In this feature, we look back at a selection of new telecom-related products announced during, for or around the 2012 OFC/NFOEC . As usual, our emphasis here is on communications-oriented products and companies.

We organized this list into a few fairly broad categories. Because OFC/NFOEC focuses pretty tightly on optical components and devices, we have tried to reduce the burden on the Components & Devices category by pushing some items into categories closer to their intended area of application. So, for example, devices that operate at the line side of 100G carrier transmission systems will generally be found under Carrier Transport & Optical Networking, whereas those operating internally within a node or equipment will generally be found under Components & Devices. Make sense?

Click on each category name to go to the corresponding page of new product information:

Also, for reference, you can click here to see our list of previous long-form features and New Product Recaps.

— Tim Hills is a freelance telecommunications writer and journalist. He's a regular author of Light Reading reports.

Next Page: Broadband/Cable Access & Applications

Mindspeed Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: MSPD)
M02099
These burst-mode driver chipsets for GPON and GEPON ONUs have a programmable burst-mode laser driver integrated with a continuous-mode limiting amplifier. The driver also includes on-chip electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) for storing calibration constants and performance settings, and can support more than 1 million write cycles. In addition to operating without external control, the devices also may operate under the control of an external microcontroller or media access control (MAC) device. The chipsets deliver 3.1Gbit/s data rates for both transmitter (Tx) and receiver (Rx) operations with isolated power pins and independent shutdown. The device offers integrated Tx signal detect (TX-SD), rogue ONU detection and robust Tx burst-mode power monitoring. Its limiting amplifier can support better than 5mV input sensitivity at 3.1 Gbit/s with selectable gain and bandwidth settings

M02150
This is a burst-mode driver chipset family for gigabit passive optical networks (XG-PON1). The new M02150 device can be used with companion solutions from the company on the optical line termination (OLT) chipsets side to create end-to-end uplink and downlink offerings either in traditional optical modules or interfaced to bidirectional optical subassemblies (BOSAs) that can be mounted directly onto the XG-PON1 optical networking unit (ONU) or OLT board to the reduce overall bill-of-material (BOM) costs. The chipset family has a programmable 3.1Gbit/s dual-closed-loop burst-mode laser driver integrated with an 11.3Gbit/s limiting amplifier for XG-PON1 networks. The highly integrated solution features power-saving sleep and current reduction modes in a compact 4x4 mm package.

OE Solutions Co. Ltd.
Smart SFPTM
This integrates OAM functions into conventional SFPs, and, according to the company and its co-developer Aim Valley, provides operators an effective tool for monitoring and troubleshooting Ethernet services. The solution reduces system and network complexity, and offers a lower carbon footprint while generating capex and opex savings. Smart SFP contains OAM functions in an SFP module, and can be swapped with an existing SFP. It supports EFM Link OAM IEEE 802.3ah and offers connectivity fault management (CFM) of end-to-end Service OAM IEEE 802.1ag and Y.1731 Performance Management. While adding standards-compliant intelligence into the SFP at Gigabit Ethernet wire speed with low latency, the Smart SFP serves a wide range of transceiver types. Variants include dual-fiber, single-fiber BiDi, single-wavelength and single-fiber BiDi, and CWDM in both dual-fiber and single-fiber. It can support Gigabit Ethernet reaches of up to 80km over industrial temperature ranges of -40 -- 85°C.

PMC-Sierra Inc. (Nasdaq: PMCS)
PAS9000 Optical Networking Unit (ONU)
This is a 10G-EPON SoC. The PAS9000 family complements the PAS8000 OLT Soc family and includes the PAS9301 asymmetric ONU and the PAS9401 asymmetric and symmetric ONU. The devices include a 10G-EPON MAC, SERDES, embedded controller and GigaPASS bridge for advanced classification, queuing and filtering. An integrated programmable networking engine provides enhanced Quality of Service (QoS) that complies with China Telecom specification version 3.0, including IPv6 protocol support. The scalable UNI is configurable to up to four GbE interfaces, up to four 2.5Gbit/s interfaces, or to a 10Gbit/s interface for a single-family unit) or multiple-dwelling unit applications. The devices include mobile-backhaul-over-EPON support with integrated synchronous Ethernet and time-of-day delivery, as well as wire-speed throughput at all packet sizes, queuing, filtering and advanced QoS, and Ethernet connection to an external processor.

Red-C Optical Networks Ltd.
PON and WDM PON Amplifier Suite
This is for extending PON and WDM-PON access links. The product suite comprises: (a) WDM-PON ASE Sources -- ASE sources for C-band (upstream) and L-band (downstream) transmission, as well as combined C+L band sources. It cuts the cost of equipment by using a broadband source to provide seed signals to the upstream and/or downstream transmitters. The sources, provided in standard 70x90x15mm modules, have high total output power (up to 22dBm in the C-band, and 17dBm in the L-band) and a spectral flatness of <2 dB peak-to-peak. (b) PON Reach Extenders -- These amplifiers allow PON links to be extended from 20 up to 60km, and/or the number of subscribers served to be increased from 32 up to 128. The amplifiers, for upstream and downstream transmission, are: (i) PON Raman -- A distributed Raman preamplifier for the 1310nm upstream signal uses pump laser diodes and includes automatic power-reduction technology for laser safety. (ii) PON Booster -- A booster EDFA for the 1490nm downstream signal has high output power (up to 15dBm) without the signal distortions characteristic of SOA technology, according to the company.

Source Photonics Inc.
10GEPON Symmetric OLT and ONU Solutions
The 10G EPON symmetric OLT transceiver is in XFP form factor. The module complies with the 10/10G Base PR30 optical interface requirements and the INF-8077 MSA, and provides sufficient downstream and upstream bandwidth to support multifamily residential building (Multi Dwelling Unit or MDU) customers. It has real-time signal-strength indication and a digital diagnostic interface. The 10GEPON symmetric ONU is in SFP+ form factor. It complies with the 10/10G Base PR30 optical interface requirements and SFP+ MSA. The ONU is suited to address the low-power-consumption requirement of fiber to the business/node/curb (FTTB/N/C) business applications.

Vitesse Semiconductor Corp. (Nasdaq: VTSS)
Chipset for XG-PON1 Optical Line Termination (OLT) receivers
This advanced edition of the PON PRO chipset introduces a burst-mode architecture for XG-PON1 fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) applications. It comprises the VSC7719 transimpedance amplifier (TIA) and VSC7729 postamplifier, and is aimed at XG-PON1 optical-line-termination (OLT) receivers. The new chipset architecture offers on-chip monitoring of burst power for optimal diagnostics. According to the company, with the PON PRO architecture's integrated chip reset and monitor features, system builders can achieve a burst-mode PON with no external components required. The set also offers an APD sensitivity of better than -33dBm and an overload performance of better than -6dBm, as well as features designed to simplify the system interface, such as flexible LVPECL/CML outputs, and a reset through the data interface, which allows the use of standard TO-can headers in the design of a BOSA.

Next Page: Carrier Transport & Optical Networking

Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU)
Photonic Service Engine (PSE)
This 400Gbit/s chip for optical communications networks can be deployed in a broad range of network configurations -- metro, regional and ultra-long haul -- and transmit wavelengths over existing or new fiber lines. It is designed specifically for use in a family of linecards in the company's 1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS), enabling over 23 Tbit/s of traffic to be transmitted along a single optical fiber and further enhancing performance by more than 50 per cent, while reducing power consumed per gigabit by a third. The PSE is highly configurable to produce the best in situ performance, according to the company.

AppliedMicro Inc.
TPO415/C415
This Optical Transport Network (OTN) multiplexer is billed as the first to enable 100Gbit/s OTU4 linecards. It contains a flexible OTU4 multiplexer with support of any size and combination of ODU0/1/2/3/4 and ODUflex containers. The device offers a 100G-capacity ODU segmentation-and-reassembly (SAR) engine compliant with OIF-IA standards. It also offers a 100G capacity ODUk/ODUflex packet mapper for support of hybrid OTN and packet switching. Additionally, an advanced software API provides efficiency for software integration.

Ciena Corp. (NYSE: CIEN)
WaveLogic 3
This is a software-programmable coherent technology that scales to 400 Gbit/s, and is an industry first, according to the company. The new generation of chips adds intelligence to networks through a software-programmable technology that enables network operators to constantly monitor optical transmission performance, and rapidly respond to network demands. It will also help optimize existing optical networks for a wide range of applications, including low-latency, over metro, ultra-long-haul or trans-Pacific submarine distances, at speeds that scale from 100 to 400Gbit/s. Improvements include: (a) Integrated digital signal processing in the transmitter (Tx DSP) to deliver service flexibility with sophisticated programmable modulation, including the industry’s first 16QAM. (b) Intelligent soft-decision forward error correction (soft FEC) algorithms. (c) A redesigned DSP receiver achieves 75 trillion operations/s, six times the processing power of earlier WaveLogic 2.

CoAdna Photonics Inc.
Gen-2 LightFlow
The next-generation ROADM platform contains an advanced ASIC chip and finer LC cells in a smaller form factor compared to the company's present-generation technology, but maintains the same low level of power consumption. The new technology platform enables twin WSS and 12.5GHz flexible bandwidth granularity, and can be applied to new products that are tailored for next-gen ROADM,s as well as act as a drop-in upgrade for existing products. The company thus has plans for: (a) Flexible bandwidth 1xN WSS -- A drop-in upgrade of existing WSS products with identical mechanical and electrical interfaces. Port count N is up to 23, and bandwidth granularity is at 12.5GHz. (b) Twin 1xN WSS -- A more compact and cost-effective solution for the route-and-select architecture, in which a pair of WSS modules is used for future higher-data-rate CDCF ROADMs. (c) Twin BXC -- Two compact multicast switches in one package for high-density CDC add/drop applications.

TMX 1xN Tunable Mux/Demux products
This is a cost-effective colorless optical add/drop solution suitable for a drop-in upgrade for existing ROADM systems, according to the company. Currently, the port count N is optimized at 16 for the lowest cost/port ratio. The product offers a mux/demux function with hitless wavelength tunability and remote configurability at very low power consumption (< 1W). The footprint and electrical interface are designed to be identical to those of the WSS, so as to minimize upgrade efforts, including engineering time and costs for network equipment manufacturers (NEMs).

Enablence Technologies Inc. (Toronto: ENA)
8x10G DWDM TOSA and ROSA Modules
Specialized for lineside metro and long-haul applications, these modules are designed for standard CFP packaging. Similar 10x10G subsystems are in development and are scheduled for release later in 2012. The company is now sampling OIF-compliant TOSA and ROSA module for coherent 100G PM-QPSK systems. These Nx10G TOSA/ROSA and 100G coherent products use a low-loss silica-on-silicon planar lightwave circuit (PLC) technology.

Ericsson AB (Nasdaq: ERIC)
SPO 1480
The packet optical transport platform for metro regional networks extends the company's SPO family of POTP from the metro access to the metro regional network to support popular packet, TDM and wavelength services on one platform. The SPO 1400 has a simple and scalable hybrid TDM-WDM-packet architecture that is suitable for legacy TDM-based networks that need a low-risk transition to ultra-high capacity packet transport, according to the company, and its building-block architecture gives operators the flexibility to optimize node configurations for location and cost with the ability to scale optical capacity without sacrificing shelf-switching capacity. The company says that the 1400 family provides the highest-capacity density and lowest power profile in the POTP/P-OTS industry, featuring OTN, SONET/SDH and PDH support and performance, Layer 2 connection-oriented Ethernet switching and aggregation and WDM technology.

Finisar Corp. (Nasdaq: FNSR)
100G Coherent OIF Transponder and 100G DWDM CFP Modules
The 100G Coherent OIF Transponder offers an innovative integrated heatsink design with reduced power dissipation compared to currently available solutions, the company says. The module is optimized for telecom long-haul transport applications and reduces system cost by integrating soft-decision FEC while enabling reaches of up to 2000km over single-mode fiber without the need for dispersion compensation. Billed as an industry first, the 100G CFP module for Metro DWDM applications is full C-band tunable across four 28G channels and enables 2.5 times the spectral efficiency of tunable XFP modules, while providing a lower-cost alternative to systems based on coherent technology. The module uses optical duobinary (ODB) modulation for extended dispersion tolerance, supports CAUI and OTL4.10 interfaces, and supports low-latency applications. This module is suitable for datacenter-to-datacenter or metro Ethernet applications.

Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.
400G Long-Haul DWDM System
This prototype for next-generation ultrabroadband transmission can be applied over the company's WDM/OTM platform to allow for evolution from 40G/100G. It uses SD-FEC, a special coherent algorithm, and high-performance optical modules.

IPG Photonics Corp. (Nasdaq: IPGP)
Multirate transponder
For STM 1/4 telemetry links, the transponder has G.709 FEC and a special digital filtering scheme which extend the optical budget for telemetry links by up to 10dB, according to the company. When the transponder is paired with the associated preamp and booster module, up to 70dB of optical budget is supported for STM 1/4 telemetry links in electric power utility, transportation and pipeline communication networks.

JDSU (Nasdaq: JDSU; Toronto: JDU)
8500 series
The 40Gbit/s coherent (DP-QPSK) transponder is intended for a broad range of high-speed optical-networking applications. The transponder integrates optical components that include an intradyne coherent receiver, tunable laser, and lithium-niobate modulator, and also mixed-signal digital-processing (MXSP) system-on-chip technology from ClariPhy. The new transponder increases fiber capacity by a factor of four (versus 10G) while achieving over 3000km reach on uncompensated fiber links.

NeoPhotonics Corp. (NYSE: NPTN)
Multicast Switch
For next-generation ROADMs, the PIC-based switch is designed in a dual 8x16 configuration, offering 16 drop and add ports and accommodating up to eight directions. The capabilities of the PIC platform also enable support for architectures requiring 8x12 or 8x24 configurations, as well as offering the option of integrated power monitoring for each port. The Multicast Switch is intended to build on current ROADM technology to enable next-generation colorless, directionless and contentionless (CDC) networks. So the Multicast Switch can be coupled with a WSS, which together are designed to direct any wavelength to any port (colorless), accept input wavelength channels from multiple directions (directionless), and be able to drop two identical wavelengths from different directions through the same switch (contentionless).

Nistica
FOURIER
This 15-port waveblocker array allows 25GHz channel spacing and delivers gridless performance with sub-5 GHz granularity. Each module offers up to 15 waveblockers in a parallel array and can be configured as 1xN wavelength-selective switches for colorless, directionless add-drop nodes. The true waveblocker nature of the individual switches allows these ports to be used as both single-channel add/drop ports and multichannel WDM ports for inter-ring connectivity, the company says. In addition, any of the waveblockers can be converted to gridless optical channel monitors (OCMs) that track the health of individual wavelengths. The gridless features enable the modules to be used in futureproof networks requiring support for channels with greater than 100Gbit/s capacity.

Nokia Networks
Integrated Packet Transport Network solution
Juniper Networks PTX Packet Transport Switches and NSN hiT 7300 Optical Transport Platforms are combined into a solution that addresses the need of service providers to simplify the network architecture by integrating multiple layers into a simple, scalable design that improves the economics of the core network infrastructure, according to the companies. Through the use of standardized data and control interfaces, the efficiency of MPLS is combined with the scalability of the transport layer to deliver both high network scale and flexibility, with fewer network elements. The solution will be developed to include network management integration, including service provisioning, optical transport control plane integration based on GMPLS and UNI+, end-to-end network planning for guaranteed performance and SLAs, and L0-L3 multilayer optimization. It is designed to have data, management and control-plane integration between the IP/MPLS and DWDM layers, allowing operators to simplify their network and have a tighter connection between IP/MPLS and the photonic network.

Oclaro Inc. (Nasdaq: OCLR)
100G DWDM CFP transceiver
This is the first tunable module of its type and the pluggable transceiver module uses 4x28G wavelengths to deliver a 2.5 times improvement in spectral efficiency over competing 10G solutions, according to the company. It is based on a direct-detection ODB (Optical Duobinary) modulation format, which is seen as particularly suitable for 100G metro and long-haul applications. The new transceiver represents an alternative to coherent 168-pin MSA transponders to address less-demanding shorter-reach applications in a cost-efficient manner. It is available as a grid-tunable solution and as a fully-tunable solution for maximum flexibility. The company plans to offer MLSE (maximum likelihood sequence estimation) on the receiver as a configuration option to enhance the performance of the module by extending CD tolerance and widening the input range of the receiver.

1x23 wavelength-selective switch (WSS)
With switching times of 200ms, this very-high-port-count 1x23 WSS is billed as being ten times faster than competing solutions, and is intended for next-generation ROADM networks featuring colorless, directionless, and contentionless architectures. The WSS can perform full switching and attenuation reconfiguration within several hundred milliseconds today and can achieve times of less than 100 milliseconds, the company says. It uses a combination of MEMS and liquid-crystal technologies that separate the WSS switching and attenuation functions.

Micro-iTLA
For 40 and 100Gbit/s coherent transmission markets, the new micro-iTLA delivers the small footprint, optical power, narrow line width and low power consumption needed to transmit at higher data rates across the network, the company says, and provides a three-times reduction in size over standard iTLA products while also meeting the requirements for advanced coherent applications.

OASIS Intra-Node Amplifier Family
For next-generation ROADMs with 100/400/1000G channels, the amplifiers are targeted directly at offsetting losses inside the network nodes. The company says that the amplifiers are aimed at maximizing the overall network performance while also meeting the stringent space and power constraints of next-generation node designs. The first two family members are a small-form-factor single-channel amplifier and a compact arrayed multichannel amplifier. The single-channel amplifier is a very-small-form-factor booster or preamplifier designed specifically for transponder applications. Preamplifier features include expanded input power ranges and ultrafast optical transient control, which enhance the robustness and performance of high-bit-rate direct detection and coherent receivers. Booster amplifiers are optimized for single-wavelength amplification of amplitude and/or phase modulated signals. The arrayed amplifier is a space and power efficient amplifier targeted at offsetting losses of multiple parallel connections in add/drop cards or between line interface cards.

Oplink Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: OPLK)
SFP+ transceiver portfolio
The portfolio includes low-power 80km reach, CWDM and DWDM versions. They have been designed for lower power consumption and wider operational temperature ranges to enable 10Gbit/s deployment in high-density systems and operations in data centers, access aggregation, and mobile backhaul applications. Key features and capabilities include: (a) Maximum of 1.5W power consumption supporting 10Gbit/s applications reaching up to 80km. (b) DWDM with 46 wavelength channels supporting up to 80km uncompensated links, or longer distances assisted with dispersion compensation and optical amplification. (c) Operational temperature range of -40 to 85°C for all SFP+ products in the portfolio.

Source Photonics Inc.
40GBASE-ER4 CFP transceiver module
This is a client-side 40GbE transceiver supporting 40km reach. It supports multirate applications including Ethernet, Sonet/SDH and OTU data rates. The pluggable CFP transceiver fully complies with the MSA, with support for MDIO interface and integrated digital diagnostic monitoring (DDM).

Next Page: Components & Devices

Alliance Fiber Optic Products Inc. (Nasdaq: AFOP)
Polarization Maintaining Fiber Assembly solutions
These high-performance connectivity products include polarization-maintaining (PM) fiber jumpers and pigtails, PM collimators and PM fiber array units designed to satisfy the requirements in 100GHz coherent and related communication system subassemblies. They have a high extinction ratio and low insertion loss, and are available in FC, LC and SC terminations, with either UPC or APC polish.

Avago Technologies Pte.
Pluggable parallel QSFP+ eSR4 optical module
For efficient switching and greater bandwidth in data centers, the module is the first that can address both 40G and 10G Ethernet applications with a verified link distance of 400m, according to the company, thus giving data center operators the flexibility to reuse the current 10G wired infrastructure when upgrading to 40G, providing considerable cost savings -- the modules integrate four 10G lanes in each direction to increase bandwidth within a line card by more than three times while using 50 per cent less power than that of a one-lane SFP+ module. The modules can be used to develop top-of-rack, blade and modular switches with up to 44 QSFP+ ports per linecard. This provides 176 10G-channels with QSFP+ instead of the 48 SFP+ channels available currently. The QSFP+ eSR4 modules can be used for both high-density 10G and 40G aggregated Ethernet applications.

Broadcom Corp. (Nasdaq: BRCM)
BCM84728, BCM84748, BCM84758 and BCM84784
For 10GbE and 40GbE, these SFP+ physical-layer transceivers (PHYs) include a variety of dual, quad and octal-channel devices for data-center and enterprise networks, enabling the transition from 1GbE to 10GbE and 40GbE. The BCM84728 10GbE dual-channel PHY and BCM84748 10GbE quad-channel PHY are SFI-to-XAUI transceivers for LAN/WAN and support SFP+ optical, SR, LR, ZR, DWDM, and LRM optical interfaces, and SFP+ copper twin-ax. They support IEEE 1588 time stamping, Y.1731 with Sync-E recovered clock output. The BCM84758 is a 10GbE dual-channel PHY SFI-to-XFI transceiver supporting the same interfaces timing capabilities. The BCM84784 is a dual-channel 40GbE QSFP+ PHY with 8x10GbE and supports QSFP+ optical, SR4 and LR4, and QSFP+ CR4 copper twin-ax. It can drive QSFP+ dongle cables for individual 10GbE channels.

Corning Inc. (NYSE: GLW)
ClearCurve VSDN
This bend-insensitive optical fiber is designed for high-speed interconnects between computers and other consumer electronics devices. It can handle intermittent bends down to 1.5mm in radius, while exhibiting ultra-low bending loss and superior mechanical reliability. Unlike fibers for telecom, ClearCurve VSDN has a larger core size and higher numerical aperture, enabling lower-cost connectivity -- essential for consumer applications -- while exceeding the bandwidth needs of consumer electronics applications above 10 Gbit/s, according to the company.

Emcore Corp. (Nasdaq: EMKR)
120Gbit/s CXP Active Optical Cable
The cable is designed for high-performance computing and high-end Ethernet router and switch applications. It is a high-density, low-weight, edge-mounted, bidirectional interconnect that can reach up to 100m with a very low bit error rate (BER). This results in significantly less performance degradation over longer distances compared to traditional copper cables, the company says. Also, the cable is more than 60% lighter, with a bend radius that is 70%, less than 26 AWG copper cables, making it easier to install, maintain and repair cluster cabling without straining server connectors or affecting neighboring cables. The CXP cable is hot-pluggable and fully compliant with the CXP Multi-source Agreement (MSA) and RoHS 6/6.

Enhanced Feature Set for 10Gbit/s Tunable XFP Transceivers
The enhancements include 40 m full-band support (100 x 50GHz channels), a transmitter variable optical attenuator and flexi-grid compliance. The new International Telecommunication Union (ITU) flexi-grid standard allows customers to tune onto any frequency grid and address any off-grid frequency. The company also plans to include an optional transmitter variable optical attenuator which allows customers to remove external attenuators, thus increasing density while reducing overall system cost and complexity.

Micro-Integrable Tunable Laser Assembly (ITLA)
This is based on the company's cooled ECL technology, and is presented in a miniaturized package that offers the benefits of the current ITLA in a form-factor that is three times smaller with 25% less power consumption. The micro-ITLA comes with a standard ITLA RS-232 digital user interface for convenient technology-independent control of the product. The external cavity laser (ECL) ITLA technology is widely used as a tunable laser source for high-speed 40 and 100Gbit/s coherent transmission systems because of its narrow linewidth, low noise and excellent frequency accuracy, according to the company.

SR4 CFP and SR10 CFP optical transceiver modules
These are for 40 and 100Gbit/s Ethernet applications. The SR4 CFP transceiver module is a 4-channel design with four synchronous 10.3125Gbit/s electrical input lanes. The SR10 CFP transceiver module is a 10-channel design with ten synchronous 10.3125Gbit/s electrical input lanes. In both modules electrical signals are retimed by a multilane data clock recovery unit and then converted to optical signals by a multilane laser driver and GaAs 850nm VCSEL array. The optical signals are converted to electrical signals using a GaAs PIN photodetector array, along with a multilane transimpedance amplifier and are retimed and delivered to the host. Both transceivers are hot-pluggable and hot-swappable and have control and monitoring functions that are accessed through the microcontroller via a two-wire serial MDIO port. The electrical interface consists of a 148-pin edge-connector compliant with the CFP MSA industry standard.

Gould Fiber Optics
Damp-Heat/Harsh-Environment-Resistant Polarization-Maintaining Couplers
These couplers can withstand over 2000h of damp heat at 85°C and 85 per cent relative humidity. They offer a high polarization extinction ration of over 20dB as well as ultralow PDL, low excess loss and low back reflection, with a low footprint. Real-time monitoring of the coupler optical parameters found minimal changes.

Hittite Microwave Corp. (Nasdaq: HITT)
HMC911LC4B
This broadband time-delay product is suitable for 10G, 40G RZ-DQPSK, 100G DWDM RZ Carver clock-chain and skew adjustments in the fiber-optic domain. It is a DC - 24GHz broadband time delay product that provides a continuously variable delay from 0 to 70ps while maintaining a constant differential output voltage swing. The device accepts either single-ended or differential input data, while the differential output swing is adjustable from 150 to 800mV peak to peak. The modulation bandwidth is 1.6GHz, which is the highest phase modulation bandwidth available in the market, according to the company. It is suitable for both clock and data retiming applications, and has internal temperature compensation and bias circuitry to minimize delay variations with temperature. All RF input and outputs are internally terminated with 50ohm to Vcc, and may either be AC or DC coupled. Output pins can be connected directly to a 50ohm-to-Vcc-terminated system, while DC blocking capacitors must be used if the terminated system input is 50ohm to a DC voltage other than Vcc.

Inphi Corp.
IN3214SZ
The 100G/400G quad linear driver is the first driver to be designed for linear transmitters to enable next-generation 100G/400G coherent systems to address the need for higher speed, higher performance networking infrastructure, according to the company. It is a 32Gbit/s integrated quad linear driver for linear transmitter architectures and is designed to enable more complex modulation formats to be implemented. Currently, 100G coherent systems achieve four bits per symbol, but the IN3214SZ is designed to enable OEMs to implement more complex modulation schemes with up to 16 bits per symbol.

IN3250TA
This transimpedance amplifier (TIA) for 100G reconfigurable colorless networks is billed as an industry first by the company, and has a wide dynamic range and high input-current-handling capabilities, enabling a single receiver to be used across a large number of channels with different wavelengths.

Kotura Inc.
100Gbit/s optical engine
The optical engine chip platform is intended to support the interconnect fabric for next-generation data centers and high performance computers. The company says that it has integrated important functionalities, such as flip-chip attached lasers, high-performance WDM de/multiplexers, fast low-power modulators and high-speed detectors, into a single pair of silicon chips, thus eliminating the need for hundreds of piece parts and dozens of assembly steps. The optical engine is small enough for a 100Gbit/s transceiver will fit inside a QSFP package, the smallest 40G package on the market, greatly increasing the panel density of 100Gbit/s transceivers.

M/A-COM Technology Solutions Inc.
MAOM-003105 MAOM-002204
These are 100G modulator drivers for line-side and client-side applications. The MAOM-002204 is an integrated 4-channel 28G EML driver solution for CFP2, with very low power consumption and packaged in a small SMD. It is also available in a single channel version as the MAOM-002203. The MAOM-003105 is a 4-channel 8Vpp driver for 100G DP-QPSK applications in a GPPO package. It consumes very low power, 4W for 4 channels at 6Vpp, and has a gain of over 30dB. There are also single-channel (MAOM-002103) and dual-channel (MAOM-003106) 100G coherent drivers in surface-mount packages.

Mindspeed Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: MSPD)
28G Clock and Data Recovery (CDR) Technology
Evaluation boards for the 28Gbit/s CDR are available. The CDR can support data rates required for multiple standards including 100GbE, Infiniband Enhanced Data Rate (EDR), 32G Fibre Channel and Optical Transport Network (OTU4). The low-power solution will enable next-generation optical and copper module form factors such as C Form-factor Pluggable2 (CFP2) and Quad Small Form-Factor Pluggable Plus (QSFP+). The CDR IC also integrates such features as an input equalizer and output de-emphasis to optimize the link performance. It also is reference-free, reducing the number of components required to implement this solution, the company says, and it achieves very high input sensitivity, removing the need for including a discrete limiting amplifier in the module.

Oclaro Inc. (Nasdaq: OCLR)
40Gbit/s PM-BPSK modulator
This is targeted at ultra-long-haul transmission systems such as submarine systems

Proximion Fiber Systems AB
DCM-CBX
This is a high-end passive dispersion compensator with high optical performance throughout the entire C-band, offering reductions of up to 70 per cent in the key optical parameters of phase ripple (PR) and polarization mode dispersion (PMD). It is targeted for use in direct-detection-based 40G and 100G optical transport networks.

Reflex Photonics Inc.
4-channel 40Gbit/s QSFP Transceiver
The module provides bidirectional electrical-to-optical/optical-to-electrical connectivity for over 300m when using a parallel-channel, multimode optical-fiber cable. This is over three times the distance required by the IEEE standard, and will enable very large data center applications at low cost, according to the company, and the transceiver offers a very compact and lightweight solution for 40GASE-SR4 40Gbit/s Ethernet, OTU3, QDR InfiniBand and proprietary backplane interconnections.

Silicon Line GmbH
SL82022 and SL82012
These are ultra-low-power 12.5Gbit/s VCSEL and TIA chipsets. Implemented in standard CMOS, the each chipset consumes less than 34mW at 12.5Gbit/s. Including typical VCSEL modulation currents, an entire optical link based on these ICs would consume less than 50mW, corresponding to below 4pJ per bit, according to the company. The chipset supports data rates from 20 Mbit/s to 12.5 Gbit/s, and in sleep mode consumes less than 2uW. The SL82022 VCSEL driver has an integrated temperature controller which automatically adjusts the VCSEL currents, depending on ambient temperature. Burn-in and diagnostic modes are also available. The SL82012 TIA is suitable for both GaAs and Si photodiodes.

u2t Photonics AG
CPDV1200R
The 64Gbaud coherent photodetector is presented as the world's fastest and is aimed at next-generation networks using 400Gbit/s or 1Tbit/s coherent-detection-based optical transmission. The coherent detector module consists of a polarization-diversity network as well as two 90° hybrids and four balanced photodiode pairs monolithically integrated on InP. The optical frontend with four coaxial single-ended outputs and a typical bandwidth of 40GHz can detect up to 64Gbaud polarization diversity x-QAM signals with a high common-mode rejection ratio and very low interpolarization skew (less than 2ps). The device can thus be used in next-generation long-haul transmission systems at data rates of 400 Gbit/s and beyond, but is also suited for test and measurement applications as well as ongoing R&D activities, according to the company.

VI Systems GmbH
High-speed 850nm VCSELs and VCSEL arrays (x4 and x12)
For high-speed optical links with a data rate of 25 to 28Gbit/s, the arrays have an ultra-high -3dB modulation bandwidth of 20GHz and a novel HAB contact pad design that enables robust bonding and packaging, according to the company. They comply with a standard 250µm device-to-device pitch (linear spacing).

ViaSat Inc. (Nasdaq: VSAT)
SDFEC 66200
This is a 200G version of the company's existing 100G soft-decision FEC product. It is designed to work with PM-(D)16QAM, PM-(D)QPSK, and PM-(D)BPSK modulation with high net electrical coding gains. The advanced DSP and SDFEC cores are power optimized for both 40nm and 28nm CMOS processes, the company says, and, with switchable overhead rates of 7 and 20 per cent, 66200 is one of the most configurable and flexible cores available.

Vitesse Semiconductor Corp. (Nasdaq: VTSS)
VSC7982-40
The laser and modulator driver is targeted at high-bandwidth applications in Sonet, Ethernet, and Fibre Channel networks, the four-channel device can support emerging 40G and 100G optical networks. It is based on the company's single-channel 10G laser driver and modulator (VSC7982) and offers high integration by incorporating bias transistors. The device is flexible and agnostic to communication protocol and laser type. In addition to bias transistors, the 3.3V VSC7982-40 integrates AC coupling capacitors, thus reducing the bill of materials in typical designs.

Xilinx Inc. (Nasdaq: XLNX)
100Gbit/s optical gearbox
This is billed as the industry's first dual 100Gbit/s gearbox for connecting 100G interfaces with the latest generation of high-density, 100Gbit/s CFP2 optical modules. It incorporates a single 28nm Virtex-7 HT FPGA and Xilinx Gearbox intellectual property (IP) cores, and the company says that the solution overcomes the initial hurdles of leveraging the new CFP2 optics supporting 100GE, OTU4 and 10x 10 MSA specifications. This allows higher-density 100G linecards and transmission equipment while lowering overall system power consumption and cost through integration -- the company cites twice the density and more advanced debugging features compared to competing devices, as well as replacing what would be a three-chip ASSP design.

Next Page: Switching, Routing & Network Platforms

Calient Technologies Inc.
S320
This 320-port photonic switch for data-center applications can create a scalable, flexible, switched network fabric, with a total throughput of 3.2TB, that connects top-of-rack switches and core routers. This results in flat, any-to-any network connections with no added latency that can be reconfigured cyclically or on-demand to support real-time application demands, according to the company. Each S320 port can support up to 100Gbit/s data rates. The compact S320 chassis fits in a 19-inch rack and ranges from 4RU to 7RU high (depending on optical-connector type). The fully loaded chassis weighs 38 pounds and power consumption is 30W. The switch has 80 LC or MTP connectors that accommodate 640 fiber terminations supporting 1310 and 1550nm single-mode fiber. Power options include 12VDC, 24VDC and -48VDC, as well as 90-264 VAC. Its features make it the first high-density photonic switch for data-center applications, the company argues.

Polatis Inc.
Series 6000 Optical Matrix Switch
This a fully nonblocking, all-optical single-mode fiber crossconnect for up to 192x192 fiber ports with less than 1dB typical optical loss. The Series 6000 doubles the maximum matrix size previously available from the company, which envisages the new device being used in applications ranging from secure government communications to data center virtualization, broadcast video distribution, satellite RF/optical link management and network testing. The modular design allows both symmetric (NxN) and asymmetric (MxN) matrix configurations as well as a customer-configurable option allowing any-to-any fiber connections. A resilient control architecture uses distributed processing together with dual redundant control interfaces and power systems. Network interfaces provide support for SNMP, TL1 and SCPI protocols for integration with higher-level management systems. A secure Web-browser GUI enables straightforward setup, provisioning, monitoring and control. Software can be upgraded in the field without affecting in-service switch operations.

Next Page: Test & Measurement

EXFO (Nasdaq: EXFO; Toronto: EXF)
IQS-9100B MEMs Optical Switch Test Module
This is for the Windows-based IQS-600 platform. The new switch has a life expectancy 1,000 times longer than the previously available IQS-9100 Optical Switch. Its typical switching time of 20ms also saves almost 500ms per switching cycle compared to the first-generation IQS-9100. The new switch is available for single-mode fiber in 1 x N configurations up to 32 ports.

Fibotec Fiberoptics GmbH
C+L-band ASE-source
This is for the Yokogawa MATS mainframes AQ2211 and AQ2212 and some older models. The 17dBm (50mW) source provides over -12dBm/nm within a wavelength range of 1528-1608nm with high power stability (0.003dB) for test customers. Near term the company plans to offer more customized light sources to complement the Yokogawa test platform.

Ixia (Nasdaq: XXIA)
40GE ImpairNet load module
This is the industry's first 40GE test solution for emulating real-world network impairments, the company says. Testing a variety of wide area network (WAN) applications, the new module emulates the latency inherent between data-center clouds and validates whether the end-to-end performance is affected by the delay within the WAN cloud. It is integrated with IxNetwork traffic generation and analysis, which provides flexibility in impairment configuration. Users create and impair traffic flows with reusable classifier and impairment profiles. It is also integrated with StatViewer, which provides features for viewing and analyzing impairment statistics. ImpairNet load modules can emulate traffic issues ranging from dropped packets to jitter and delay at full 40GE line rates.

Phoenix Photonics Ltd.
Polarization-scrambling module and EPC interface module
These are additions to the Firebird Instrumentation product range. The polarization scrambling module is designed for integration into polarization test and measurement equipment, and is pre-programmed to provide random or scanned polarization for any input state requiring only a simple DC bias. The new EPC interface enables direct PC control of the company's EPC polarization controller.

Tektronix Inc.
Optical Modules for DSA8300 Digital Signal Analyzer
This is a comprehensive optical-compliance testing toolset for the DSA8300 Digital Signal Analyzer sampling oscilloscope. The new toolset provides a single mainframe solution for optical compliance test for Ethernet at speeds up to 10, 40, and 100G (4x25) with up to four times the throughput, superior native jitter, and an integrated clock recovery solution, according to the company. It eliminates the need for additional test equipment such as optical-to-electric converters. In addition, it features an updated jitter analysis toolset offering the industry's only bounded uncorrelated jitter (BUJ) separation techniques for better identification of crosstalk issues.

Next Page: Wireless Infrastructure

Optical Zonu Corp.
J-Series Modular 19-inch 1U Rack-Mounted System
This RF analog transmission platform with digital support can hold up to 64 hot-swappable RFoF laser transmitters and/or receivers in any combination, and is billed as offering the industry's highest density. Capable of transporting any RF signal from 10kHz to 7GHz over fiber optic cable, it has 10 slots available, each of which can be populated with eight individual OZ101 modules (each either a Tx or Rx), and the system may hold up to 64 RF over Fiber (RFoF) interchangeable and hot-swappable OZ101 modules, as well as two hot-swappable power supplies. It can also accommodate other high-performance, broadband, fiber optic transceivers, transmitters and receivers. A cooled DFB laser module, GbE switch (both SFP and RJ-45), CWDM built in for multichannel support over single fiber, and SNMP monitoring are examples. Applications include WiMax/4G LTE, cellular backhaul, remote antenna location, satcoms, in-building solutions, GPS distribution and timing delay.

Back to Report Intro: OFC/NFOEC 2012: New Product Recap