ECOC 2002 showcase
Digital technology
Digital Light Processing (DLP) technology is a display solution that uses an optical semiconductor to manipulate light digitally. Comprising digital micromirror devices, control ASICs, and component sets and software, DLP technology is used wherever visual excellence is required. It enables movie projectors, televisions, home-theater systems, and business projectors to create an entirely digital connection between a graphic or video source and the screen, resulting in excellent picture clarity, brilliance, and color.
Texas Instruments, Freising, Germany FOR FREE DATA, enter NO. 305 at www.onlinecenter.to/lw
Gain equalization monitor
The GEM gain equalization monitor accurately measures optical power and wavelength for DWDM networks requiring remote monitoring. It is a small optical monitor at about 120x82x17.3 mm, and its RS-232 and DPRAM electrical interface ease integration with systems. Response time is <150 msec and relative power accuracy is 0.5 dB for such applications as gain equalization at amplification nodes, signal power, wavelength identification and equalization after add/drop nodes, and fault localization. GEM covers the entire C- or L-band at 100- and 50-GHz wavelength spacing.
JDS Uniphase Corp., San Jose, CA FOR FREE DATA, enter NO. 308 at www.onlinecenter.to/lw
Fiber-optic patch cords
The fiber-optic patch cords, featuring low insertion loss and high return loss, are suitable for all fiber-optic interconnect applications, including cable TV and broadband. The small-form connectors' 900-micron Hytrel patch cords are specifically designed for active-component pigtails. Connector types available are LC, MU, MT-RJ, SC, FC, and ST in singlemode and multimode.
Pacific Interconnection Co., Renton, WA FOR FREE DATA, enter NO. 314 at www.onlinecenter.to/lw
VCSEL arrays
At 2.5 Gbits/sec per channel, the 850-nm vertical-cavity surface-emitting-laser (VCSEL) arrays support an aggregate data rate of 30 Gbits/sec for easy integration into parallel optical transceivers in very-short-reach, Gigabit Ethernet, and InfiniBand applications. The arrays provide high reliability (well over 3,000 hours 85/85), low threshold current, low-divergence beam, and high power output. Proprietary device design and refined manufacturing process offer "oxide VCSEL-like" performance and "implant VCSEL-like" reliability and yield.
LuxNet Corp., Fremont, CA FOR FREE DATA, enter NO. 335 at www.onlinecenter.to/lw
LC connectors
The LC PANDA connector features a cord diameter of 0.4, 0.9, and 2 mm, an insertion loss of 0.5/0.25/0.22 dB, a return loss of 40/50/55 dB, and an extinction ratio of 25/28 dB. Also available are an LC four-port adapter for SC duplex adapter (F) footprint (PB/Zr sleeve); LC duplex adapter for SC simplex adapter footprint (PB/Zr sleeve); LC APC connector for cable TV, etc.; and LC connector kit for a cord diameter of 3 mm.
NTT-ME Corp., Tokyo FOR FREE DATA, enter NO. 338 at www.onlinecenter.to/lw
40-Gbit/sec LiNbO3 modulator driver
The model 5885 40-Gbit/sec lithium niobate (LiNbO3) modulator driver delivers high-quality, clean, 43-Gbit/sec nonreturn-to-zero eye-diagrams with low jitter. It provides LiNbO3 drive capability with as little as 300 mVpp of input and includes crossing-point control, output-level control, radio-frequency power detection, and temperature-stabilized output. The extremely broadband driver is targeted for the OC-768/STM-256 (40-Gbit/sec) telecommunications market.
Picosecond Pulse Labs, Boulder, CO FOR FREE DATA, enter NO. 339 at www.onlinecenter.to/lw
1300-nm SOA
The OPB10-1300, a 1300-nm semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA), will be housed in an industry-standard 14-pin butterfly package with integral thermo-electric cooler, thermistor, and input and output isolators. Pinout will be MSA-compliant. The SOA provides a high-gain, high-output-power, low-noise solution to amplification requirements in the 1300-nm window. Applications are likely to include SONET/SDH reach extension (plus emerging standards such as very-short-reach and coarse WDM), passive optical networks, and 10-Gigabit Ethernet.
Kamelian Ltd., Oxford, UK FOR FREE DATA, enter NO. 341 at www.onlinecenter.to/lw
Instructional video/CD-ROM
A training tool for new staff development, "Introduction to Fiber Optics Video/CD-ROM" provides an understanding of the basics of optical theory and its relationship to optical fibers, teaches fiber-optic terminology, and shows how fiber is being used. It features high-quality graphics, onsite location shots, and close-up filming. Areas covered include optical fiber's evolution, fiber manufacturing, optical theory, and fiber types and structures: 50/125, 62.5/125 multimode fiber (MMF), MMF for Gigabit Ethernet and Fibre Channel, and singlemode fiber (dispersion-shifted, nonzero dispersion-shifted, and DWDM). Issues covered include modal, chromatic, and polarization-mode dispersion; graded and step index fiber structures; and specialty fibers.
The Light Brigade, Kent, WA FOR FREE DATA, enter NO. 344 at www.onlinecenter.to/lw
BER tester
The OPX-192 bit-error-rate (BER) tester, part of the AX/4000 product family, is specifically designed for the stringent testing requirements associated with core and metro-area networks. It verifies that network devices meet BER requirements and conform to the SONET/SDH standard, including reporting alarms/errors and protection switching, before deployment. The tester also enables the mapping of payloads from STS-192/AU-4-64 down to STS-1, in any valid combination, and can test up to 192 channels simultaneously and independently. The OPX-192 helps accelerate time-to-market and ensure network and equipment performance, allowing better use of engineering resources and reduced testing time and space requirements.
Spirent Communications, Rockville, MD FOR FREE DATA, enter NO. 354 at www.onlinecenter.to/lw
Dispensing pen system
The Mikros dispensing pen system improves fluid control and minimizes waste in fiber-optic assembly processes where precise amounts of two-part epoxies, UV-cure adhesives, and other expensive fluids are required. Used with air-powered dispensers, the dispensing system produces consistent micro-deposits as small as 0.007 inch in diameter. Disposable reservoir tips with 0.25-cc capacity reduce waste by allowing expensive adhesives to be mixed in small batches and consumed before working time expires. Silicone-free reservoir tips have 30-, 32-, or 33-gauge needles and block UV wavelengths between 280 and 390 nm.
EFD, Bedfordshire, UK FOR FREE DATA, enter NO. 358 at www.onlinecenter.to/lw
Lightwave is a monthly international publication focusing on fiber optics and optoelectronics, the technologies driving the growth, convergence, and improved performance of telephony, computer communications, and video. Lightwave provides technology news as well as applications and product information for corporate and technical managers and staff engineers. Lightwave's editors emphasize analysis and interpretation in their reports on the technological impact of fiber-optic components, systems, and networks in these markets.