Infineon debuts single-chip, intelligent LDD for SFF and SFP transceivers
September 21, 2004 Munich - Infineon Technologies AG announced what it claims is the first intelligent Laser Diode Driver (iLDD) targeting small form factor (SFF) and small form pluggable (SFP) optical transceiver applications for fiber-based data storage and telecom systems.
The single-chip solution integrates the laser diode driver (LDD), the post amplifier (PA) and the diagnostic unit (DU). The digital DU intelligently controls the performance of the entire optical module over the full data-rate range from 155 Mbits/sec up to 4.25 Gbits/sec and keeps track of laser safety regulations. Benefits to optical module manufacturers using the single-chip solution include lower cost, decreased power consumption and an improved error-rate.
The first module application, an Infineon 4.25-Gbit/sec multi-rate transceiver, was demonstrated at the ECOC 2004 trade show held in Stockholm earlier this month.
"We are committed to provide the critical key technologies to optimize the increasing data traffic on Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel and SONET/SDH fiber networks," said Christian Scherp, vice president and general manger of Infineon's North America Wireline Communications business group. "The highly integrated iLDD is one of the most versatile solutions in the market enabling our customers to develop systems for fiber-based backbone as well as access networks and reducing their overall costs."
The rapid growth of Internet-based applications such as e-mail, e-commerce, digital imaging or networked databases demands decentralized data storage centers (Storage Area Networks or SANs) for disaster resiliency and to meet legislative requirements with regards to data safety. Hence the increased storage transport and need for Fibre Channel interfaces that seamlessly and cost efficiently interconnect distributed SAN sites for enterprise customers. According to market research firm iSuppli (September 2003) the market for Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel and SONET/SDH transceivers is expected to grow from USD $1.2 billion in 2003 to $3.9 billion in 2008 with a compound annual growth rate of approximately 26%.
About iLDD
The iLDD chip supports data rates from 155 Mbits/sec up to 4.25 Gbits/sec, offers a high input sensitivity of 4mV and is capable of driving vertical cavity surface emitting lasers as well as edge-emitting lasers. The device is fully MSA SFF-8472 compliant, operates from a single supply voltage with extended range from 2.85 V to 3.63 V and has a very low power consumption of 200mW. It complies with Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel and SONET/SDH standards, which makes it a perfect fit for SFF and SFP transceivers.