Technical Insight
Emcore unveils new 15Gbit/s parallel optical interconnect (Fiber News)
VCSEL device and array manufacturer Emcore has announced the production of 850 nm parallel optical array transmitter/receiver modules targeting high-speed data links, 10 Gbit/s VSR optical links used in optical interconnects, and datacom and telecom routers (see ). The new transponder modules provide a data rate of 1.25 Gbit/s over 12 channels of multi-mode fiber ribbon cable to give an aggregate bandwidth of 15 Gbit/s. The power consumption is typically 2 W for the transmitter/receiver pair. "In providing the market with a replacement for expensive serial interconnects, we have endeavored to ensure maximum manufacturing flexibility for our datacom and telecom customers," said Robert Bryan, VP of the company s Fiber Optics division. "The use of a ball grid array in Emcore s new product will ensure significantly easier manufacturing. Each module connects to external electrical circuitry using a compact BGA pattern on its underside, and therefore is one of the first optics that does not require special handling for insertion onto circuit boards. One of the many applications for these optics is to construct VSR transponders, which offer datacom and telecom equipment manufacturers significant cost and functionality advantages."
