JDSU shows off "transmitter-on-a-chip"
JDSU is shrinking optical network modules by combining a tunable laser and Mach Zehnder modulator on a single tiny chip.
The laser maker says that including these InP-based photonic integrated circuits, or PICs, in its products will help lower costs and increase performance, starting in 2008.
JDSU, which is based in Milpitas, California, will put the PICs into tunable transponders and transceivers for deployment in what it calls agile optical networks (AONs).
These PICs will provide JDSU with products able to support transmission speeds over 11.3 Gb/s, which could also be combined to support 40 Gb/s networks.
Bookham claims to lead the industry with its Mach Zehnder modulator technology, which it touts as the smallest available "“ something it looks like JDSU will now be challenging.
JDSU makes its PICs by epitaxially growing the laser and modulator elements at the same time, and told compoundsemiconductor.net that this expertise stems from its experience of researching PICs since 1996.
“We have always evaluated monolithic versus hybrid solutions for functional and device integration,” the company said.
“Our drivers are improved economics for our customers and broad market acceptance of new integration concepts rather than increased complexity of a PIC.”
It the meantime, Infinera has emerged and become the most widely acknowledged exponent of PIC engineering.
