10 October 2003 Shelton, CT, and Kfar Saba, Israel Lightwave -- TeraOp (USA) Inc., a developer of optical components based on MEMS mirrors and membranes and a TranSwitch Corp. affiliate company, says the TVA-A and TVA-B Series Variable Optical Attenuators (VOAs) introduced at SUPERCOMM 2003 are now sampling to telecom OEMs to enable cost-effective implementation of new optical communications equipment. TeraOp also will launch a new TVA-C Series of VOAs at ITU Telecom World 2003 in Geneva, Switzerland, next week.
The TVA-A and TVA-B Series VOAs are direct replacements for existing VOAs in legacy optical transmission equipment. The new VOAs are designed for use in wavelength multiplexers, optical add/drop multiplexers (OADMs), and optical amplifiers. They can be packaged as a single channel or in an array of up to 40 channels as required by the customer. TVA-B VOAs are targeted specifically to the new generation of optical modules integrated with optical filters, especially filters based on thin-film-filter (TFF) technology.
The TeraOp VOAs' patent-pending MEMS actuator enables very low temperature-dependent loss (TDL) throughout the entire range of attenuation and operating temperatures. The actuator also provides a linear control voltage-versus-attenuation characteristic. The TeraOp MEMS design also includes provision for damping control, which ensures fast settling time without the "ringing" typical of competing devices.
Along with the sampling of the TVA-A and TVA-B products, TeraOp is also introducing its new TVA-C Series VOAs. The TVA-C Series simplifies device integration and packaging for customers by providing all fiber connections on one side of the VOA. The first device in this series is an eight-channel array using an industry-standard small package, offering both transparent (normally open) and opaque (normally closed) VOAs. The TVA-C Series uses the same single-layer concept and MEMS technology as the previous devices. The new VOA array is suited for multi-channel high-density WDM equipment and benefits OEMs by saving board space and decreasing the cost per port.
The TVA-A, TVA-B, and TVA-C Series VOAs are designed to offer OEMs extremely compact size and form factor, cost advantages, as well as ease of integration with optical switches.