DiCon Offers MEMS Devices

RICHMOND, Calif. -- DiCon Fiberoptics, a leading manufacturer of fiberoptic components, modules and test instruments, introduces 2 new passive components which are based on MEMS devices technology. These products feature significantly smaller size, faster response time, lower power consumption and lower cost than is available from other commercially available technologies. A new MEMS Add/Drop 2x2 Switch is designed for use in Re-configurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (ROADM) Modules. This switch is used to selectively drop and add or express through individual DWDM channels or bands of channels. It features low insertion loss of just 0.5 dB typical, with only 2 ms maximum switching time. All fibers are co-located on one side of the package thereby reducing the board space consumed by this ultra-compact component. A new MEMS Attenuator/On-Off Switch Hybrid is designed for use in line card or transponder applications. The Attenuator/On-Off Hybrid acts as a safety shutter during transmitter power up and as a channel power equalizer once the laser power has stabilized. In the off state, the Attenuator/On-Off Hybrid provides more than 45 dB of isolation. Used as a power equalizer, this variable Attenuator can be continuously adjusted over a 20 dB range without changing laser drive current or temperature. The Attenuator/On-Off Hybrid is the smallest MEMS component in the telecom industry and operates with a 5 VDC control signal while consuming just 10 microWatts of power. Dicon Fiberoptics Inc.