Finisar extends reach with first narrowly tunable CML butterfly transmitters

Aug. 22, 2007

AUGUST 22, 2007 -- The DM80 and DM200 are the world's first narrowly tunable 10-Gbit/sec transmitters to offer long reach and high output power in a 13-pin butterfly package, the company says.

AUGUST 22, 2007 -- Finisar Corporation (search for Finisar) has announced the completion of Telcordia GR-468 qualification and general availability of its 10-Gbit/sec DM80 and DM200 narrowly tunable CML Butterfly Transmitters for DWDM 300-pin transponders and telecom line card applications. The DM80 and DM200 are the world's first narrowly tunable 10-Gbit/sec transmitters to offer long reach and high output power in a 13-pin butterfly package, the company says.

Frank Fan, Finisar's director of marketing, says the production release of the new transmitters shows the company's drive to build on its recently acquired Chirp Modulated Laser (CML) technology, which enabled the development of the DM80 and DM200 devices that offer narrow tunability at either four-channel, 100-GHz DWDM spacing or eight-channel, 50-GHz DWDM spacing across both the C and L bands.

Narrowly tunable transmitters can help reduced inventory and consequently lower costs for OEMs developing transponders for DWDM networks. A 40-channel DWDM link using single-wavelength transmitters requires that OEMs keep an inventory of 40 different lasers. In addition to increased purchasing and inventory management complexity, large numbers of individualized lasers require a longer lead time to replace when inventories run low, forcing OEMs to maintain large component reserves. A fully tunable transmitter, on the other hand, simplifies inventory logistics but commands the highest price since it requires the combination of an expensive fully tunable laser source and an external modulator.

For applications requiring the longest reach, the DM200 transmits with an output power of 0 to 3 dBm and can transmit at 10 Gbits/sec over distances of 300 km without requiring costly optical dispersion compensation. For applications requiring high output power, the DM80 can transmit distances up to 120 km with an output power of 4 to 7 dBm.

Shipping now, DM80 and DM200 narrowly tunable CML butterfly transmitters are available in production volumes in both four- and eight-channel spacing at base frequencies ranging from 186,700 to 196,100 GHz.

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