NOVEMBER 14, 2006 -- Avago Technologies (search for Avago Technologies) says its industrial Fast Ethernet plastic optical fiber (POF) transceivers based on the AFBR-5978Z have been selected by Phoenix Contact and Siemens. The AFBR-5978Z is the industry's only industrial Fast Ethernet optical transceiver to incorporate a digital diagnostic monitoring interface (DMI), Avago asserts. The DMI feature permits real-time monitoring of transceiver performance and system stability, even in cross-continent installations, resulting in higher factory network uptime.
Because of its superior immunity characteristics from electrical "noise," POF is an attractive alternative to copper in industrial and automotive automated applications. "Fiber-optic transmission has many advantages in the industrial field," said Roland Berg, senior research and development manager at Phoenix Contact, which provides industrial connection, automation, electronic interface, and surge protection technologies. "Avago has designed its high-speed optical transceiver with superior link distances and easy device integration. Additionally, the transceiver's optimized transmission diagnostics enable us to provide customers with a world-class product for industrial networking needs."
Industrial Fast Ethernet represents an upgrade path for Fieldbus networks and other proprietary industrial networking protocols, with a speed of up to 125 MBd compared to 2 MBd for Interbus, 12 MBd for Profibus, and 16 MBd for SERCOS. It provides the open-architecture, multi-protocol interface that permits both standard and proprietary Fieldbuses to interoperate. Upgrading to industrial Fast Ethernet enables devices on the factory floor to be assigned IP or MAC addresses, enabling high-speed remote diagnostics and machine sequence changes via Internet and VPN access.
Avago's AFBR-5978Z (compatible with the SC-RJ connecting system from Reichle & DeMassari AG, Switzerland) industrial Fast Ethernet transceiver is designed for high-output factory automated production lines, automotive production linesm, and power generation/distribution market segments.
"Top-tier manufacturers like Phoenix Contact and Siemens require consistent, high-performing optical transceivers to transmit data at fast Ethernet speeds in various industrial applications," said Raymond Quek, general manager of Avago's Industrial Fiber Products Division. "As the leading supplier of Ethernet fiber-optic transceivers, customers can rely on Avago to deliver products in volume with uncompromising quality and the shortest lead times."