25 July 2003 Santa Clara, CA Lightwave -- Dowslake Microsystems has announced the general availability of the SmartGAIN variable-gain optical amplifier, designed for central office applications.
Integrating a variable optical attenuator (VOA) and equipped for the mid-stage access, the SmartGAIN optical amplifier provides a variable gain from 15 to 30 dB without affecting the amplifier output flatness. It suppresses optical power surge within 100 microsec even when 31 out of 32 channels are dropped.
With an output power up to 20 dBm, the SmartGAIN optical amplifier allows a mid-span loss of 10 dB or more, regardless whether it's due to fiber loss or to the insertion of dispersion compensation elements.
The standard model also offers 40 dB of dynamic range for optical power detection, which enables rapid network reconfiguration while keeping existing communication channels intact.
The company claims the product is offered at a price 20 to 40 percent lower existing products. Dowslake is shipping SmartGAIN variable gain optical amplifiers to customers with a typical delivery time of 4 to 6 weeks.