New Products

SEMICONDUCTOR OPTICAL AMPLIFIERSA series of semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) is made with a MOCVD epitaxial process. The SOAs are available in 1310- and 1550-nm versions in 14-pin butterfly or 14-pin dual inline packaging. These have a gain of 15- and 3-dB passband from 1280 to 1610 nm. They provide bit-rate transparency and switch times of <1 ns. They are designed for amplification, optical add/drop multiplexing, optical switching, and broadband light sources.Axon Photonics, Fremont, CA

NETWORK ATTENUATORA network attenuator can be used as an internal stepper motor to continuously adjust optical power levels in amplified WDM systems. It is based on a shutter design that provides a linear relationship between insertion loss and applied control voltage. It has low insertion loss, polarization-dependent loss, and wavelength dependence. Optional integrated optical taps on the input and output ports are available. Applications include gain-tilt control in fiber amplifiers, signal pre-emphasis in WDM transmitters, and channel equalization in WDM receivers.DiCon Fiberoptics, Berkeley, CA

CWDM COMPONENTSCoarse WDM components for metro and access networks are designed for Ethernet-based short- and medium-haul applications. The packaged components operate at 1310 and 1550 nm. They use nontemperature-controlled lasers. The components are available in 4- and 8-channel configurations, with channel spacings of 20 or 24.5 nm.Lumenon Innovative Lightwave Technology, St.-Laurent, Que., Canada

MULTIPLEXER
The FOMUX 3000 multiplexer offers transmission rates of up to 2.5 Gbit/s and can bundle up to 32 channels on each fiber. The system is modular, and a CMZ-IE time-division multiplexer can pack four ESCON channels with 200 Mbit/s apiece onto one channel, allowing a total of 64 ESCON channels on one fiber. The system was developed for storage-area networks (SANs). An integrated central management system and optional SNMP agent allow monitoring and control of the connections for system security.
Pandatel, Hamburg, Germany

IC PLATFORM
The thermo-optical integrated-circuit technology serves as a platform for solid-state optical components such as switches, variable optical attenuators, optical add/drop multiplexers, and wavelength-division multiplexers.
Radiant Photonics, Austin, TX

TUNABLE LASERThe Apollo is a MEMS-based tunable external-cavity laser for flexible bandwidth provisioning in long-haul, ultralong-haul, and metro core networks. It outputs 20 mW and is continuously tunable across the entire C-band. It has linewidth <2 MHz, side-mode suppression ratio >50 dB, relative intensity noise <-145 dB/Hz, wavelength accuracy of ±2.5 GHz, and power stability ±0.25 dB.iolon, San Jose, CA

10-G CONNECTOR
The AMP 70-pin board-mounted card edge connector will connect 10-Gigabit Ethernet pluggable fiberoptic transceivers to a printed circuit board. Its electrical input/output interface is based on XAUI protocols and designed to meet IEEE interoperability standards. The optical interface is a standard SC duplex fiberoptic connector.
Tyco Electronics, Harrisburg, PA

DISPERSION MANAGER
The Hi-Mode chromatic-dispersion management device now covers the L-band as well as the C-band. It can also correct dispersion slope in the L-band, allowing DWDM systems to use channels in the longer-wavelength portion of the spectrum.
LaserComm, Plano, TX

SWITCH ARRAYSPhoton.XX switch arrays come in configurations of 1 x 2:8, 1 x 2:16, 2 x 2:8, and 2 x 2:16. The 1 x 2 arrays can also be configured as 2 x 1 arrays. They have reconfiguration time of <2 ms, dynamic power control, and weighted multicasting. Wavelengths can be switched as a group or individually.Lynx Photonic Networks, Calabasas Hills, CA

TUNABLE LASER
The PowerTune tunable laser outputs 20 mW (+13 dBm) over the C-band. It allows remote provisioning and enables dynamic bandwidth reconfiguration as traffic patterns change. The device includes the laser, wavelength locker, power control, and other control electronics.
New Focus, San Jose, CA

VOAShadow electronic variable optical attenuators come in an L-band and a high-power version. The L-band device has low wavelength dependence through the 1570- to 1604-nm range. The high-power device can handle up to 1 W, making it suitable for the high input powers used in Raman amplifier applications and free-space laser communication systems.Molecular OptoElectronics Corp., Watervliet, NY

SWITCHING SYSTEM
Intracavity switching systems are designed for injection seeding and extraction of laser pulses in multikilohertz regenerative amplifier systems. They use Pockels cells with high contrast ratios and transitivity with low dispersion. Switching times are as low as 3 to 5 ns, with repetition rates to tens of megahertz.
Quantum Technology, Lake Mary, FL

RAMAN PUMP SOURCE
The RMS-2 Flat Super Raman telecom module is a multiwavelength pump source that provides flat Raman gain from 1530 to 1565 nm. It provides up to 2.5 dB of extra margin improvement compared to conventional Raman pumping. The device has individual replaceable pump-laser diodes.
MPB Communications, Pointe Claire, Que., Canada

PIN RECEIVER
The SU-10PSR is a 10-Gbit/s PIN receiver for optical networks that support high-bandwidth DWDM, SONET/SDH, transponders, and long-haul/metro system applications. It contains an InGaAs pin diode with a GaAs HBT preamplifier and complies with standard requirements of OC-192/STM-64. It comes in a hermetically sealed package.
Sensors Unlimited, Princeton, NJ

OPTICAL CEMENTS
Optical cements meeting military and naval specifications are available with refractive indexes starting at 1.45. They are available as single- and dual-component adhesives and can be cured at room temperature by UV light or in an oven.
Summers Optical, Fort Washington, PA

ADHESIVE
Tra-Bond F112 is a room-temperature-cured adhesive with a glass transition temperature of 102°C. Its cure can be accelerated to 90°C, resulting in lap shear of 4300 psi. It is dark blue for polishing and can be packaged in a range of systems, including premixed and frozen syringes.
Tra-Con, Bedford, MA

LASER DRIVERS
The VSC7938, 39, and 40 SONET/SDH laser-diode drivers operate at 3.125 Gbit/s. The 38 and 39 models can drive up to 60 mA into the laser, with typical rise and fall times of 60 ps on a single 3.3- or 5-V supply. The 40 model has a maximum modulation current of 100 mA on a 5-V supply. The 38 is packaged in a 48-pin TQFP; the others packaged in a 32-pin TQFP.
Vitesse Semiconductor Corp., Camarillo, CA

S-BAND AMPLIFIER
The eXpander is a discrete Raman amplifier for multiband transmission in the 1485 to 1525 S-band and the C-band from 1530 to 1565 nm. It allows transmission over an additional 96 channels at 10 Gbit/s with 50-GHz spacing.
Xtera, Allen, TX

POWER MONITOR
The D-MON provides online monitoring of channel power in DWDM equipment. The compact integrated optical device can be used with EDFAs, Raman amplifiers, and OADMs. The series will include devices with 40 and 80 measurement channels with capability for both 100- and 50-GHz channel spacing. Power consumption is less than 1 W.
ADC, Minneapolis, MN

ASSEMBLY PLATFORMThe NanoCell fiberoptic assembly platform is a customizable pre-engineered platform for system integrators and photonics manufacturers. The system can hold multiple stages and process modules, each served by a material-handling robot. Machine vision and testing equipment can also be attached for adjustment and quality control. Positioners with various degrees of freedom are available.Adept Technology, San Jose, CA

SPECTRAL EQUALIZERS
DGEP dynamic spectral equalizers are modular subsystems that provide gain flattening and tilt control made with all-fiber acousto-optic filters. Inserted into EDFAs, they compensate for spectral impairments in either the C- or L-bands. Eight optical notch filters in a closed-loop system provide up to 10-dB attenuation. The modules attach to a spectral monitor through an RS-232 interface.
Novera Optics, San Jose, CA

RETURN-LOSS MODULES
The 81611A, 81612A, 81613A, and 81614A return-loss modules for passive component testing allow users to attach an external light source such as a fixed, tunable, or DFB laser. They contain internal FP sources at 1310, 1550, 1310/1550, or 1550/1625 nm, depending on model. An internal monitor diode checks power of external and internal light sources, so measurements are independent from power fluctuations.
Agilent Technologies, Palo Alto, CA

FIBER GRATING LASERS
Fiber grating lasers consist of a Fabry-Perot laser diode and a fiber-grating filter. They are manufactured to reduce component chirp, allowing for longer transmission distances. Part of the laser tapers, eliminating the need for lenses, reducing the far field angle, and shrinking the spot size.
AIFOtec, Martinsried, Germany

CROSSCONNECT SWITCHESOptical crossconnect (OXC) switches are based on a micromirror design using electro-mechanical actuators. Both 1 x N and N x N OXCs are available. Maximum insertion loss is <3 dB. Control circuits operate on 5 V. Mirror operation is linear over a range of ±10° with rotation times as short as 5 ms.Blue Sky Research, San Jose, CA

TUNABLE TRANSMITTER
A 10-Gbit/s version of the MTX-TEML tunable transmitter can provide quasi-continuous tuning of up to 16 channels with a switching time <10 µs. The 5.1 x 4.3-cm module has a built-in microcontroller with wavelength controller algorithms, temperature controller, current sources, modulator driver, a wavelength reference interface, and monitoring functions.
Multiplex, South Plainfield, NJ

TRANSIMPEDANCE AMPLIFIER
The ATA7602 transimpedance amplifier is an InGaP heterojunction bipolar transistor. It has group delay below 50 ps, optical overload performance up to 0 dBm, and a differential transimpedance of more than 2 k to achieve -19-dBm sensitivity. The -5.2-V dc device has a dc offset feature for external management of the duty cycle on both output pins.
Anadigics, Warren, NJ

PICK-AND-PLACE PLATFORMThe VectorPlace precision pick-and-place platform is a fully automated assembly setup for optical-component manufacturers. It uses as many as four manipulator robots to assemble optical components to submicron accuracy.Burleigh Automation, Quebec City, Que., Canada

DWDM RACK MODULES
DWDM modules are available with 16 channels at 200-GHz spacing or 32 channels at 100-GHz spacing in industry-standard 1U and 2U rack mounts, respectively. They have 4.0- and 6.5-dB insertion loss, with high center-wavelength accuracy and high adjacent-band isolation characteristics.
HD FiberSystems, Santa Clara, CA

EA MODULATOR
The NEC NX8560LJ electroabsorption modulator for 1550-nm, 10-Gbit/s communications includes a MQW-DFB laser-diode module with GPO connector. It has a typical peak emission wavelength of 1550 nm, side mode-suppression ratio of 30 dB, extinction ratio of 10 dB, and isolation of 30 dB. Operating current is 50 to 100 mA and typical threshold current is 7 mA.
California Eastern Laboratories, Santa Clara, CA

NARROWBAND FILTERS
PicoPass narrowband optical-interference filters act as multiplexers or demultiplexers and are available for wavelengths in the C- and L-bands. They are manufactured using hard ion-beam technology with refractory oxides to produce low insertion losses and high interline crosstalk isolation. The spectral transmission curves have high signal-to-noise ratio and stable wavelengths.
Coherent, Auburn Division, Auburn, CA

40-Gbit/s MODULATOR
A lithium niobate modulator for 40-Gbit/s DWDM systems has bandwidths of more than 40 GHz with low drive voltages for channel spacing down to 100 GHz. Insertion loss is typically 3.5 dB with zero chirp. The device comes in a hermetically sealed package.
Corning Incorporated, Corning, NY

OPTICAL ATTENUATORA range of multichannel variable optical attenuators provides stable electronic control of attenuation across the C-, S-, and L-bands and allows dynamic power management that can respond to optical switching disturbances or variations in EDFA gain profiles. They have low power consumption (0.02 W for a 40-channel chip), insertion loss, and polarization-dependent loss.DigiLens, Sunnyvale, CA

EDFA GAIN BLOCKS
Erbium-doped fiber amplifier gain blocks provide mid-stage access and automatic gain control. They have up to 21-dBm saturated output power and a noise figure of less than 5.5 dB. They come in an industry-standard size.
MPB Communications, Pointe Claire, Quebec City, Que., Canada

FIBER SPECTROMETER
The fiber optical transmission spectrometer measures the transmission of multimode fibers or fiber bundles. Full spectral measurements can be made from 180 to 1200 nm in 20 to 40 s, though 80-ms measurement times are possible. The modular instrument has a dynamic range of 30 dB with repeatability of ±0.02 dB. Spectral resolution ranges from 0.5 nm (FWHM) in the visible and 8 nm in the NIR, with wavelength accuracy of ±0.25 nm and ±1 nm, respectively.
Advanced Photonics International, White Plains, NY