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News Article

Picolight Ships First in Family of Parallel Optical Modules With Snap-On Connector

Source: Picolight Inc.

Optical Switch Manufacturers can Expand Backplane Bandwidth with Snap-On Convenience, Simplifying Expansion in 32 Gb/s Increments

BOULDER, Colo. Picolight today announced that it has entered volume production for a 32 Gb/s parallel optical interconnect module that features the first snap-on connector for easy integration on backplane circuit cards of large switches.

Picolight s unique vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL)-based optical module is designed to help switch manufacturers solve the critical backplane bottleneck for core routers, switches and cross connect equipment used in points of presence (PoPs), central offices, large data centers and metropolitan/wide-area network hubs.

Picolight s parallel optical transceiver provides more than 32 Gb/s of aggregate bandwidth operating at 12 channels x 2.7 Gb/s. It is the first in Picolight s MAGNUS(TM) family of parallel optics products that are enabling huge pipes required to transport data in and between the next generation of optical switches. Picolight s transceiver is also the first of its kind to combine the speed of parallel optics with the convenience of low-cost, snap-on connector pluggability.

"Today s parallel VCSEL transceivers offer the most effective way to build a fat pipe extending reasonable distances, said Warner Andrews, vice president of marketing for Picolight. "Many system OEMs are quickly adopting the `connectorized optical modules that feature an easy-to-deploy solution for high-capacity switches.

"Picolight s approach uses a low-cost connector that is simple to attach to the card, using snap-on optics that in turn enable system configuration later in the build cycle, Andrews added. "Since the optics are pretested, the overall yield of the card is maximized and costs are minimized. The result is a high-capacity, distributed-chassis, terabit-class switch that can easily and incrementally meet demand, gigabits at a time.

In its full-rate configuration, the MAGNUS module targets optical switch applications where faster port speeds required for core networking create an ultra-high bandwidth demand across the equipment backplane. In its 1.25 Gb/s sub-rate configuration, the MAGNUS solution is well suited for wide-area and metropolitan switching centers in which a variety of equipment must be interconnected at high rates within a carrier s central office.

The MAGNUS VCSEL transceiver module incorporates a widely accepted, low-cost, ball grid array (BGA) connector that enables networking equipment manufacturers to better control equipment inventory by determining, on a just-in-time basis, whether or not to populate ports on a line card. Optics are a significant portion of the cost of today s switching and routing equipment, and with the MAGNUS module, equipment designers will be able to start with partially-populated cards, and later implement high-bandwidth modules into the empty sockets, either at the factory or in the field. Because the pretested, prequalified 32 Gb/s modules can be dropped into place later in the build cycle, this also avoids potential optical damage from the wave-soldering and washing steps of standard assembly techniques. Connectorization also allows manufacturers to test their printed circuit board at the BGA connector pins before optics installation. This approach, broadly accepted on 10 Gb/s transceivers, leads to improved final assembly yields.

"WaveSmith s Distributed Node(TM) multiservice switching platform delivers 7.6 Gb/s of capacity per vertical inch of rack space, using no more than 250 watts of power. Picolight s MAGNUS optical transceivers, used in our patent Distributed Optical Backplane(TM), are one of the key technologies that enables us to deliver this performance and density to our carrier customers, said John O Hara, vice president of engineering for WaveSmith Networks.

According to Cahners In-Stat, the transition to 10 Gb/s interconnect and 100 Gb/s dense wave division multiplexing (DWDM) links has increased the amount of data that must be moved inside large enterprise switches.

"Optical backplanes and inter-/intra-chassis interconnects provide much-needed relief for the resulting bandwidth bottlenecks, said Richard Cunningham, senior analyst with Cahners In-Stat. "The demand for high bandwidth and density, combined with low power-consumption requirements, is driving the adoption of parallel optical modules using arrayed VCSELs and PIN diodes. It is well within reach to achieve 100 Gb/s data rates across a 300-meter reach, and next-generation solutions will provide even better reach and performance, fueling the growth of the network core. Picolight s solution offers a key first step in resolving the bandwidth/reach limitations of legacy copper backplanes when used inside enterprise switches.

Picolight s MAGNUS parallel optics transceiver module uses 12-channel, 850-nanometer oxide VCSEL array technology combined with innovative coupling of optics for ``piping the light to the outside world. Advanced multichannel alignment processes ensure precision operation across the 12 asynchronous, independent electrical/optical data channels, making the solution ideal for the very-short-reach (VSR) links that are required in system backplanes for rack-to-rack, switch-to-switch and switch-to-aggregation device interconnects. The MAGNUS module delivers its 32 Gb/s bandwidth in a footprint that is only twice the size of industry-standard 1 Gb/s Small Form Factor (SFP) transceivers, and minimizes power dissipation to 2 watts per receiver/transmitter module pair for the full 32 Gb/s data rate.

Picolight s MAGNUS 12 x 2.7 Gb/s transceiver module starts at $1,500 in low OEM volumes.

About Picolight

Picolight is a rapidly growing, private, venture-backed company that has been shipping product since 1999. The company designs and manufactures high-speed optoelectronic components and subsystems for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of networking equipment. In Q1 2001, the company entered volume production for three optical subsystem products. These transceiver subsystems target fast-growing market segments for short-reach (10-meter to 10-kilometer) optical-networking connections, including optical switch interconnect, optical enterprise and storage area networks (SANs), and optical metro/access networks. >From rack-to-rack and to the network edge, Picolight s fiber link technology is delivering cost-effective bandwidth for capacity-constrained networking equipment. Picolight is located in Boulder, and employs a staff of 160. For more information, see www.picolight.com or sales@picolight.com.

Contact:

Picolight Inc.
 Boulder Lynn Watson
 303/530-3189 ext. 205
lynn.watson@picolight.com

or
Benjamin Group/BSMG Worldwide
Roslyn Whitehurst,
949/260-1300
roslyn_whitehurst@benjamingroup.com

 

 

Picolight Inc.
 Boulder Lynn Watson
 303/530-3189 ext. 205
lynn.watson@picolight.com
or
Benjamin Group/BSMG Worldwide
Roslyn Whitehurst,
949/260-1300
roslyn_whitehurst@benjamingroup.com
 
 
E-mail: roslyn_whitehurst@benjamingroup.com
Web site: http://www.picolight.com
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