multi-source agreement (MSA) to establish standards for surface-mount 10-Gbit/sec receivers.

Agere and Nortel Networks will independently develop and market respective lines of 10 Gbit/sec PIN (positive intrinsic negative) and APD (avalanche photo-diode) receivers based on this standard.

"This MSA ensures that systems makers have a choice among compatible sources of leading edge surface-mount receivers," explains Patrick Walsh, vice president, Product Line Management, Optical Components, Nortel Networks. "It leads the way in meeting the industry requirement for smaller, easier-to-use optical receivers."

The standard specifies product package outlines, pin function definitions, and optical and electrical characteristics for small-form-factor (8mm x 10.7mm x 3.3mm), surface-mount receivers. These receivers can be mounted directly onto a printed circuit board without the need to modify or cut out space on the board.

Receiver designs based on this MSA will conform to a 17-pin, "butterfly"-type surface-mount packaging with differential radio frequency (RF) output, offering a simplified method for managing RF signals. The initial offering will be 1R-type receivers, which combine a photo-detector and a transimpedance amplifier (preamplifier). The receiver layout specified in the MSA can also accommodate additional integrated features in the future.

Final specifications for the MSA will be made available shortly.

For more information about Agere Systems (Allentown, PA), visit the company's Web site at www.agere.com.

Additional information about Nortel Networks (Ottowa) may be found on the company's Web site at www.nortelnetworks.com.