Welcome to the Lightwave Attendees’ Choice Awards balloting for products featured at OFC/NFOEC 2005 in Anaheim, CA. Those attending the show are eligible to vote for their favorite product in each of eight categories beginning on this page and continuing through page 36: Systems, Subsystems, Components, Test Equipment, Installation, Design Tools, Manufacturing, and Education & Training. An additional award will be presented to the company whose product receives the most votes overall. For those attending the show, please use the official Attendees’ Choice Award ballot included with the March 2005 issue of Lightwave distributed during OFC/NFOEC. All ballots, when completed, should be dropped off at Lightwave exhibit booth 2677B. Only ballots submitted at the booth will be counted. March issues and additional OFC/NFOEC ballots are also available at the booth.
For Lightwave readers not attending OFC/NFOEC 2005, product information on the award nominees is also available at www.lightwaveonline.com.
SystemsThe Metropolis wavelength services manager helps service providers deliver optical bandwidth directly to their customers’ premises in the metro access, interoffice, and regional application spaces and increase the capacity of their infrastructure. The modular and flexible architecture reduces complexity through a common optical platform using DWDM and CWDM technologies.
Lucent Technologies, Murray Hill, NJ, www.lucent.com
NOMINEE NO. SYS 1
The CM-100 packet ADM fuses together SONET/SDH technologies such as virtual concatenation, GFP, and LCAS, with packet technologies, including resilient packet ring, Ethernet and MPLS, for next generation data-aware services. The optical transport element is designed to enable high-revenue packet services such as triple play and VoIP.
Corrigent Systems, San Jose, CA, www.corrigent.com
NOMINEE NO. SYS 2
The Vx7 ROADM system provides an automated optical layer for SONET/SDH, Ethernet, and wavelength services in metro/regional networks that fundamentally changes the way optical networks are built and operated. It provides any-to-any wavelength services through 16 cascaded nodes up to 1,000 km, independent of line rate (2.5, 10, and 40 Gbits/sec), endpoint, and other wavelengths on the system, with per-wavelength optical protection and without service interrupts on any other system wavelengths.
Mahi Networks, Petaluma, CA, www.mahinetworks.com
NOMINEE NO. SYS 3
The widely tunable 10-Gbit/sec adaptive distortion-tolerant transponder provides a compact MSA 300-compliant high-performance DWDM interface that suits the needs of different system architectures. It is optimized for operation on optical amplified links with high-dispersion-tolerance requirements. It also provides excellent chromatic dispersion and polarization-mode dispersion tolerance based on the use of electronic digital equalization technology in the receiver.
CoreOptics, Manchester, NH, www.coreoptics.com
NOMINEE NO. SUB 1
The EOA-µ ultra-small credit-card-sized EDFA with full control electronics features high gain and low noise figure. It uses conventional erbium fiber as the gain medium to produce full amplification in the C- or L-band. Powerful, yet with very-low-power consumption, amplifier is an option for line cards, transceivers, and test equipment applications where a mini boost may be required.
MPB Communications, Pointe Claire, Quebec City, www.mpbc.ca
NOMINEE NO. SUB 2
The TASR-1000 all-optical signal regenerator provides transparent 2R optical-signal regeneration, all-optical wavelength conversion, and/or optical dispersion compensation in a single subsystem module.
Kailight Photonics, Dallas, www.kailight.com
NOMINEE NO. SUB 3
The Mx-40 hardware reference design is a complete carrier class OC-48/OC-192 SONET/SDH ADM system in a 2-rack-unit design. Easily customizable for different interface cards, it incorporates ADM-on-a-chip and overhead-processor components. Along with a software development kit, the reference design significantly reduces the time required to design and build new equipment.
Parama Networks, Santa Clara, CA, www.paramanet.com
NOMINEE NO. SUB 4
The 16×16 multimode optical matrix switch provides excellent reliability and optical performance using same direct beam steering technology. It is available in a 1U (1.75-inch) rack-mount tray.
Polatis, Cambridge, UK, www.polatis.com
NOMINEE NO. SUB 5
High-performance CWDM SFP transceiver operates over a temperature range of -40° to +85°C at a reach of 80 km for OC-48 and 120 km for Gigabit Ethernet. It enables the deployment of long-reach CWDM links in harsh environments such as outside-plant applications, features digital diagnostic monitoring capabilities compliant with SFF-8472 Rev 9.3, and includes colored latches for easy identification of the wavelength.
OE Solutions America, Santa Ana, CA, www.oesolution.com
NOMINEE NO. SUB 6
This 10-Gbit/sec widely tunable transponder incorporates advanced electronic distortion compensation technology to increase dispersion tolerance to >±2,000 psec/nm. It is designed for use in both dynamic network applications where the dispersion path may change over time and more static applications where network planning constraints are eased substantially.
Agility Communications, Goleta, CA, www.agility.com
NOMINEE NO. SUB 7
The 4-32-channel low-loss VOA array features electro-optically controlled silica PLC technology, allowing operation with significantly less PDL than thermo-optically controlled PLCs. This highly miniaturized design also draws many times less power and operates between 1- and 20-dB extinction. The VOA is available fully packaged and tested for discrete operation or available in a “chip-only” configuration for integration with other module PLC functions.
Optimer Photonics, Columbus, OH, www.optimerphotonics.com
NOMINEE NO. COMP 1
The passive Optical Power Limiter can be used at the input to power-sensitive equipment, at the output of high-power systems such as amplifiers, or wherever power regulation is required. It can also serve as a protection device. Under normal operation when the input power is low, the limiter has no effect on the system, but when the input power is high, the output power is held to the limiter’s threshold level.
KiloLambda Technologies, Tel-Aviv, Israel, www.kilolambda.com
NOMINEE NO. COMP 2
The VSC7965 integrated burst-mode DFB/FP laser driver and limiting amplifier supports data rates of 125 Mbits/sec to 1.25 Gbits/sec. It is designed for use in BPON, EPON, and GPON optical-network-unit modules as well as 155- and 622-Mbit/sec small-form-factor optical modules. The device has an automatic power control loop that supports both burst- and continuous-mode operation. The PPC function does not require any initialization sequence, allowing for instantaneous operation.
Vitesse, Camarillo, CA, www.vitesse.com
NOMINEE NO. COMP 3
The three-wavelength triplexer module for FTTP from the company’s PLC transceiver platform is fully compliant with ITU G.983.3 BPON and G984.2 GPON requirements. All optical functions are performed in the PLC layer with no external filters; the photodiodes and laser elements are integrated as bare dies.
NeoPhotonics, San Jose, CA, www.neophotonics.com
NOMINEE NO. COMP 4
The PMCC polarization-maintaining fiber coupler with connectors offers high extinction ratios of 35 dB typically if the product is connected to the instruments on its own. Even at a random connection with an adapter between the products, extinction ratios of 30 dB typically can be achieved. The coupler also ensures the accuracy of the polarization axis in relation to the connector key. High extinction ratios can be obtained anywhere, anytime.
Yonezawa Electric Wire, Yamagata, Japan, www.yonezawadensen.co.jp
NOMINEE NO. COMP 5
The AP1050C avalanche photodiode with high-precision process control is for SONET/SDH, Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel, FTTX, PON applications up to 10 Gbits/sec. It is available in bare-die form and ROSA form for 1.25- and 2.5-Gbit/sec applications. Typical optical sensitivity is -34.5 dBm at 2.5 Gbits/sec for wavelengths of 1550 nm.
Adtech Optics, City of Industry, CA, www.atoptics.com
NOMINEE NO. COMP 6
The CFA-20HS compact single-channel micro-EDFA booster amplifier comes in a half-MSA-sized package (70×45×12 mm). It uses fluoride EDF technology combined with an uncooled mini-DIL pump laser and provides high optical output of 10-16 dBm. Low power consumption of <0.8 W is achieved; ALC circuit is optional. The amplifier is also suitable for small-channel-count WDM amplification.
Central Glass, Tokyo, www.cgco.co.jp/opticaldevice
NOMINEE NO. COMP 7
The 10-Gbit/sec 1310-nm XFP serial transceiver features case temperature range from -5° to +85°C, reflecting improvement up to 10° hotter. The MSA-compliant hot Z-pluggable includes an XFI electrical interface to maintain data rates up to 11.3 Gbits/sec using a TOSA and an uncooled multiple quantum well directly modulated DFB laser-diode chip with extremely high-temperature operation capability. The TOSA can be used in 300-pin, XENPAK, and X2 modules.
Opnext, Eatontown, NJ, www.opnext.com
NOMINEE NO. COMP 8
The 32-channel integrated planar-lightwave-circuit ROADM provides complete passive functionality, fast recognition switching between add and express paths, optical mux/demux, per-channel tap monitors, and VOAs. It has integrated control electronics, allowing users a high-level command interface to provide full optical-channel monitoring on every port, fault detection, automatic dynamic channel equalization, 16-node cascadability, and support for SONET/SDH protection switching. That eliminates the need for add-on monitoring and performance management technologies by the system integrator.
JDS Uniphase, San Jose, CA, www.jdsu.com
NOMINEE NO. COMP 9
The highly integrated 802.3ah EPON chipsets directly address the fundamental problems of building and operating multiservice FTTH networks. They provide single-device functionality that includes media access control, dynamic bandwidth allocation, multiservice multiplexing, switching, security, and management. Equipment vendors can thus bring standards-compliant “one-chip” customer premises equipment to market in less time compared to multi-device designs.
Teknovus, Petaluma, CA, www.teknovus.com
NOMINEE NO. COMP 10
The AC3430 10-Gbit/sec 1310-nm Fabry-Perot TOSA offers more than 11 GHz of bandwidth, -0.5-dBm output power, and a flex interface circuit for attachment to XFP and other transceiver PCBs. It provides excellent performance in temperatures ranging from -40° to +85°C.
Archcom Technology, Azusa, CA, www.archcomtech.com
NOMINEE NO. COMP 11
The SFP bidirectional transceiver meets the IEEE 802.3ah Gigabit Ethernet 1000Base-BX10 specification for 10-km point-to-point Ethernet in the First Mile applications. It consists of an upstream SFP module (TRPBG1LXDBBSH) and a downstream SFP module (TRPBG1LXDBVS2). Together, they form a 1000Base-BX10 link that allows full-duplex communication over a single fiber. The transceiver’s latching mechanism has been ergonomically designed for high-port-density applications.
OCP, Woodland Hills, CA, www.ocp-inc.com
NOMINEE NO. COMP 12
The aluminum silicon carbide (AlSiC) metal matrix packaging composite provides reliability for the housing, interconnection, and thermal management of microelectronic, optoelectronic, power electronic, and high-flux LED products. AlSiC enables a tailored coefficient of thermal expansion, offering compatibility with various electronic devices and assemblies and eliminating the need for thermal interface stacking.
CPS, Chartley, MA, www.alsic.com
NOMINEE NO. COMP 13
The FSAN integrated triplexer transceiver is for triple-play PON applications.
LuminentOIC, Chatsworth, CA, www.luminentoic.com
NOMINEE NO. COMP 14
The FTR-1621T-xx industrial-temperature CWDM GBIC for data transport systems deployed in uncontrolled temperature environments can withstand temperature extremes of -40° to +85°C. With digital diagnostics, APD receiver, and CWDM DFB lasers available in eight wavelengths, it was designed to meet the requirements of outdoor fiber-rich architectures in telecom environments that are bringing fiber closer to the home, office building, or other extreme-temperature locations.
Finisar, Sunnyvale, CA, www.finisar.com
NOMINEE NO. COMP 15
The high-precision fiber arrays come in linear and 2D form. They accommodate singlemode or multimode fiber, 250-µm and larger pitch dimension. Fiber positional accuracy is <1 µm core to core. Channel counts up to 1,024 or higher are available. Custom designs are also available.
Arrayed Fiberoptics, Santa Clara, CA, www.arrayedfiberoptics.com
NOMINEE NO. COMP 16
The Glassic small-form-factor tunable chromatic dispersion compensator is suited for integration in 300-pin MSA transponders. As a standalone component, it provides any dispersion value ranging from -1,700 psec/nm to +1,700 psec/nm. It is packaged and sealed in a standard butterfly package and based on free-space optical elements.
Civcom, Petach Tikva, Israel, www.civcom.com
NOMINEE NO. COMP 17
The SRL3101NST 3.125-Gbit/sec single-chip optical transmitter and receiver for very-short-reach applications integrate a transimpedance amplifier, limiting amplifier, and VCSEL driver onto a 2.7×2.7-mm die. It provides digital and analog control and laser monitoring functions and consumes 215 mW of power. Other features include an integrated temperature sensor and closed-loop temperature compensation. The modulation and threshold currents can also be independently adjusted using external resistors to allow the chip to be matched with third-party VCSELs.
SiRes Labs, Jalan Usahawan Cyberjaya, Malaysia, www.sireslabs.com
NOMINEE NO. COMP 18
For FTTH applications in optical access networks, the compact four-channel 10-nm polymer-based OADM chip measures just 15×2 mm. It demonstrates a crosstalk of about -30 dB and an insertion loss below 4 dB.
Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, Heinrich-Hertz-Institut, Berlin, www.hhi.fraunhofer.de
NOMINEE NO. COMP 19
For labs or testing applications, the tunable MICS multiplexer enables multiplexing of 16 arbitrarily spaced laser sources on the C+L band. A polarization-maintaining option is available.
Kylia, Paris, www.kylia.com
NOMINEE NO. COMP 20
The discrete-mode laser diodes foroptical access and enterprise applications provide ease of use, optical feedback insensitivity, wide temperature operating range, and performance consistency. They come in three wavelengths-1310,1490, and 1550 nm-for FTTX, LAN, SAN, CWDM, and SONET applications.
Eblana Photonics, Dublin, www.eblanaphotonics.com
NOMINEE NO. COMP 21
Para-Optix transceivers and interconnect cables provide flexibility in configuring optical systems and are designed to operate to 300 m with 50/125-µm fiber. Transceivers are available in 16, 24, 32, 48, and 72 channels at 2.7 and 3.125 Gbits/sec. Cable assemblies are designed around MPO-style interconnects with 16 through 72 fibers. Transceiver features include electrical pluggable interconnects for easy installation, redundant VCSELs for longer life, programmable pre-emphasis, and compact size. Cabling can accommodate terabit speeds.
Tyco Electronics, Middletown, PA, www.tycoelectronics.com/fiberoptics
NOMINEE NO. COMP 22
The ML-T-1310-X-2G5 laser provides excellent reliability combined with 2.5-Gbit/sec transmission at elevated temperatures. It comes with flat window, ball lens, or aspheric lens, depending on coupling efficiency requirements. Low-profile aspheric lens cap offers >40% coupling efficiency with small footprint for space-critical applications. Available in both Fabry-Perot (FP) and DFB versions. The narrow spectral-width FP laser is optimal for Gigabit Ethernet with 30-km reach.
Modulight, Tampere, Finland, www.modulight.com
NOMINEE NO. COMP 23
The low-loss, very-high-speed (10-100-nsec) electro-optic lithium niobate polarization controller module with insertion loss of <3dB (standard) and <2 dB (UL) can be used to convert any input polarization state to any arbitrary output state. Modules are available in one to eight integrated device stages and used for high-speed polarization control/tracking, modulation, scrambling, PMD compensation, and polarization multiplexing systems.
Eospace, Redmond, WA, www.eospace.com
NOMINEE NO. COMP 24
The chipset consists of a dual XFP signal conditioner with jitter performance exceeding XFP specifications; a low-power back-match laser-diode driver that achieves optical eye margins of <20% and dissipates 750 mW at 2 dBm; and a transimpedance amplifier with optical receive sensibilities of -19 dBm. The accompanying reference kit simplifies design and reduces time-to-market by allowing for complete evaluation of the whole chipset without having to design an entire module.
Analog Devices, Norwood, MA, www.analog.com
NOMINEE NO. COMP 25
Built using a surface-mount photonics platform, the triplexer for BPON ONU applications (FSAN/ITU G.983) has flex-circuit leads to lower manufacturing and assembly cost by simplifying the PCB attachment process and ensuring optimal RF performance.
Xponent Photonics, Monrovia, CA, www.xponentinc.com
NOMINEE NO. COMP 26
The PHY1094 SFF/SFP multirate transimpedance amplifier is used in conjunction with multirate transceiver ICs and designed for applications up to 4.25 Gbits/sec-suitable for Gigabit Ethernet, OC-48, 1X, 2X, and 4X Fibre Channel.
Phyworks, Bristol, UK, www.phyworks-ic.com
NOMINEE NO. COMP 27
The SFF MSA-compliant EPON (GE-PON) OLT transceiver with 29-dB link budget is based on avalanche-photodiode receiver and burst-mode transimpedance amplifier. It provides sensitivity of -28 dBm, a 2×10 SFF package, low power consumption, and average launch power of 3 dBm.
BroadLight, Mountain View, CA, www.broadlight.com
NOMINEE NO. COMP 28
The SFP CWDM transceivers transmit up to 80-km reaches and are designed to work at various data rates up to 2.5 Gbits/sec over wavelengths from 1270 to 1610 nm at 20-nm channel spacing. Multirate operations and MSA 8472 digital-diagnostic functions are optional.
Hisense Optoelectronics Technology, Qingdao, China, www.hisenseopto.com
NOMINEE NO. COMP 29
The xMux WDM is for 1310/1490/1550-nm PON applications. Proprietary fabrication technology ensures long, stable life in uncontrolled PON environments.
Lightel Technologies, Kent, WA, www.lighteltech.com
NOMINEE NO. COMP 30
The S19233 dual-CDR with electronic dispersion compensation (EDC) supports 10-Gigabit Ethernet/Fibre Channel/SONET/SDH/FEC transmission standards at data rates from 9.9 to 11.3 Gbits/sec. The dual CDRs provide fully integrated clock recovery signal conditioning capabilities for low-power 10-Gbit/sec applications. EDC mitigates fiber effects like chromatic dispersion as well as FR-4 traces up to 30 inches. The small-footprint device is primarily designed for use in XFP MSA modules.
AMCC - Applied Micro Circuits, San Diego, www.amcc.com
NOMINEE NO. COMP 31
The liquid-crystal VOA’s no-moving-parts-adjusting scheme guarantees unaffected attenuations under environmental vibrations, continuous tuning, high resolution, and excellent repeatability. Driven by the amplitude of voltage, the GR-1221-compliant device is immune from ESD shocks and capable of handling high optical power. With dimensions of just 7.2×23.5 mm, low PDL, and WDL, it can a wide range of applications that need power attenuations.
Lightwaves2020, Milpitas, CA, www.lightwaves2020.com
NOMINEE NO. COMP 32
The QuikSwipe2 compact fiber-optic cleaning card helps solve the problem of increasing product returns and field failures due to dirty connectors.
Neptec Optical Solutions, Fremont, CA, www.nepopt.com
NOMINEE NO. COMP 33
The NX8341 1310-nm TOSAs are fabricated using an aluminum oxidation-free all-selective MOPVE without semiconductor etching. Single-ended and differential models with 25-Ω matching are available. The NX3311 PIN+TIA ROSAs combine high sensitivity, high overload characteristics, and wide dynamic range with dc-coupled differential output. Designed for XENPAK, XPAK, X2, and XFP modules, the 10-Gbit/sec TOSA/ROSAs for SONET, Ethernet, FEC, and Fibre Channel feature LC or SC receptacles that ensure a fixed optical coupling.
NEC/California Eastern Laboratories, Santa Clara, CA, www.cel.com
NOMINEE NO. COMP 34
The EEX-8100-XEN 10G-EX4 module enables extended-reach 10-Gigabit Ethernet transport and links up to 1 km of multimode fiber and 40 km of singlemode fiber. The versatile module bridges the distance gap between longer installed legacy fibers and available standard modules. It is electrically and mechanically compatible with the XENPAK MSA and meets all XAUI and MDIO system-interface requirements defined by IEEE 802.3ae-2002.
Emcore, Somerset, NJ, www.emcore.com
NOMINEE NO. COMP 35
The all-glass WDM is lead-free and complies with the RoHS directive. It significantly improves temperature performance and offers low insertion loss and ultra-low TDL. It is an ideal component for FTTX, metro-network, and cable TV applications.
Photop Technologies, Fujian, China, www.photoptech.com
NOMINEE NO. COMP 36
The FPM-8210 fiber-optic power meter’s patented design delivers ±0.001-dB typical polarization-dependent response and ±0.003-dB measurement repeatability. It comes with a single input port for connectorized and bare fiber measurements. Adapters are available for most common fiber-optic connectors. The power meter measures up to 33 dBm at pump wavelengths (wavelength <1,000 nm), comes with GPIB/IEEE-488 instrument interface and analog output, and is calibrated with NIST traceability.
ILX Lightwave, Bozeman, MT, www.ilxlightwave.com
NOMINEE NO. TEST 1
The Directlight low-loss, high-performance photonic-switching subsystem provides integrated switching, attenuation, and power-monitoring capabilities, enabling significant efficiency enhancements in automated test and monitoring environments within laboratory, manufacturing, and network applications.
Continuum Photonics, Billerica, MA, www.continuumphotonics.com
NOMINEE NO. TEST 2
With the frequency-domain reflectometer failure-analysis tool designers and manufacturers of optical components, modules, and assemblies can measure minute reflections with 125-dB sensitivity, 60-dB dynamic range, and 40-µm spatial resolution for up to 30 m of optical length with zero dead zone to improve product quality and reduce test time.
Luna Technologies, Blacksburg, VA, www.lunatechnologies.com
NOMINEE NO. TEST 3
The MP1590B supports a comprehensive set of network protocols and interfaces in a portable network tester. SONET/SDH/OTN transport side tests up to 10.7-Gbits/sec operate simultaneously with multiport Ethernet/IP client/applications side tests up to 10-Gigabit Ethernet. Ethernet over SONET/SDH support includes virtual concatenation and LCAS testing. Accurate SONET/SDH/OTN jitter measurements are traceable to the O.172 ITU-T standard so that measurements can be used as a reference.
Anritsu, Richardson, TX, www.us.anritsu.com
NOMINEE NO. TEST 4
The 86105C Infiniium DCA-J plug-in module offers broad wavelength and optical filter coverage for SONET/SDH and datacom/enterprise technologies up to 11.3 Gbits/sec. With this capability, optical-component and equipment manufacturers can perform waveform characterization and test transmitter compliance on multiple networking technologies with a single plug-in module. Features include optical bandwidth to 9 GHz, electrical bandwidth to 20 GHz, wavelength range of 750-1650 nm, and sensitivity as low as -21 dBm.
Agilent Technologies, Santa Rosa, CA, www.agilent.com
NOMINEE NO. TEST 5
The CA2000 passive-component analyzer measures polarization-dependent loss and insertion loss simultaneously as a function of wavelength. It provides highly accurate and fast measurements and is easy to operate, so measurement time is greatly reduced. The analyzer is especially suited for the measurement of optical components with multichannel output, such as splitters, mux/demux, arrayed-waveguide gratings, and filters.
Fiberpro, San Jose, CA, www.fiberpro.com
NOMINEE NO. TEST 6
The PSL-40 emits transform-limited 40-GHz RZ pulse streams for research, development, and deployment of ultra-fast network products and services. Features include wavelength tunability over the C-band, 2.5~45-GHz repetition rate adjustment, 0.8~10-psec pulsewidth tuning range, stable spectrum, and low timing jitter. It is especially suited to be multiplied to pulse streams up to 640 GHz.
Calmar Optcom, Sunnyvale, CA, www.calmaropt.com
NOMINEE NO. TEST 7
The WR-250-03C waveguide optical frequency comb generator generates more than 1,000 sidebands with a span of more than 10 THz. It is a hermetically sealed, high-reliability, low-RF-power, Fabry-Perot, electro-optic modulator module designed for stable multiwavelength light-source applications. The device is well suited for communications and measurement applications with high-frequency stability and low timing jitter. It fully covers the C-band for optical communications. Frequency stability is 1×10-8; dimensions are 210×220×40 mm.
Optical Comb Institute, Tokyo, www.optocomb.com
NOMINEE NO. TEST 8
The DAISI and DAISI-MT interferometers are easy to use in a production environment. With the devices’ one-button operation, fast auto-focus, and automatic calibration, any operator with little training can obtain fast, accurate, and repeatable results for the full range of parameters on connector endface geometry. DAISI can measure MT-RJ and any single-fiber connector, and DAIS-MT’s fixturing simplifies measurements on all MT-connector styles.
Data-Pixel, Cran-Gevrier, France, www.data-pixel.com
NOMINEE NO. TEST 9
The Mosquito CTM 1050 channel tilt monitor reports power and wavelength for 88 channels on 50-GHz channel spacing or 44 channels on 100-GHz spacing. It provides feedback to optical power-adjusting subsystems such as ROADMs, DGEs, gain tilters, and VOAs. It has a 70×70-mm footprint; the 9-mm height gives it the profile of a small-form-factor transceiver. The monitor interfaces with the host system through an RS-232 interface.
Aegis Semiconductor, Woburn, MA, www.aegis-semi.com
NOMINEE NO. TEST 10
For optical test and measurement, the TM3100C multiwavelength laser source generates 40 wavelengths simultaneously on a single output fiber. It is the size of an industry-standard 2U rack, and all wavelengths are internally locked to the ITU-T grid. Suitable for many applications, the laser source enables realistic DWDM measurements.
Peleton, Ottawa, Ontario, www.peleton.com
NOMINEE NO. TEST 11
The model 4100 power meter captures optical data at 100,000 readings per second. It is very accurate, with repeatability of <0.005 dB and polarization dependency below 0.0015 dB. The large high-resolution display enables immediate data analysis. Data can be easily transferred to Excel or a mathematics package using the removable USB flash drive.
dBm Optics, Lafayette, CO, www.dbmoptics.com
NOMINEE NO. TEST 12
The industry-standard 8000 OTDR and 2800 high-speed chromatic dispersion test station’s measurement performance combined with fiber handling automation enables a single test station/operator to process more than 30 spools/hour and over 60 spools/hour for an operator loading two stations. The 1200 automated fiber handler prepares fiber ends and couples them sequentially.
Photon Kinetics, Beaverton, OR, www.pkinetics.com
NOMINEE NO. TEST 13
The UWS-1000 broadband light source emits supercontinuum light and has an ultra-wide output spectrum of 1200-2000 nm. The output has similar properties to laser light and can be easily focused, has a uniform spectral output, and has high optical power density. Power density is >-30 dBm/nm.
Santec, Hackensack, NJ, www.santec.com
NOMINEE NO. TEST 14
The STT-FAM integrates all the necessary tools for installing, characterizing, and maintaining optical fibers into a single test module. Combining an OTDR, visual fault locator, VOA, laser source, and power meter ensures all the test capabilities needed to perform thorough physical layer fiber verification. Detecting breaks; locating faults; and measuring bidirectional insertion loss, optical return loss, and attenuation are simplified using the multitasking application software.
Sunrise Telecom, San Jose, CA, www.sunrisetelecom.com
NOMINEE NO. TEST 15
The FiberChek2 integrated hardware-software package critically and consistently grades fiber endfaces and come in two basic configurations: The FVD-2400 high-resolution benchtop microscope evaluates patch cords and FBP-P5000 “probe” microscope views patch cords, connectors in bulkhead adapters, receptacles, and hard-to-reach endfaces.
Westover Scientific, Mill Creek, WA, www.westoverscientific.com
NOMINEE NO. TEST 16
The PX2000-336 4.25-GHz bit-error-rate tester (BERT) consists of a high-accuracy clock source, data pattern generator, and error detector. It automatically performs BER analysis to characterize the quality of devices from 1.0625 to 4.25 Gbits/sec.
PXIT, Lexington, MA, www.pxit.com
NOMINEE NO. TEST 17
The Repair Mate repolisher repairs scratched and pitted ferrules in the field as well as on the production floor. The patented polishing motion is effective for repairing ferrules on SC, LC, FC, ST, and MU connectors. For PC and APC applications, the 6-inch-tall, 1.3-lb, battery-powered repolisher uses independent pressure control technology to maintain GR-326 quality.
Seikoh Giken USA, Norcross, GA, www.sg-usa.com
NOMINEE NO. INSTALL 1
For FTTP/FTTH, premises, optical-component-assembly, and restoration applications, the TomCat handheld fusion splicers offer ease-of use and portability while providing precision and reliability. The 25S single-fiber and 25U mass fusion splicers feature dual-camera splice screening technology and splice estimation. They have adjustable position monitors, front-to-back workflows, and fiber-holder systems.
Sumitomo Electric Lightwave, Research Triangle Park, NC, www.sumitomoelectric.com
NOMINEE NO. INSTALL 2
Using new technology designed to precisely attenuate signals in fibers, the attenuating fiber patch cords can be made from singlemode or polarization maintaining fiber. Attenuating fiber is capable of handling up to 2 W of optical power at 1550 nm. The attenuating fiber patch cords and hybrid male-female attenuators are available with between 0.5- and 20-dB attenuation in 0.1-dB increments. Higher attenuation levels and higher-resolution attenuation steps are possible.
OZ Optics, Ottawa (Carp) Ontario, www.ozoptics.com
NOMINEE NO. INSTALL 3
OptSim 4.0 is an intuitive modeling and simulation environment for the design and performance evaluation of optical communications systems. Its proprietary time- and frequency-domain algorithms allow simulation of complex systems with efficiency and accuracy. The program includes an extended library of predefined components that can be used to create many different what-if scenarios. Flexible co-simulation interfaces with MATLAB, C/C++, Fortran, etc., make it easy to create new custom components and reuse old code.
RSoft Design Group, Ossining, NY, www.rsoftdesign.com
NOMINEE NO. DES 1
VPItransmissionMaker 6.5 accelerates the design of fiber-optic systems and networks. The software provides automated synthesis and verification, allowing systems-design applications for interactive solutions in the hybrid fiber/coax, access, metro, and core WDM networks down to the device level. Advanced multiple-signal representations and sophisticated numerical models ensure design flexibility, speed, and accuracy. Interactive simulations, various data and design import/export formats, and APIs allow streamlining of design processes and technical marketing.
VPIsystems, Holmdel, NJ, www.vpisystems.com
NOMINEE NO. DES 2
The Reel Lite ultra-small optical-fiber bobbin allows quick and easy taping-free spooling and storage of buffered/core (0.25-0.9 mm) and ribbon fibers. Spool-1-HG, a flame-resistant grade with lower gas emission, is for a vacuum-chamber process and/or high-temperature process; Spool-1-ST is for terminations, packaging, and shipping; and Spool-2-ST is for processing of core and tape fibers as well as storage of extra fiber lengths for FTTH cables.
Optoquest, Tokyo, www.optoquest.co.jp
NOMINEE NO. MFG 1
AutoStrip uses burst technology to remove the coating of an optical fiber without damaging or leaving residue on the fiber’s bare glass. It eliminates the need for harsh chemicals such as acid to strip and clean optical fibers at very high strength. The new mid-span stripping process leaves the fiber at near pristine fiber tensile strength (about 700-plus kpsi).
3SAE Technologies, Franklin, TN, www.3sae.com
NOMINEE NO. MFG 2
The model 6500 eutectic die bonder combines high accuracy, speed, and compact 38×48-inch footprint for precision assembly applications. Placement accuracy of 1.5 µm, 3 sigma and throughput >7 sec/placement automate assembly for advanced multi-component, multi-step assembly processes such as P-side down laser-diode attachment, silicon bench (V-groove) placement, high-density RF power transistors, and ultra-fine-pitch hybrid assemblies.
Palomar Technologies, Carlsbad, CA, www.palomartechnologies.com
NOMINEE NO. MFG 3
“Fundamentals of Fiber Optics: A Primer on Optical Fibers” reviews the fascinating history and evolution of optical fibers. The DVD serves as a primer on major types of fibers, their structure, and their applications. Other topics include attenuation, manufacturing processes, tolerance concerns, fiber modes, optical dispersion, WDM, and specialty fiber types. The DVD incorporates video clips, animations, and graphics to enhance the learning experience.
Light Brigade, Tukwila, WA, www.lightbrigade.com
NOMINEE NO. EDU 1