April 11, 2006 Fremont, CA -- Avanex, a provider of "intelligent" photonic devices for optical networks, has introduced what it calls "the industry's thinnest" erbium doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) module. The company says its PureGain 400 EDFA is only 7.5-mm in thickness, over 35% thinner than any amplifier previously available from Avanex.
The company says the PureGain 400 EDFA is designed to work within the stringent space constraints found in transponder and line card applications. The company calls the component an essential tool to enable increased bit rate transponders. According to the company, customers can use the PureGain 400 module throughout the network terminal in situations that require both high-performance amplification and a compact form factor.
According to the company, the module's physical and electrical interface can be shared with transponders, reducing the time-to-market and engineering costs. The company says the module can be used in a pre-amp configuration, which enables high receiver sensitivity without a transimpedance amplifier, or a booster configuration, to enable high launch power in advanced transmitter designs.
The company says the PureGain 400 utilizes proven standard optical components and is compatible with Telcordia qualification requirements. Key benefits of integrating the module into a network terminal, according to the company, include reduction of inventory costs, higher transmit and receive performance, and lower power consumption.
"The PureGain 400 complements Avanex's extensive EDFA family and delivers value and innovation to our customers," remarks Dr. Giovanni Barbarossa, chief technology officer of Avanex. "The unique combination of compactness and performance provides our customers products that solve their need to improve network performance at a much lower cost."