Technical Insight
Picolight ramps production of 30 Gbit/s parallel optical module (Fiber News)
Picolight has commenced volume production of a 30 Gbit/s parallel optical interconnect module, which features a snap-on connector for easy integration on back-plane circuit cards of large switches. The VCSEL-based module targets data "bottlenecks" in core routers, switches and cross-connect equipment used in points of presence, central offices, large data centers and MAN hubs. The module transmits data using an array of 12 parallel oxide-confined 850 nm VCSELs, each operating at data rates of 2.7 Gbit/s, and incorporates a scalable, low-cost ball grid array (BGA) connector that allows the number of ports on a line card to be quickly changed. Picolight says the device is suitable for very-short-reach links, and features a footprint that is only twice the size of industry-standard 1 Gbit/s small form factor transceivers. The power dissipation is kept to 2 W per transceiver module at the 30 Gbit/s data rate. Picolight operates a 30 000 sq. ft vertically integrated manufacturing facility in Boulder, Colorado, and is poised to relocate to a second site of similar size in neighboring Louisville. This new facility will house all of Picolight s manufacturing operations, while other functions will remain in Boulder (see ).
