Agilent Technologies Inc., a provider of technologies for communications and life sciences, announced it has received initial customer orders and begun shipments of what the company claims is the industry's first surface-mount compatible parallel-optics modules. These new parallel-optics modules are designed for network and telecom equipment manufacturers, who are developing scalable terabit switch routers to meet demand for network capacity.
Agilent's parallel-optics modules solve the data capacity and space problems inherent with copper interconnects and existing optical transceivers. Operating at 2.5 gigabits per second (Gb/s) per channel, these new devices combine the 12-channel HFBR-712BP transmitter and HFBR-722BP receiver modules with industry-standard fiber-optic cables and connectors to deliver an aggregate throughput of 30 Gb/s while occupying only 38 mm (1.5 inches) of the long dimension of PC boards which are typically 16 to 18 inches in length. The transmitter and receiver pair occupies approximately the same area as two 1 Gb/s small form factor (SFF) transceivers, but provides performance 15 times greater.
Aimed at applications such as proprietary system interconnects, OC-192 very short reach (VSR), InfiniBand systems and large multiprocessor system interconnects, Agilent's parallel-optics modules support distances of 300 meters on industry-standard 50/125-micron 500 MHz*km (bandwidth-length product) fiber and 600 meters on proposed new 50/125-micron 2000 MHz*km high bandwidth fiber. The compact footprint and innovative design of the HFBR 712BP and HFBR 722BP enable high-volume manufacturing at up to 50 percent lower cost than current solutions. An integrated heat sink helps dissipate heat generated by the module into ambient air and not into the circuit board.
Agilent also plans to drive the parallel-optics module platform into other product variants, including a four-channel transceiver for Ethernet and OC-192 VSR markets. For more information visit www.agilent.com/view/paralleloptics.
About Agilent Technologies:
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is a global technology provider in communications, electronics, life sciences and healthcare. For more information, visit www.agilent.com.