April 5, 2006 Fremont, CA -- Avanex, a developer of "intelligent" photonic devices for optical networks, has introduced its Ultra-Low Drive F10-U Lithium Niobate (LiNbO3) modulators.
The company says that it has developed a "key technology breakthrough" that allows the use of standard low-cost driver amplifiers in high performance digital transmission, and that the modulators reduce the drive voltage to less than 3 V while maintaining the "excellent characteristics" of the company's F10 standard 10-Gbit/sec modulators, including zero chirp and duobinary versions.
According to Avanex, key benefits of the Ultra-Low Drive F10-U LiNbO3 modulators include "significant cost savings in the transponder bill of materials by allowing the customer to use standard drivers," as well as reduced transponder power consumption. Special applications that typically require twice the drive voltage will also benefit from the device's ultra low-voltage technology, according to the company.
The company stresses that "highly sophisticated electrode design" and "advanced microlithographical techniques" were developed and introduced in the manufacturing process of the device. The company says that lowering the drive voltage allows customers to use more cost-effective drivers in a smaller form factor.
"With the introduction of the breakthrough F10-U modulator, Avanex confirms its commitment to support customers in their cost-saving efforts while continuing to deliver leading-edge performance," comments Giovanni Barbarossa, CTO of Avanex.