NeoPhotonics unveils PIC-based small form factor DQPSK demodulator for 40Gbps systems

The small form factor version is less than half the size of the standard form factor DQPSK demodulator, conserving board space in high-capacity systems.

The NeoPhotonics demodulator product is designed for use in 40Gbps direct detection Differential Quaternary Phase Shift Key (DQPSK) data transmission. DQPSK systems utilize Delay-Line Interferometers (DLIs) to mix the incoming signal with a delayed sample, avoiding the need for, and cost of, an external local optical reference laser.

The NeoPhotonics DQPSK demodulator integrates two DLIs on a single photonic chip and provides in-phase and quadrature analysis of the phase-encoded signal. The NeoPhotonics DQPSK demodulator is designed to exhibit low sensitivity to polarization variations to accommodate the unpredictable and varying nature of the received signals.

“The deployment of 40 Gbps and 100 Gbps transmission technologies on the line side places stringent requirements on the optical performance of the components used. For example, the level of polarization dependence in our 40Gbps DQPSK demodulator must be much less than that of our typical 10Gbps products,” explains Tim Jenks, chairman and CEO of NeoPhotonics. “By using our photonic integration technology, we are able to achieve the high levels of optical performance and quality critical for these very high speed systems.”