Products

Automated scratch detection system
Prior Scientific's automated scratch detection system ConnCert 100 for fibre connectors can detect and measure scratches, chips and particulate contamination at the end-face of fibre connectors.

Through user-defined pass/fail limits, it can eliminate the subjectivity of current fibre inspection thus providing consistent quality.

Lamp life has been increased to 2000 hours. The optional ACS 1000 Automated Control System adds PC control and the ability to program StepCure profiles. User-changeable optical filters and over 20,000mW/cm² of curing power allow tailoring to specific applications.

Output intensity can be adjusted from the front panel and locked into place. Monitoring through an optical feedback loop maintains exposure quality and repeatability.
www.exfo.com

Select cut-off single-mode fibre
StockerYale is sampling its 1060 Select Cut-Off Single-Mode Fibre, the first in a family optimised for use with optical components. It is said to enhance the performance of photonic devices by providing efficient coupling to components. The high numerical aperture and core index of refraction allows for tighter bends when designing small-form-factor components and sub-systems. Applications include laser diode pig-tails and fused fibre couplers.
www.stockeryale.com

Single-fibre converters for GbE and OC-12
Omnitron Systems Technology's latest additions to its managed iConverter product line are the new Gigabit Ethernet and OC-12 Single-Fiber (SF) converters.

These convert between copper Gigabit and single-fibre Gigabit and between dual- and single-fibre Gigabit and OC-12 technologies -joining Ethernet 10, 100, 10/100, T1, E1 and OC-3 single-fibre and standard dual-fibre technologies.

The iConverter SF uses WDM to double single-mode fibre capacity and extend single-fibre trunk distances to 40km.

Remote diagnostic features provide quick fault detection, isolation and reporting.

SNMP management is through NetOutlook network management software or standard SNMP software such as HP OpenView.
www.omnitron-systems.com

These feature consistent particle deposition with surface textures and particle density that provide excellent performance results and a long polishing life, the company claims. Both standard and custom film sizes are available.

Senko films can be used with the following connector styles: LC-UPC, LC-APC, MU-UPC, SC-UPC, SC-APC, FC-UPC, FC-APC, ST-UPC, E2000-UPC, E2000-APC, and capillary.
www.senko.com

TTH cable for FTTx applications
OFS' PowerGuide TTH loose tube fibre cable for fibre-to-the-home and fibre-to-the-building applications is the newest member of its PowerGuide all-dielectric self-supporting (ADSS) family.

It offers the same long-term performance, reliability and durability by creating a virtually stress-free environment when operating within their designed load and temperature rating - but in a flexible and easy-to-install small-diameter solution (0.34), using simple, economical attachment hardware for fast, one-step installation.

With one of the highest drop cable fibre counts - up to 20 - the PowerGuide TTH delivers increased capacity with a loose tube design that is compact, lightweight, and easy to handle. Its 275kg-rated pulling tension makes it an option for duct installations and aerial self-supported spans up to 91m.
www.ofsoptics.com

Enhanced optical simulation
Version 2.1 of Optiwave Corp's OptiSystem optical simulation software tool enables planning, testing, and simulation of most types of link in the physical layer of an optical networks.

Enhancements include:

• integration with OptiBPM, which allows import of waveguide properties from OptiBPM, enabling the design of optical circuits such as ring resonators;
• compatibility with Agilent's Advanced Design System (ADS) electronic design automation software for loading signal data files containing time-domain waveform data for defining the signals associated with certain sources;
• the inclusion of electrical modulators and carrier generator components, and a new memory management system.
  
  www.optiwave.com

The dry water block yarn design eliminates cable flooding gels, eliminating cleaning and blocking preparation steps and cable cleaning solvents, speeding installation, termination and splicing.

The cable is 25% lighter, allowing easier handling and longer installation pulls. DriTube cable also eliminates the need to handle harsh gel-removal chemicals.

The ribbon cable is available in counts up to 432 fibres.
www.sumitomoelectric.com

Integrated transport and switching
Sycamore claims to be the first supplier in the industry to integrate LR and ULH optics with Super Forward Error Correction (SuperFEC) onto a grooming, optical-electrical-optical (OEO) switching platform - and the only optical switching vendor to offer ULH optics.

Sycamore's Optical Switch platforms include 15XX Long Reach (LR) Optics on its SN 3000 platform and Long Reach and Ultra Long Haul (ULH) Optics on its SN 16000 and SN 16000 SC Intelligent Optical Switching Platforms.

These solutions reduce the number of transponders in the network and eliminate stand-alone transponder systems without impacting port density or scalability. Also, SuperFEC provides optimal signal integrity to support extended LR and ULH transport without any electrical regeneration.

Sycamore's open systems design accommodates third-party multi-vendor transport interoperability with installed add/drop multiplexer equipment intended for applications in metropolitan area network environments.
www.sycamorenet.com

Eight-wavelength 2.5Gbit/s DFB laser diode family
The Electronic Device Group of Mitsubishi Electric & Electronics USA has expanded its uncooled ML9XX19 distributed feedback (DFB) laser diode.

Samples covering the 1510, 1530, 1550 and 1570nm wavelengths are available now and 1470, 1490, 1590 and 1610nm will be from September, and volume production commences in December.

The features of the ML9XX19 DFB laser diode are the same as the 1550nm single-wavelength version, including its quarter-wavelength phase-shifted grating technology, wide operating temperature range (0-70°C), and compact size. The lasers are available in standard 5.6mm and 3.8mm To-Can packages.
www.mitsubishichips.com

Integrated metro transport switching solutions launch
Meriton Networks' first products for general availability in Q4/2002 will include:

• the 8600 NMS (Network Management System); and
• the 7200 OADX (Optical Add/Drop Switch), which combines optical add-drop multiplexing (OADM) and optical cross-connect (OXC) functionality in a single device.

The OADX requires 70% less capital expenditure and 80% less space than multi-box solutions, the manufacturer claims. Operating expense savings are achieved by making the network simpler to manage, more dynamic and more flexible.

The complete transparency and networking capabilities meet demand for ATM, SONET/SDH, IP, GbE, SANs and other data services without dedicating separate networks to each, while positioning networks for future demands such as wavelength services.
www.meriton.com

Network processor
Vitesse Semiconductor Corp. is sampling the first network processor to employ 0.13mm process technology. Production should start at the end of 2002.

The new-generation IQ2200 is pin- and software-compatible with the IQ2000 family, and targeted at packet processing for edge, metro and network aggregation equipment, where intelligence and flexibility are required at multi-gigabit wire rates.

It is used in systems designed for content-aware switching and load balancing, intrusion detection, VPNs, MPLS-enabled security, differentiated services, and other complex packet processing applications.

The processor's architecture provides configurable automation of the tasks typical for packet input and output. It also enables multi-gigabit packet applications through integration and programmability.
www.vitesse.com

New enterprise functionality
Adva Optical Networking has announced that its Fiber Service Platform (FSP) 2000 scalable enterprise system has three new cards:

• The Optical Line Monitoring module enables continuous monitoring of just the fibre link for changes in optical attenuation without intrusion to services. This allows early detection of any fibre degradation and preventative maintenance. Extra ports allow OTDR measurements in service and continuous supervision of any dark fibre provider SLAs.
• The 2:1 TDM channel card enables deployment of an aggregated mix of Gigabit Ethernet and Fibre Channel/FICON services on a single wavelength. This doubles system capacity (to 64 high-bandwidth services) while cutting per-service cost by over 30%, Adva claims.
• The multi-clock 2 Gigabit Fibre Channel card supports emerging services, such as SAN customers migrating from 1G to 2Gbit/s fibre channel transmission - since both are supported.

Ethernet-over-SONET/SDH equipment tester
Agilent Technologies has enhanced the OmniBER OTN platform by adding generic framing protocol (GFP) mappings and Gigabit Ethernet payload structures at 2.5Gbit/s and jitter capabilities up to 10.71Gbit/s. The tester - that ships in December - is designed for getting robust next-generation SONET/SDH network equipment to market faster.

Users can map defects and ensure vendor interoperability when encapsulating Ethernet payloads into SONET/SDH. Ethernet payloads, GFP encapsulation and STS-6c, STS-9c and STS-24c mappings allow full verification of products before release.
www.agilent.com/comms/otn

PDA remote monitoring for metro networks
metroWATCH PDA allows personal digital assistants (PDAs) to be used for remote network monitoring with this optical surveillance system.

NetTest says that metroWATCH is the "first" stand-alone system that automatically monitors the status of metro optical networks of all sizes, regardless of in-house fibre-optic expertise.

Operators can request and query optical maps, conduct fibre status test checks, perform remote network assessment and receive alarm notifications automatically, from any connected location.

The software supports wireless local area network cards and wireless modems, and will work with PDAs such as Compaq's iPAQ Pocket PC and Palm Handhelds.

metroWATCH can also be added to any type of PDA, including those running Palm OS and Microsoft Windows.
www.nettest.com

First 48Gbit/s BERT
Anritsu's ME7780A Bit Error Rate Test system evaluates components, modules and transmission systems at data rates from 100Mbit/s to 48Gbit/s for OC-3/STM-1 to OC-768/STM-256, Digital Wrapper, and other FEC rates. D-type Flip Flops on the MUX outputs yield high-quality waveforms. It is also the only BERT system to support 1/1 clock output, and it generates 2Vpp under a single-ended signal.

The modular system comprises four high-end instruments: the new MP1775A 12.5Gbit/s 4-channel pulse pattern generator; the MP1776A 12.5Gbit/s 4-channel error detector; the new MP1811A 4:1 48Gbit/s mux; and the MP1812A 1:4 48Gbit/s demux.
www.anritsu.com

Analysis of 40Gbit/s frames
Acterna has added 40Gbit/s capability to its portable Advanced Network Tester (ANT), for use in the laboratory or the field.

The ANT-40G is the first tester to provide complete analysis of framed signals on SONET/SDH networks operating at OC-768c/STM-256c.

In the manufacturing environment, it will allow equipment vendors to shorten product development timelines. It can verify that prototype optical network components, including boards, systems and interfaces, are properly designed and are compliant with industry standards.

The ANT-40G will help install, maintain and troubleshoot network elements running at 40Gbit/s. It verifies a wide range of SONET/SDH parameters, including overhead generation and analysis, pointer processing and bit error rate processing and testing.
www.acterna.com

Next-gen power meters
Newport has launched five next-generation models of power meter for CW laser measurements which provide seven gain ranges and offer higher sensitivity, speed and repeatability.

Models 1930-C single- and 2930-C dual-channel power meters operate with a range of external detectors. As a bench-top test station or integrated into an automated measurement system, they work with any of Newport's free-space 918/818-series germanium, silicon and InGaAs detectors. Spectral coverage from 190-1800nm is possible. Measurements range from tens of femtowatts to 2.5W. Power range is 131dBm.

Models 1930F single- and 2930F dual-channel power meters feature integrated silicon or InGaAs detectors for coverage from 400-1650nm for measurements with a direct fibre input. Measurements range from tens of femtowatts to 2.5W. The power range is 100dB.

Model 1930IS has a direct fibre input and incorporates an integrating sphere, providing high repeatability due to reduced sensitivity to fibre positioning. Two built-in low-noise dual detectors covering 400-1650nm. Measurements range from picowatts up to 250mW.
www.newport.com/photonics