Avanex launches compact 1x4 optical switch based on multi-port technology

March 23, 2006 Fremont, CA -- Avanex, a provider of photonic devices for optical networks, has released its 1x4 Optical Switch platform, which features a "single stage micro-optic switch design" based on the company's patented multi-port technology. The company says the platform enables 4-port optical switching in a compact form factor.

The company's multi-port technology is a generic platform that combines the functionality of multiple devices into a single device to provide cost and space savings. The company says its single stage design enables low-loss (typically less than 0.4 dB) compared to traditional cascaded architectures. The product is available in latching and non-latching versions with optional built-in power monitoring capability.

"As networks get more advanced and reconfigurable, there is a growing need for monitoring signal conditions at various points in the network," contends Dr. Giovanni Barbarossa, CTO of Avanex. "The extremely compact form factor and the low-cost design make the 1x4 switch very attractive to OEMs and the switch already has been designed into several OEM optical communication systems."