TriQuint unveils new engines for all MSA modules and 2.5 Gbits/sec and 10 Gbits/sec

29 January 2004 Breinigsville, PA Lightwave -- TriQuint Optoelectronics recently announced the availability of a full line of optical engine components designed to power any multi-sourced agreement (MSA) optical module form factor at 2.5 Gbits/sec and 10 Gbits/sec, including 300 pin transponders, XFP, SFF, SFP, and GBIC. These optical engines, named Qubes for their distinctive shape, can simplify the design process and save customers money by offering a single standard engine used at high volumes across multiple module solutions.

"TriQuint's innovative form factor-agnostic engines not only enable module manufacturers to use one component for all MSA form factors, but also enables them to reduce costs by using a single standard optical engine at much higher volumes rather than several discrete or custom designs," asserts Glen Riley, vice president and general manager of TriQuint Optoelectronics. "In addition, by supplying high performance optical engines, we encourage widespread adoption of low-cost and flexible pluggable optical modules for applications in longer reach and multi-wavelength applications," he adds.

Sampling is now available for the UQube 3100, 10-Gbit/sec engine for up to 20-km transmission at 1.3 μ. A cooled TQube 1000 will also be sampling this quarter for DWDM and SONET 10-Gbit/sec transmission up to 80 km. The 10-Gbit/sec receivers RQube P1000 (PIN) and RQube A1000 (APD) will be available during the second quarter to complement the transmit engines.

Serving the high performance SFP market, TriQuint offers long reach 2.5-Gbit/sec uncooled products at 1.3 μ and 1.5 μ -- the UQube 3250 and UQube 5250, respectively. The APD RQubeA 2500 is also available.

TriQuint's new 2.5-Gbit/sec cooled engine, the TQube 2500, is designed for demanding CWDM and DWDM SFP applications. The TQube 2500 engine will be sampling during the second quarter.

The Qube family of optical engine products is based on TriQuint's proprietary planar packaging technology. Planar packaging allows integration of increased functionality, such as internal drivers and differential data inputs. The Qube design is easily translated from uncooled to cooled lasers and from 2.5-Gbit/sec to 10-Gbit/sec data rates, enabling a family of products readily designed into both SFP and XFP pluggable modules.

Optical performance for the Qube family is expected to be equivalent or superior to similar larger form factor discrete devices offered by TriQuint Optoelectronics, say company representatives. For example, due to the much smaller thermal mass contained in the cooled devices, the TQube 1000 10-Gbit/sec EML TEC will consume no more than 1.2 W, compared to >3 W for its larger cousin, the E2551.