LC-based Pluggable Optical Transceivers Arrive
BREINIGSVILLE, Pa. — Companies in the fiber optic transceiver industry are introducing small form-factor pluggable (SFP) transceivers that meet the requirements of the SFP Multi-source Agreement (MSA). The SFP MSA was created by a consortium of 14 companies to standardize specifications for package dimensions, electrical connections and interfaces, board layouts, and panel cutouts for SFP transceivers.
To meet the SFP MSA requirements, several manufacturers have selected the LC interface. Stratos Lightwave Inc. (Chicago), Picolight Inc. (Boulder, Colo.) and Finisar Corp. (Sunnyvale, Calif.) have all announced SFP transceivers that use the LC interface. IBM Corp. and other transceiver suppliers are expected to introduce their next-generation fiber optic components later this year.
The broad use of the LC interface for this new, industry-standard pluggable transceiver continues the trend that made the LC the most widely supported small form-factor fiber optic interface on the market.
SFP transceivers can be easily plugged into and removed from a printed circuit board-mounted receptacle and cage. This offers many advantages over current solder-pin attachment methods. By eliminating the need for solder processes, the SFP device can be installed after the circuit board is assembled. Soldering and cleaning steps are eliminated from the manufacturing process. Boards can be configured with particular transceivers just before shipment, allowing customization of the end product and improved transceiver inventory management. The removable feature of these transceivers also simplifies field repair and upgrades.
"In meeting the requirements of the MSA, we could have chosen any small form-factor interface," said Jeff Vetter, director of marketing for Stratos Lightwave. "We chose the LC because it is the best single solution for applications from 10.0 Mbps through 2.5 Gbps, and it offers the best performance for singlemode and multimode applications."
The LC interface offers several advantages over other SFF interfaces. The LC uses a proven ferrule-based design, offers lower insertion loss and high return loss, has a simplified transceiver design, and is compliant with the Telecordia 326 specification.
Tyco Licenses Flex Circuit Technology
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Tyco Electronics Corp., a unit of Tyco International Ltd., and Advanced Interconnection Technology Inc. (Islip, N.Y.) have reached an agreement under which Tyco Electronics has obtained a global license to design, manufacture and distribute optical flex circuits using Advanced's proprietary technology. Tyco will market this product under the trademark Lightray OFX as a complement to its AMP Lightray MPX optical backplane interconnect system.
"Convergence of voice, data and broadband networks has dramatically increased the demand for dense system-level packaging solutions and optical flex circuitry technology provides customers with enhanced flexibility in the design of their fiber-to-fiber system interconnects. This licensing agreement will allow us to be an even stronger partner to our global customers," said Rodd Ruland, director of product management and business development for the Fiber Optic Div. within Tyco Electronics.
The Lightray MPX interconnection system is primarily designed for blind-mate backplane applications and other dense fiber-to-fiber interconnect applications.
It also serves stand-alone interconnections requiring bulkhead porting. Based on MT ferrule technology, Lightray MPX interconnection assemblies feature the use of miniature multifiber array connectors, which hold up to 12 fibers on 250 mm centers using a single, glass-filled polymer ferrule.
Molex Licenses Modules from Infineon
MUNICH and LISLE, Ill. — Infineon Technologies AG has licensed its 12-channel parallel optical link (PAROLI) module technology to Molex Inc. The licensing agreement, which establishes a second source for the fiber optic data link modules, gives Molex the right to manufacture, market, and sell PAROLI modules, which are used to connect telecommunications and data communications components and equipment for board-to-board or rack-to-rack applications.
"The latest generations of computer and networking systems demand both higher speed and a greater number of high-speed communications links for transferring data over large distances. Since transfer rates and transmission distances on copper-based cables are limited, fiber optic connectivity is the ideal solution. Infineon's PAROLI technology, which bundles 12 optical fiber channels into a single module, has been positively received by our OEM customers, but many of these companies are concerned about second-source availability to meet market demands," said Dag Neumeuer, vice president, Fiber Optics at Infineon. "Now that we have concluded our licensing agreement with Molex, compatible products are available from two of the industry's leading suppliers."
Tony Dorin, director of marketing for Molex Fiber Optics, adds, "We chose PAROLI as it is the only proven technology for high-speed parallel array optical links. The market for parallel optical components is projected to explode over the next few years. Molex is coming on-board with added capacity to service this demand. Further, we will provide a completely compatible drop-in product so there will be truly two sources."
The PAROLI product family includes a line of asynchronous (AC) and synchronous (DC) transceiver modules for parallel data transmission on fiber optic cables. Using 12-channel ribbon cables and 12-channel simplex MT connectors, the AC modules support data rates of up to 2.5 Gbps per channel, achieving total transfer rates of 30.0 Gbps. The DC modules have 11 optical data transfer channels, at 1.25 Gbps, along with a clock channel, achieving a total throughput of up to 14.0 Gbps.
The PAROLI modules operate at a low power supply voltage of 3.3 V. All electrical input/output (I/O) signals are compatible with the Low-voltage Differential Signal (LVDS) standard. These modules employ Vertical Cavity Surface-emitting Laser (VCSEL) technology, operating at a wavelength of 840 nm for the transmitters and 840 nm for the receivers. This allows transmission distances ranging up to 300 m for the AC designs and up to 70 m for the DC.
SAE and Delphi Working Toward 42 V Standard
WARRENDALE, Pa. — The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Strategic Alliance (SSA) and Delphi Automotive Systems (Troy, Mich.) are teaming to speed the development of worldwide standards on 42 V automotive technology. The SEA is reorganizing its High Voltage Task Force to focus more on 42 V technologies. Renamed the 42 Volt Standards Steering Committee, it will investigate regulatory and consumer safety issues, technical issues, and compliance systems.
Delphi Automotive Systems, under the leadership of Dr. Andrew Brown Jr., is working with the SAE on a proactive approach to expedite the harmonization of global standards. A critical objective of this approach is to maintain communication with other international standards development organizations to coordinate methods to produce one standard that is applied worldwide.
Worldwide Connector Market Growth
ST. CHARLES, Ill. — The world electronic connector industry reached $25.7 billion in 1999, and achieved a year-to-year growth of 8.4 percent, according to a release from Bishop & Associates Inc. This was the industry's best performance since 1995, and is a significant improvement over 1998's sales growth of 1.3 percent.
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The North American connector market had an excellent year, growing 10.8 percent in 1999. European sales fell from a growth of 7.4 percent in 1998 to 3.2 percent in 1999. Both Japan and the Asia Pacific region had positive results, compared to 1998's decline of -7.8 and -1.6 percent, respectively.
North America continued to be the largest connector region of the world and increased its share of the world connector market from 38.6 percent in 1998 to 39.4 percent in 1999. Over the past 10 years, Europe has dropped from 30.5 percent of the world connector market in 1989 to 27.0 percent of the market in 1999. Conversely, the Asia Pacific region has grown from 7.1 percent in 1989 to 10.8 percent in 1999, achieving a compound average growth rate (CAGR) of 10.8 percent during the 10-year period.
In the past 19 years, the connector industry has displayed only two years of sales decline, 1985 and 1992. Over the same 19-year period, the industry has achieved a CAGR of 6.2 percent.
