Picolight intros laser and detector components

4 August 2003 Boulder, CO Lightwave -- Following its announcement July 25 that it would enter the subcomponent supply market, Picolight Inc. has debuted its OEngine laser and detector component product lines. The laser and detector components are aimed at embedded systems and digital optical transceivers for datacom and access applications.

The OEngine product family includes TO-can packaged vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) and detectors as well as LC sleeve assemblies. Products target 1- to 10-Gbit/sec, 850-nm multimode enterprise applications and 100-Mbit/sec to 4-Gbit/sec, 1310-nm singlemode access applications. Each is manufactured using proprietary, patented Picolight technology.

According to Warner Andrews, vice president of marketing at Picolight, the company has sold components on a limited basis to strategic partners. However, the number of inquiries received from other vendors, particularly for Picolight's 4-Gbit/sec technology, led the company to believe it had a place in the subcomponent market.

Warner says that there is "no degradation in quality" between the components offered for sale and the ones Picolight uses in its own transceiver products. He says that the company's experience in 850- and 1310-nm technology, in conjunction with the fact that most of the products are already in volume production, gives Picolight an advantageous position in the subcomponent supplier space.

The OEngine family can be divided into three application areas: embedded systems, data communications, and access. The embedded system line includes in hermetically sealed TO-cans and custom-packaged components:

• 2.5- and 4.25-Gbit/sec, 850-nm transmit TO-cans in several configurations featuring either a common cathode or common anode, with either a flat or angle window with monitor. Also includes a high-power version with a flat window.
  
• 2.5- and 4.25-Gbit/sec, 850-nm detector TO-cans and die, and 1310-nm detector TO-cans. Includes 2.5- and 4.25-Gbit/sec GaAs single-PIN die as well as 2.5-Gbit/sec PIN/TIA products with a variety of feature options.
  
• 2.5-Gbit/sec, 1310-nm detector TO-cans, in a range of PIN/TIA configurations with various sensitivity and power monitor capabilities.
  

The datacom products incorporate Picolight's internal 850-nm oxide VCSEL technology and GaAs PIN detectors, and feature a hermetically sealed optical package with a multimode fiber receptacle:

• 1.25-, 2.5-, and 4.25-Gbit/sec, 850-nm transmit OSAs (TOSAs) with common cathode or anode.
  
• 10-Gbit/sec, 850-nm TOSAs featuring differential drive VCSELs, with or without flex attach.
  
• 1.25-, 2.5-, 4.25-, and 10-Gbit/sec, 850-nm receive OSAs (ROSAs) in a variety of configurations and sensitivity, power consumption, power monitor, and flex attach options.
  

Access products include 1310-nm ROSAs supporting 1- and 2-Gbit/sec Ethernet and Fibre Channel applications, and 1310-nm detector TO-cans in PIN/TIA configurations. Both 2.5-Gbit/sec ROSA products and 1310-nm detector TO-can products are available in configurations with various sensitivity, power consumption, and power monitor capabilities. Meanwhile, 1310-nm TOSA products are under development.

Sample and production quantities are available now, says Andrews. The company is open to customizing these products for "qualified opportunities," he adds. Price depends on product and quantity ordered.